DOWNLOAD DISCOVERY FOR WEB SERVERS

• US 20090288081A1
• Filed: 05/16/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hoyer, Crystal L., Birck, Andrew Philip, Delahunty, Brian, Mares, Carlos Aguilar, Bukovec, Mai-Ian T., Staples, William J., Verma, Nitasha, Lucero, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons

Abstract

Facilitating installation of additional functionality on a web server. The method includes at a data store, receiving a request from a client to access programmatic code units. The data store includes programmatic code units. The programmatic code units are configured to provide additional web server functionality when installed at a web server. The client is distinct and separate from the data store. The method further includes, at the data store, providing information about one or more programmatic code units to the client. Input is received from the client selecting one or more programmatic code units to be installed on a web server. The web server is separate and distinct from both the data store and the client. The one or more selected programmatic code units are sent to the web server, where after the one or more selected programmatic code units are installed on the web server.

Claims

1. In a computing environment, the computing environment including one or more web servers, a method of facilitating installation of additional functionality on a web server, the method comprising:

at a data store, wherein the data store comprises programmatic code units, the programmatic code units configured to provide additional web server functionality when installed at a web server, receiving a request from a client to access information about programmatic code units, and wherein the client is distinct and separate from the data store;

at the data store, providing information about one or more programmatic code units to the client;

at the data store, receiving input from the client selecting one or more programmatic code units to be installed on a web server, wherein the web server is separate and distinct from both the data store and the client; and

sending the one or more selected programmatic code units to the web server, where after the one or more selected programmatic code units are installed on the web server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the one or more selected programmatic code units to the web server comprises sending the one or more selected programmatic code units to the client, where after the client sends to one or more selected programmatic code units to the web server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the one or more selected programmatic code units to the web server comprises sending the one or more selected programmatic code units directly to the web server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that to install the one or more programmatic code units at the web server that additional programmatic code units need to be installed at the web server and as a result, providing an indication to the web server that the additional programmatic code units need to be installed at the web server.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing the additional programmatic code units from the data store to the web server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the web server comprises access control rules specific to a user at the client, wherein the access control rules allow installation of the one or more programmatic code units.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the programmatic code units comprise application code.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the programmatic code units comprise module code.

9. In a computing environment including one or more web servers, a method of updating the web server functionality, the method comprising:

determining a profile for a web server;

based on the profile for the web server, determining programmatic code units that may be modules of interest for the web server;

causing information about the programmatic code units of interest to be displayed to a user;

receiving user input indicating that one or more programmatic code units should be installed; and

causing installation of the one or more programmatic code units indicated in the user input at the web server.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the profile comprises information related to programmatic code units already installed at the web server.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the profile comprises information related to administrators of the web server.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the profile comprises information related to users of the web server.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein causing the programmatic code units of interest to be displayed to a user comprises organizing programmatic code units by other user ratings.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein causing the programmatic code units of interest to be displayed to a user comprises organizing programmatic code units based on programmatic code units already installed at the web server.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising causing additional external information about the programmatic code units of interest to be displayed to a user with information

16. In a computing environment, the computing environment including one or more web servers, a method of facilitating installation of additional functionality on a web server, the method comprising:

at a data store, wherein the data store comprises programmatic code units, the programmatic code units configured to provide additional web server functionality when installed at a web server, receiving a request from a client to access information about programmatic code units, and wherein the client is distinct and separate from the data store;

at the data store determining a profile for a web server;

at the data store based on the profile for the web server, determining programmatic code units that may be modules of interest for the web server;

providing information about one or more programmatic code units to the client;

at the data store, receiving input from the client selecting one or more programmatic code units to be installed on a web server, wherein the web server is separate and distinct from both the data store and the client; and

causing installation of the one or more programmatic code units indicated in the user input at the web server.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the profile comprises information related to programmatic code units already installed at the web server.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the profile comprises information related to administrators of the web server.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the profile comprises information related to users of the web server.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein providing information about one or more programmatic code units to the client comprises information related to features provided by external sources.