Updating estimated process runtime

• US 7,577,632 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Thompson, Daniel J., Hoover, Jonathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent; David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUSS, BENJAMIN J
• Application Number:
  US11/422,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20070283340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 717124-131, 717168-178, 717/135, 116/308, 706/14, 706/52, 706/62, 706/47, 702179-186, 714 25- 26, 714/819, 714/821
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

Systems and methods for updating estimated process runtimes are provided. Initially, an estimated runtime for a process, the estimated runtime being based on a default value or at least one previously recorded actual runtime, is received. An actual runtime of the process is then recorded and the estimated runtime for the process is automatically updated utilizing the recorded actual runtime.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method using one or more processors for updating an estimated runtime for a process comprising at least one of a data download, a software installation, and a software update, the method comprising:

receiving an estimated runtime for the process having a plurality of distinct units, wherein the estimated runtime for the process comprises a sum of estimated runtimes for each of the distinct units of at least a portion of the process to be executed, the estimated runtime for each of the distinct units being based on actual runtimes of prior executions of the corresponding distinct unit of the process;

recording an actual runtime for each of the distinct units of the at least the portion of the process; and

automatically updating the estimated runtimes for each of the distinct units of the at least the portion of the process utilizing the respective recorded actual runtimes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting an indicator of the estimated runtime for the process.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the indicator comprises a progress bar.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated runtime for each of the distinct units comprises an average of two or more prior actual runtimes for the process.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated runtime comprises a sum of average actual runtimes for two or more of the plurality of distinct units.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the actual runtime for the process includes a sum of actual runtimes for fewer than all of the plurality of distinct units based on a system environment in which the process is executed.

7. One or more computer readable storage media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

8. A computerized system having a processor and memory, the computerized system for updating an estimated runtime for a process comprising at least one of a data download, a software installation, and a software update, the system comprising:

an executer component configured to measure an actual runtime for each of a plurality of distinct units of the process and to utilize the actual runtimes to update an estimated runtime for each of the distinct units of the process, wherein the updated estimated runtime for each of the distinct units is used to estimate runtimes for subsequent runs of the process, or distinct units thereof;

a repository configured to store one or more information items related to the process; and

a presentation component configured to present an indicator of at least one of the one or more information items.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the executor component is further configured to automatically update the estimated runtime for each of the distinct units of the process upon measuring the actual runtime for each of the distinct units.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the estimated runtime for a distinct unit of the process comprises an average of two or more actual runtimes of prior executions of the respective distinct unit.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the estimated runtime for the process comprises a sum of estimated runtimes for two or more of a plurality of distinct units comprising the process.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the one or more information items includes a default runtime for the process, an estimated runtime for the process, an identifier of at least one distinct unit comprising the process, a default runtime for at least one distinct unit comprising the process, or an estimated runtime for at least one distinct unit comprising the process.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the presentation component is configured to present an indicator of the estimated runtime for the process, and wherein the indicator is a progress bar.

14. A computer-implemented method using one or more processors for updating an estimated runtime for a process comprising at least one of a data download, a software installation, and a software update, the process including a plurality of distinct units, the method comprising:

receiving a first indication to execute at least a portion of the process;

determining based on a system environment which of the plurality of distinct units comprise the portion of the process to be executed;

receiving a first estimated runtime for the portion of the process to be executed, the first estimated runtime comprising a sum of estimated runtimes for each of the distinct units comprising the portion of the process to be executed, wherein the estimated runtime for each of the distinct units comprises an average of two or more actual runtimes of prior runs of the corresponding distinct unit;

presenting a first indicator of the first estimated runtime for the portion of the process to be executed;

recording an actual runtime for each of the distinct units comprising the portion of the process;

automatically updating the estimated runtime for each of the distinct units comprising the portion of the process utilizing the respective recorded actual runtimes;

storing the updated estimated runtime for each of the distinct units; and

utilizing one or more of the stored updated estimated runtimes to present a second indicator of a second estimated runtime of the process upon receiving a second indication to execute at least a portion of the process.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the indicator comprises a progress bar.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the process comprises at least one of a software installation process and a software updating process.

17. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 14.