DELEGATED PRE-CONFIGURATION

• US 20080313447A1
• Filed: 06/15/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blinn, Arnold N., GILLETT, DON M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,539,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Computer-readable media, systems, and methods for delegated pre-configuration are described. In embodiments, an identification of a user is received. Further, in various embodiments, one or more pre-configuration instructions is received from a delegate. In various embodiments, one or more online service settings is processed in accordance with the one or more pre-configuration instructions. In various other embodiments an online service is presented in accordance with the processed one or more online service settings.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for delegated pre-configuration, comprising:

receiving an identification of a user of an online service, where the online service is a social networking service allowing one or more social network users to, via a network, post new messages and responses to posted messages in an online forum and where messages are stored for future viewing and responding to by the one or more social network users;

receiving one or more pre-configuration instructions from a delegate, the delegate having received permission from the user to provide the one or more pre-configuration instructions; and

processing one or more online service settings in accordance with the one or more pre-configuration instructions.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving an identification of the user comprises:

receiving instructions from the delegate to create an account for the user;

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving an identification of the user comprises:

receiving a delegate designation from the user; and

receiving identification of an existing account for the user from the delegate.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a delegate role.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

prompting the user to accept the pre-configuration instructions.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

presenting an online service in accordance with the processed one or more online service settings.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein processing one or more online service settings in accordance with the one or more pre-configuration instructions comprises:

creating a user profile associating the user with the pre-configuration instructions; and

storing the user profile in association with an online service,

wherein the user profile is specific to the online service.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein processing one or more online service settings in accordance with the one or more pre-configuration instructions comprises:

creating a user profile associating the user with the pre-configuration instructions; and

storing the user profile,

wherein the user profile includes a catalogue of settings extensible for multiple online services.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving one or more configurable settings from an online service;

providing the online service with the one or more online service settings in correlation with the one or more configurable settings.

10. A computerized system for delegated pre-configuration, the system comprising:

an identification component configured to receive an identification of a user of an online service;

an instruction component configured to receive one or more pre-configuration instructions from a delegate, the delegate having received permission from the user to provide the one or more pre-configuration instructions;

a processing component configured to process one or more online service settings in accordance with the one or more pre-configuration instructions; and

a database for storing information associated with delegated pre-configuration.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a prompting component configured to prompt the user to accept the pre-configuration instructions.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a presentation component configured to present an online service in accordance with the processed one or more online settings.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a receiving component configured to receive one or more configurable settings from an online service;

a providing component configured to provide the online service with the one or more pre-configuration instructions that are in correlation with the one or more configurable settings.

14. One or more computer readable media having instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for delegated pre-configuration, the method comprising:

receiving identification of a user of a personal computer, the identification of the user occurring prior to the purchase of the personal computer;

receiving one or more pre-configuration instructions from a delegate, the delegate having received permission from the user to provide the one or more pre-configuration instructions; and

processing one or more personal computer settings in accordance with the one or more pre-configuration instructions, the personal computer settings including at least one of an application setting, a service setting, and a user interface setting.

15. The computer readable media of claim 14, wherein processing the one or more personal computer settings in accordance with the one or more pre-configuration settings comprises:

storing the one or more personal computer settings on a personal computer; and

configuring the personal computer in accordance with the one or more personal computer settings.

16. The computer readable media of claim 15, wherein the personal computer is configured by an original equipment manufacturer.

17. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the one or more pre-configuration instructions are received from the delegate in integration with an order of the personal computer from the original equipment manufacturer.

18. The computer readable media of claim 14, wherein processing the one or more personal computer settings in accordance with the one or more pre-configuration settings comprises:

storing a retrieval instruction on a personal computer; and

upon initialization by the user, automatically accessing a server to retriever the one or more personal computer settings.

19. The computer readable media of claim 15,

wherein the one or more personal computer settings include one or more updateable personal computer settings, and

wherein the personal computer automatically accesses a server at a pre-configured interval to retrieve the one or more updateable personal computer settings.

20. The computer readable media of claim 15, wherein processing the one or more personal computer settings in accordance with the one or more pre-configuration settings comprises:

storing the one or more personal computer settings on a server; and

configuring the personal computer in accordance with the one or more personal computer settings each time the user logs onto a personal computer.