APPLICATION SELECTION USING CURRENT DETECTION INTELLIGENCE

• US 20120054857A1
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bisso, Robert Peter, Schaefer, Edward William
• Granted Patent: US 8,776,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/56 Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/57 Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/145 the attack involving the propagation of malware through the network, e.g. viruses, trojans or worms

Abstract

Selecting one or more applications from the plurality of similar or near redundant applications to activate. A method includes retrieving information about current characteristics of one or more applications. The method further includes retrieving information about a current computing operational landscape. Based on the information about current characteristics of one or more applications and the information about a current computing operational landscape, the method further includes creating a ranking of applications. The rankings are made available to a system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality. At the system, one or more of the applications in the plurality of applications are selected to activate based on the ranking of applications.

Claims

1. In a computing environment comprising a system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality, a method of selecting one or more applications from the plurality of application to activate, the method comprising:

retrieving information about current characteristics of one or more applications;

retrieving information about a current computing operational effectiveness landscape;

based on the information about current characteristics of one or more applications and the information about a current computing operational landscape, creating a ranking of applications; and

sending, or otherwise making available, the ranking to a system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality, whereafter, at the system one or more of the applications in the plurality of applications are selected to activate based on the ranking of application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the applications with similar or near redundant functionality comprise anti-malware engines, and the current computing operation landscape comprises malware threat information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the applications with similar or near redundant functionality comprise anti-spam applications, and the current computing operation landscape comprises current spam information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the applications with similar or near redundant functionality client side URL filtering applications, and the current computing operation landscape comprises current URL information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the applications with similar or near redundant functionality comprise web browser applications, and the current computing operation landscape comprises browser vulnerability information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising packaging the ranking into an update for an antimalware product, and wherein sending, or otherwise making available, the ranking to a system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality comprises sending the update as an update for the antimalware product at the system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality.

7. In a computing environment comprising a system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality, a method of selecting one or more applications from the plurality of application to activate, the method comprising:

at a system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality, retrieving information from an information source, the information including a ranking of applications, the applications being ranked based on a current computing operational landscape;

based on the a ranking of applications selecting one or more applications in the plurality of applications; and

activating the selected applications while other applications in the plurality of engines remain inactive.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the applications with similar or near redundant functionality comprise anti-malware engines, and the current computing operation landscape comprises malware threat information.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the applications with similar or near redundant functionality comprise anti-spam applications, and the current computing operation landscape comprises current spam information.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the applications with similar or near redundant functionality client side URL filtering applications, and the current computing operation landscape comprises current URL information.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the applications with similar or near redundant functionality comprise web browser applications, and the current computing operation landscape comprises browser vulnerability information.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising packaging the ranking into an update for an antimalware product, and wherein sending the ranking to a system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality comprises sending, or otherwise making available, the update as an update for the antimalware product at the system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying a single common user interface irrespective of what applications are selected and activated.

14. In a computing environment comprising a system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality, a method of selecting one or more applications from the plurality of application to activate, the method comprising:

retrieving information about current characteristics of one or more applications;

retrieving information about a current computing operational landscape;

based on the information about current characteristics of one or more applications and the information about a current computing operational landscape, selecting one or more applications in the plurality of applications; and

activating the selected applications while other applications in the plurality of engines remain inactive.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the applications with similar or near redundant functionality comprise anti-malware engines, and the current computing operation landscape comprises malware threat information.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the applications with similar or near redundant functionality comprise anti-spam applications, and the current computing operation landscape comprises current spam information.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the applications with similar or near redundant functionality client side URL filtering applications, and the current computing operation landscape comprises current URL information.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the applications with similar or near redundant functionality comprise web browser applications, and the current computing operation landscape comprises browser vulnerability information.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising packaging the ranking into an update for an antimalware product, and wherein sending the ranking to a system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality comprises sending, or otherwise making available, the update as an update for the antimalware product at the system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying a single common user interface irrespective of what applications are selected and activated.