Factory installing desktop components for an active desktop

• US 6,262,726 B1
• Filed: 10/09/1998
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: McGlothlin, James, Stedman, Roy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US09/169,324
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326, 345/329, 345/333-335, 345/339, 345/348, 709/203, 709/328, 709/331-332, 710/10, 713/1, 717/11
• US Class Current: 715/745
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A manufacturing process, computer system and method for modifying a graphical user interface and allow customization of the graphical user interface, such as a windows type operating system. Manufacturing process copies operating system, configuration files, application programs, graphical image files, and installation programs onto the computer systems nonvolatile storage device. Configuration files trigger the installation programs to execute upon the first invocation of the operating system by the user and install the custom desktop components. Configuration files may include a registry. Installation programs add graphical images related to applications or Active Desktop components. A plurality of users with separate profile and desktop layouts for each user may have each of the plurality of user'"'"'s graphical user interface modified. Removal of the graphical image may following the execution of the related application or Active Desktop component.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a customized user interface for a computer stem, the method comprising:

installing a standard operating system and a generic installation program on a nonvolatile storage device included in the computer;

customizing configuration files;

installing the customized configuration files on the nonvolatile storage device, wherein the customized configuration files contain instructions for the operating system to execute the generic installation program upon the first execution of the operating system by the end user and wherein the customized configuration files instruct the operating system to call a customized installation program upon the first invocation of the operating system by the end user; and

installing custom components, including a customized installation program and a customized graphics file, on the nonvolatile storage device.

2. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein the customized installation program is programmed to search the nonvolatile storage memory for other customized components.

3. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 2, wherein the customized installation program is programmed to search for other customized components by operating on a data file that includes installation details about other customized components.

4. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 2, wherein the installation program is programmed to mask error messages encountered when searching for customized components.

5. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein the customized installation program is programmed to remove icons or programs that are included with the operating system.

6. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein the configuration files are customized prior to creating a disk image that is copied to the nonvolatile storage device by a manufacturing computer system.

7. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 6, wherein the customized installation program is programmed to search for other customized components by operating on a data file that includes installation details about other customized components.

8. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein the configuration files are customized during installation of custom components.

9. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 8, wherein the configuration files are modified with desktop components during installation of custom components.

10. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 8, wherein the customized installation program is programmed to search for other customized components by operating on a data file that includes installation details about other customized components.

11. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

causing the operating system to execute;

causing the operating system to read configuration data from the customized configuration files; and

causing the operating system to execute the customized installation program and, thereby, to install customized desktop components.

12. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 11, wherein the installation program reads desktop component information that includes one or more graphical images associated with the desktop components and modifies a desktop layout used by the operating system.

13. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein the customized configuration files form a registry that contains at least one run-once key, the method further comprising:

(a) causing the operating system to read a run-once key; and

(b) if the run-once key is set, causing the operating system to execute a desktop customization process that includes;

(i) read desktop component information;

(ii) modify a desktop layout; and

(iii) display a customized desktop.

14. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 13, the method further comprising:

(c) assuring that (b)(i), (ii), and (b)(iii) are performed only once.

15. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 14, wherein the run-once key is removed from the registry upon completion of the desktop customization process.

16. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 14, wherein configuration files are modified by the installation program during a first invocation of the operating system so that a run-once is not read subsequent to modification of the configuration files by the installation program.

17. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein the customized configuration files form a registry that maintains a profile for each of a plurality of users and wherein the respective profile for each user comprises a desktop layout and a run-once key for the respective user, the method further comprising:

executing the operating system;

accepting a unique user identification; and

with reference to the user'"'"'s run-once key, assuring that the user'"'"'s desktop layout is customized.

18. A method of establishing a customized graphical user interface for a computer system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a file that comprises matched data pairs, each matched data pair comprising a user identification and an associated flag; and

setting a user flag when the respective user'"'"'s desktop layout has been customized.

19. A computer program product including instructions and data written onto a computer-readable medium, the computer program product comprising:

an operating system;

graphics files;

a generic installation program for determining a custom installation program that is required to be invoked;

a desktop layout;

customized configuration files including instructions to cause the operating system to execute the generic installation program;

at least one custom installation program to be called by the operating system to customize the desktop layout using data contained in the graphics files; and

a generic installation file containing a reference to each custom installation program.

20. A computer program product as defined in claim 19, wherein the customized configuration files form a registry that contains at least one run-once key and wherein the operating system is programmed to:

(a) read the run-one key; and

(b) if the run-once key is set;

(i) read desktop component information;

(ii) modify a desktop layout; and

(iii) display a customized desktop.

21. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a nonvolatile storage device;

a display device;

an operating system installed on the nonvolatile storage device;

a generic installation program installed on the nonvolatile storage device;

a customized installation program;

customized configuration files stored on the nonvolatile storage device, wherein the customized configuration files contain instructions for the operating system to execute the generic installation program upon the first execution of the operating system and wherein the customized configuration files contain instructions to the operating system to call the customized installation program upon the first invocation of the operating system; and

a customized graphics file.

22. A computer system as defined in claim 21, wherein the customized installation program is programmed to search the nonvolatile memory for other customized components.

23. A computer system as defined in claim 22, wherein the customized installation program is programmed to search for other customized components by operating on a data file that includes installation details about the other customized components.

24. A computer system as defined in claim 22, wherein the installation program is programmed to mask error messages encountered when searching for customized components.

25. A computer system as defined in claim 21, wherein the customized installation program is programmed to remove icons or programs that are included with the operating system.

26. A computer system as defined in claim 21, wherein the customized configuration files form a registry that contains at least one run-once key and wherein the operating system is programmed to:

(a) read the run-once key; and

(b) if the run-once key is set;

(i) read desktop component information;

(ii) modify a desktop layout, and

(iii) display a customized desktop.

27. A computer system as defined in claim 26, wherein the operating system is programmed to assure that (b)(i), (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) are performed only once in respect of a specific user.

28. A system for manufacturing a customized computer product, the system comprising:

installation means for copying a disk image onto a target computer, the disk image including an operating system and a generic installation program; and

first customization means for installing customized configuration files on the target computer, wherein the customized configuration files contain instructions for the operating system to execute the generic installation program upon the first invocation of operating system by an end user and contain instructions to the operating system to call a customized installation program upon the first invocation of the operating system by the end user; and

second customization means for installing custom components, including the customized installation program and customized graphics files, on the target computer.

29. A computer system as defined in claim 28, wherein the customized registration files form a registry that contains at least one run-once key and wherein the operating system is programmed to:

(a) read the run-once key; and

(b) if the run-once key is set;

(i) read desktop component information;

(ii) modify a desktop layout, and

(iii) display a customized desktop.

30. A computer system as defined in claim 29, wherein the operating system is programmed to assure that (b)(i), (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) are performed only once in respect of a specific user.