Virtual Application Extension Points

• US 20110246617A1
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sheehan, John M., Reierson, Kristofer H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,708 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/455 Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or operating system execution engines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication

Abstract

A virtual application may be configured with several extension points within a host operating system. The virtual application may be configured with a private namespace in which various components, such as registry settings, dynamic linked libraries, and other components may reside. During configuration, links may be placed in the host operating system that may point to objects in the virtual application'"'"'s private namespace so that the operating system and other applications may launch, control, or otherwise interact with the virtual application. The links may be located in a file system, registry, or other locations and may be available to other applications, including other virtual applications. A configuration routine may place the links into the host operating system at the time the application may be configured.

Claims

1. A method performed on a computer processor, said method comprising:

installing an application virtualizer in a host operating system, said application virtualizer having a private namespace comprising stored items, said host operating system having a public namespace;

creating a first link in said public namespace to a first location within said private namespace;

receiving a command comprising said first link;

identifying said first location from said first link; and

passing said first location to said application virtualizer, said application virtualizer being configured to launch said virtual application and process said command.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

creating a second link in said public namespace to a second location within said private namespace, said second location comprising a value;

receiving a request for said second link;

identifying said second location from said second link;

retrieving said value from said private namespace; and

responding to said request with said value.

3. The method of claim 2, said second link being located in a host file system.

4. The method of claim 2, said second link being located in a host registry.

5. The method of claim 1, said private namespace comprising executable code for said virtual application.

6. The method of claim 5, said private namespace comprising registry settings for said virtual application.

7. The method of claim 1, said application virtualizer and said first link being comprised in an installation package.

8. The method of claim 7, said installation package comprising an installation program that:

reads a manifest comprising said first link; and

creates said first link in said host operating system.

9. The method of claim 1, said command being received from a second virtual application executing within a second application virtualizer in said host operating system.

10. The method of claim 1, said virtual application being streamed into said application virtualizer.

11. A system comprising:

a host operating system;

an installation package comprising;

a private namespace;

a manifest comprising a first link to a destination location in said private namespace, said first link comprising an origination location within said host operating system; and

an application virtualizer;

an installation program that is configured to;

install said application virtualizer from said application package; and

read said manifest from said application package and create said first link.

12. The system of claim 11, said installation program being executable on a second system.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a streaming server that streams said application to said application virtualizer when said application virtualizer is executing on a second system.

14. The system of claim 13, said application virtualizer comprising a link to said streaming server.

15. The system of claim 11, said destination location being a registry location in said private namespace.

16. The system of claim 15, said first link being located in a public registry.

17. A method comprising:

installing an application virtualizer in a host operating system, said application virtualizer having a private namespace comprising stored items, said host operating system having a public namespace;

creating a first link in said public namespace to a first location within said private namespace, said first link being created by an installation program, said first link being defined in a manifest, said first link defining a File Type Association for a first file type, and said first link being located in a host operating system registry;

receiving a request to open a first file having said first file type;

looking up said first file type in said host operating system registry to find said first link and identify said first location within said private namespace;

detecting a request for said first namespace and executing said application virtualizer; and

following said first link to said first location within said private namespace, said first location being an executable for said virtual application and launching said virtual application.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

creating a second link in said public namespace to a second location within said private namespace, said second link being created by said installation program, said second link being defined in said manifest, said second link defining a registry value, and said second link being located in a host operating system registry;

receiving a second request for said second link and following said second link to said private namespace;

detecting a second request for said first namespace and executing said application virtualizer; and

following said second link to said second location within said private namespace and returning said registry value in said private namespace in response to said second request.

19. The method of claim 18, said second request being created by a second virtual application.

20. The method of claim 19, said virtual application being streamed into said application virtualizer.