Customizing application page loading in a discovery interface

• US 20080126938A1
• Filed: 01/24/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Elsbree, John, Fleishman, David, Linzbach, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,112,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/721
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A system provides customized user interface data to a media application, such as a media discovery interface, or to any application for that matter, thereby extending the original application. Via a network connection, elements of the user interface can be downloaded to the application in a package of markup data and resources, including images, text, and links. A user interface framework of the media application processes the markup data from the downloaded package and utilizes packaged resources, local code components, and externally-obtained (e.g., Web resources) to render a customized application page for the media application. Based on a wide variety of computing system and user parameters, the offerings and application pages presented to the user can be filtered and/or reordered to be more appropriate for the computing system and user.

Claims

1. A method of presenting a customized user interface page in an application, the method comprising:

receiving an application package from a communications network, the application package containing markup data and one or more constraints;

searching the markup data to compile one or more of the constraints associated with a user interface element into a constraint expression;

determining whether the constraint expression is satisfied;

rendering the customized user interface page to include the user interface element in a display, if the constraint expression is satisfied.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the application is executed by a client computer system and the determining operation comprises:

evaluating at least a portion of the constraint expression against a configuration parameter of the client computer system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the configuration parameter of the client computer system indicates whether the client computer system is coupled to a tuner, a console extension or a specified peripheral, domain or server.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the configuration parameter of the client computer system indicates which processor architecture the client computer system supports.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the configuration parameter of the client computer system indicates a manufacturer or marketing program associated with the client computer system or a component thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining operation comprises:

evaluating at least a portion of the constraint expression against a configuration parameter of the application.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the application is executed by a client computer system and the configuration parameter of the application indicates a manufacturer or marketing program associated with the client computer system or a component thereof.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the configuration parameter of the application indicates a locale or language specified for the application or a geographical location of a user of the application.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the configuration parameter of the application indicates a version of the application.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the application is executed by a client computer system and the determining operation comprises:

evaluating at least a portion of the constraint expression against a current time value, wherein the at least one portion of the constraint expression includes a start time constraint, an end time constraint, or a time range constraint.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the application is executed by a client computer system and the determining operation comprises:

evaluating at least a Boolean expression combining a plurality of constraints against characteristics of at least one of the application or the client computer system.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the application is executed by a client computer system and the determining operation comprises:

reading from the markup language of the package properties of a generic condition;

creating the generic condition with the read properties;

evaluating at least a generic condition against characteristics of at least one of the application or the client computer system.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process that presents a customized user interface page in an application, the computer process comprising:

receiving an application package from a communications network, the application package containing markup data and one or more constraints;

compiling one or more of the constraints stored in the markup data and associated with a user interface element into a constraint expression;

determining whether the constraint expression is satisfied;

rendering the customized user interface page to include the user interface element in a display, if the constraint expression is satisfied.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the application is executed by a client computer system and the determining operation comprises:

evaluating at least a portion of the constraint expression against a configuration parameter of the client computer system.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the determining operation comprises:

evaluating at least a portion of the constraint expression against a configuration parameter of the application.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the application is executed by a client computer system and the determining operation comprises:

evaluating at least a Boolean expression combining a plurality of constraints against characteristics of at least one of the application or the client computer system.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the application is executed by a client computer system and the determining operation comprises:

evaluating at least a Boolean expression combining a plurality of constraints against characteristics of at least one of the application or the client computer system.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the application is executed by a client computer system and the determining operation comprises:

reading from the markup language of the package properties of a generic condition;

creating the generic condition with the read properties;

evaluating at least a generic condition against characteristics of at least one of the application or the client computer system.

19. A system comprising:

a network interface that receives an application package from a communications network, the application package containing markup data and one or more constraints;

a processor that compiles one or more of the constraints stored in the markup data and associated with a user interface element into a constraint expression and determines whether the constraint expression is satisfied;

a display interface that transmits signals to rendering the customized user interface page to include the user interface element in a display, if the constraint expression is satisfied.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the application is executed by a client computer system and the processor further reads from the markup language of the package properties of a generic condition, creating the generic condition with the read properties, and evaluates at least a generic condition against characteristics of at least one of the application or the client computer system.