Tailoring an operating system to a computer system

• US 20080189698A1
• Filed: 02/05/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Karki, Mukesh, Sareen, Bhrighu, Ansari, Zubair
• Granted Patent: US 8,522,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A method for tailoring the installation of an operating system to a computer system receives information regarding the computer system. Information regarding a modular operating system is accessed. The modular operating system is comprised of a foundational base and a plurality of installable features. Desired performance characteristics of the computer system are determined. Portions of the modular operating system are installed such that the modular operating system is tailored to the computer system and the desired performance characteristics of the computer system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for tailoring the installation of an operating system to a computer system, said method comprising:

receiving information regarding said computer system;

accessing information regarding a modular operating system comprised of a foundational base and a plurality of installable features;

determining desired performance characteristics of said computer system; and

selectively installing portions of said modular operating system such that said modular operating system is tailored to said computer system and said desired performance characteristics of said computer system.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving information regarding said computer system comprises:

receiving a specification of one or more hardware components of said computer system.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said accessing information regarding a modular operating system comprised of a foundational base and a plurality of installable features comprises:

accessing a feature table comprising an entry related to an installable feature of said modular operating system.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining desired performance characteristics of said computer system comprises:

determining a desired operating performance capacity of said computer system.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining desired performance characteristics of said computer system comprises:

determining a weighted importance characteristic of an installable feature of said modular operating system.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining desired performance characteristics of said computer system comprises:

utilizing a performance requirement of said foundational base of said modular operating system in combination with said information regarding said computer system to determine an initial performance capability of said computer system.

7. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 6, wherein said determining desired performance characteristics of said computer system further comprises:

determining a performance of said computer system with respect to an installable feature of said modular operating system by reducing said initial performance capability with respect to a performance requirement of said installable feature of said modular operating system.

8. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

determining performance of said computer system with respect to a plurality of installable features of said modular operating system.

9. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said selectively installing portions of said modular operating system such that said modular operating system is tailored to said computer system and said desired performance characteristics of said computer system comprises:

selecting to install an installable feature based upon a weighted importance of said installable feature and an impact of said installable feature upon said desired operating performance capacity of said computer system.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps of a method of selecting a portion of an operating system to install on a computer system, said instructions comprising:

accessing a feature table comprising entries representing installable features of said operating system, wherein said operating system is a modular operating system comprised of a foundational base and a plurality of said installable features;

associating a computer system performance with one of said entries; and

selecting a portion of an installable feature of said operating system for installation on said computer system, said selecting based upon entry information of said feature table such that a predetermined amount of operating performance capacity is maintained on said computer system.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said computer-executable instructions for performing the step of accessing a feature table comprising entries representing installable features of said operating system further comprise computer executable instructions for:

accessing weighted importance entry information associated said one of said entries, wherein said weighted performance information comprises a numerical representation of an importance to a user of said portion of an installable feature represented by said entry.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said computer-executable instructions for performing the step of associating computer system performance information with one of said entries further comprise computer executable instructions for:

associating said computer system performance information with a component of said installable feature represented by said entry.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said computer-executable instructions for selecting a portion of an installable feature of said operating system for installation on said computer system further comprise computer executable instructions for:

comparing weighted importance information related to a first component of said installable feature to weighted importance information related with a second component of said installable feature.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said computer-executable instructions for selecting a portion of an installable feature of said operating system for installation on said computer system further comprise computer executable instructions for:

comparing weighted importance information related to said portion of said installable feature with weighted importance information of another installable feature.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said computer-executable instructions for selecting a portion of an installable feature of said operating system for installation on said computer system further comprise computer executable instructions for:

determining whether installing said portion of said installable feature will cause an operating performance capacity of said computer system to drop below a predetermined minimum.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said computer-executable instructions for selecting a portion of an installable feature of said operating system for installation on said computer system further comprise computer executable instructions for:

performing a tie breaking action to select said portion of said installable feature of said operating system for installation on said computer system.

17. A system for tailoring an operating system for a computer system, said system comprising:

a computer system information receiver configured for receiving information regarding said computer system;

a performance determiner coupled with said computer system information receiver, said performance determiner configured for utilizing said computer system information to determine a performance level of said computer system with respect to requirements of an installable feature of a modular operating system;

an feature table accessor coupled with said performance determiner, said feature table accessor configured for accessing entry information of a modular operating system feature table, said information related to computer system performance requirements and weighted importance of said installable feature; and

a variable footprint operating system installer coupled with said feature table accessor, said variable footprint operating system installer configured to tailor said modular operating system for said computer system by utilizing said entry information such that weighted importance of a plurality of installable features selected for installation is maximized while maintaining a predetermined amount of operating headspace on said computer system.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said computer system information receiver is configured to couple with said computer system for the purpose of automatically determining said hardware specification.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said variable footprint operating system installer further comprises:

an installation interface generator configured for generating an interface which visibly indicates installed installable features and non-installed installable features of said modular operating system.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said variable footprint operating system installer further comprises:

a tie breaker module configured for choosing an installable feature to install in the event that a group of installable features is initially judged as equally installable based on said entry information in said feature table.