Method and apparatus for determining preferred controls for an upgradable operating system

• US 6,389,591 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1998
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Andrew, Felix Gerard Torquil Ifor
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki, Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chavis, John Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/146,615
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 395/712, 717/11, 717/169, 717/175
• US Class Current: 717/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method for allowing an operating system to be upgraded without destroying the compatibility of applications written for the operating system is disclosed. When an application is created, the application developer identifies in the code of the application whether a control has been customized or not customized by the application. When the application is being executed on the operating system, the operating system can distinguish between customized and non-customized controls so as to be able to provide upgraded controls for those controls that have not been customized.

Claims

1. A method for allowing an operating system to be upgraded without destroying the compatibility of applications written for the operating system, comprising the steps of;

identifying a request for a control by an application being executed on the operating system;

determining whether the application has identified the control as customizable;

implementing the control with an upgradable set of features if the control has not been identified as customizable; and

implementing the control with a non-upgradable set of features if the control has been identified as customizable.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the application is prevented from customizing the control when the control has been implemented with the upgradable set of features.

3. A method of implementing an interface in an operating system, comprising the steps of:

a). defining an application to run on the operating system;

b). requesting an interface predefined in the operating system, the interface having first methods, properties and events;

c). determining in the operating system if at least one of an upgradable method, property and event is available as a result of an upgrade of the operating system;

d). implementing the interface using the at least one of an upgradable method, property and event when a first identifier is used in an application; and

e). implementing the interface using the first methods, properties and events when the first identifier is not used in the application.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the application is prevented from customizing the interface when the first identifier is used.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the operating system examines a control registry to determine the appropriate methods, properties and events for the application when the first identifier is used.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the interface is implemented using a third set of methods, properties and events when a third identifier is used in the application.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the most recently upgraded methods, properties and events is used to implement the application when the first identifier is used.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least one of a most advanced methods, properties and events is used to implement the application when the first identifier is used.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 3.

10. A method of implementing a control in an operating system, comprising the steps of:

a). defining an application to run on the operating system;

b). requesting a control predefined in the operating system, the control having a first set of features;

c). determining in the operating system if at least one of an upgradable feature is available as a result of an upgrade in the operating system;

d). implementing the control using at least one of an upgraded feature when a first identifier is used in an application; and

e). implementing the control using the first set of features when the first identifier is not used in the application.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the application is prevented from customizing the interface when the first identifier is used.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the operating system examines a control registry to determine the appropriate features for the application when the first identifier is used.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the control is implemented using a third set of features when a third identifier is used in the application.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the most recently upgraded features is used to implement the application when the first identifier is used.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of a most advanced feature is used to implement the application when the first identifier is used.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 10.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the features define the look and feel of the control.

18. A computer system for implementing a control when an application is run on an operating system, comprising:

means for receiving a request for a control;

means for implementing the control with an upgradable set of features when the control is identified by a first identifier; and

means for implementing the control with a non-upgradable set of features when the control is not identified by the first identifier.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the application is prevented from customizing the interface when the first identifier is used.

20. The computer system according to claim 18, wherein the operating system examines a control registry to determine the appropriate set of upgradable features when the first identifier is used.

21. A computer system for implementing an interface when an application is run on an operating system, comprising:

means for receiving a request for an interface;

means for implementing the interface with an upgradable set of methods, properties and events when the interface is identified by a first identifier, said upgradable set of methods, properties and events being available as a result of an upgrade to the operating system; and

means for implementing the interface with a non-upgradable set of methods, properties, and events when the interface is not identified by the first identifier.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the application is prevented from customizing the interface when the first identifier is used.

23. The computer system according to claim 21, wherein the operating system examines a control registry to determine the appropriate set of upgradable methods, properties and events when the first identifier is used.

24. A method for implementing a control when an application is run on an operating system, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a control;

implementing the control with an upgradable set of features when the control is identified by a first identifier; and

implementing the control with a non-upgradable set of features when the control is not identified by the first identifier.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the application is prevented from customizing the interface when the first identifier is used.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the operating system examines a control registry to determine the appropriate set of upgradable features when the first identifier is used.

27. A method of implementing an interface when an application is run on an operating system, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for an interface;

implementing the interface with an upgradable set of methods, properties and events when the interface is identified by a first identifier, said upgradable set of methods, properties and events being available as a result of an upgrade to the operating system; and

implementing the interface with a non-upgradable set of methods, properties and events when the interface is not identified by the first identifier.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the application is prevented from customizing the interface when the first identifier is used.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the operating system examines a control registry to determine the appropriate set of upgradable methods, properties and events when the first identifier is used.

30. A method for using an operating system having a set of original features and an upgraded set of features, comprising:

implementing a control with the upgraded set of features when the control has not been customized; and

implementing the control with the set of original features when the control has been customized.