IN-APPLICATION CUSTOMIZATION

• US 20150074546A1
• Filed: 06/30/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Slawson, Dean A., Bar-Caspi, Doron, Lindhorst, Gregory S., Aziz, Imran, Viton, Nichol C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,880,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/747
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

In-application customization is provided where users can both use and customize the application. Within a graphical user interface of an application developed by an original author, an interaction from a customizer user of the application can be received to make a modification to the application from a set of available modifications that the original author did not create for the application. The modification can be performed using functionality made available through a developer program service.

Claims

1. A method of creating an application, comprising:

within a graphical user interface of an application developed by an original author, receiving an interaction with the application to make a modification to the application from a set of available modifications that the original author did not create for the application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction with the application comprises adding or deleting fields to data schema.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction with the application comprises customizing logic for the application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, in response to receiving the interaction with the application, performing the modification by requesting functionality from a developer program service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of modifications comprise at least one extensible feature available through communication with a function store or app store.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing a setting of an option from a list of available options for the setting specified by the original author for the application.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an upgrade to the application after making the modification to the application, wherein the modification is automatically maintained after the upgrade.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising sharing an instance of the application having the modification.

9. One or more computer readable storage media having stored therein instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, directs the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

receiving a template app;

in response to receiving an indication to customize the template app from within the template app, entering customization mode initiating communication with a developer program service to determine a set of available modifications and enabling customizations to the template app from the set of available modifications not originally provided in the template app;

receiving an indication of at least one modification to customize the template app; and

saving an instance of the template app having the at least one modification.

10. The media of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises communicating with a function store or app store in response to receiving a request for an extensible feature from within the template app.

11. The media of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to receiving an indication to use the instance of the template app, entering an app instance use mode and providing a user interface for a user to use the instance of the template app.

12. The media of claim 9, wherein the template app is developed using a programming language comprising declarative attributes.

13. The media of claim 12, wherein the developer program service provides functionality to the template app for changing the declarative attributes.

14. The media of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to receiving a request to change a setting from specified settings options of the template app, changing the setting, wherein the specified settings options are originally provided in the template app.

15. A system comprising:

a first application instance stored on one or more computer readable storage media and comprising original application features, specified settings options, and a customization interface, wherein, when the first application instance is executed by one or more processors, the first application instance directs the one or more processors to;

provide a user interface to the original application features for using the first application instance; and

enter customization mode in response to receipt of an indication to initiate in-application customization, wherein during customization mode, the first application instance directs the one or more processors to;

initiate communication with a developer platform service via the customization interface,

provide a customizing user interface, and

store a received modification to the first application instance as an app custom instance feature on the one or more computer readable storage media.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first application instance having the app custom instance feature is shareable as a second application instance.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one app custom instance feature comprises a customization for a particular form factor device on which the second application instance is to be executed.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein after the app custom instance feature is stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, when the first application instance is executed by the one or more processors, the first application instance directs the one or more processors to provide the first user interface to the app custom instance feature in response to specified use conditions for the first application instance.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein when the first application instance is executed by the one or more processors, the first application instance further directs the one or more processors to:

in response to receiving a request to change a setting from the specified settings options of the template app, change the setting, wherein the specified settings options are originally provided in the first application instance.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein when the first application instance is executed by one or more processors, the first application instance directs the one or more processors to:

in response to receiving an upgrade to at least one of the original application features, automatically apply any stored app custom instance features.