State separation for virtual applications

• US 8,458,701 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sheehan, John M, Reierson, Kristofer H
• Primary Examiner(s): CONNOLLY, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US13/208,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20110302581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 713/100, 718/1, 718/100, 718/108
• US Class Current: 718/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/455 Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or operating system execution engines

Abstract

Application states may be stored and retrieved using policies that define various contexts in which the application is used. The application states may define configurations or uses of the application, including connections to and interactions with other applications. Applications that are virtualized may have state that is defined within a usage context and multiple states or configurations may be stored and recalled based on the usage context. Policies may define the context and what parameters are to be saved, and may be applied when applications are operated in a virtualized manner.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

executing a virtual application on a first device, said virtual application having a first configuration and a first state, said virtual application including a plurality of resources, the plurality of resources including a second application;

detecting a change to said virtual application, said change defining a second state, said change affecting at least one of said plurality of resources;

determining a first context for said second state, said first context not being a user context or a machine context; and

storing said change based on said first context.

2. The method of claim 1, said first context comprising a session specific context.

3. The method of claim 1, said first context comprising a cross machine context.

4. The method of claim 3, said cross machine context comprising at least one virtual machine.

5. The method of claim 1, said second application being a virtual application.

6. The method of claim 1, said virtual application being executed on a first hardware platform, one of said resources being executed on a second hardware platform.

7. The method of claim 1, at least one of said plurality of resources being in a second virtual context.

8. The method of claim 7, said first context being an application virtualization context.

9. The method of claim 8, said second virtual context being an application virtualization context.

10. The method of claim 8, said second virtual context being a virtual machine context.

11. The method of claim 6, said first context being a first virtual machine context.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

starting said virtual application;

determining a current context for said virtual application;

referencing a policy defined for said current context;

determining that said current context includes said first context; and

operating said virtual application using said change.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

starting said virtual application;

determining a current context for said virtual application;

referencing a policy defined for said current context;

determining that said current context does not include said first context; and

operating said virtual application without said change.

14. A hardware system comprising:

an execution system configured to execute a first virtual application in a plurality of contexts, said first virtual application including a plurality of resources, the plurality of resources including a second application; and

a change monitoring system configured to;

determine that a change has been made to said first virtual application, said change affecting at least one of said plurality of resources;

determine at least one context for said change; and

store said change such that said change may be implemented when said at least one context is a current context.

15. The system of claim 14, said plurality of contexts comprising at least one of a group composed of:

a session specific context;

a session type specific context;

a cross machine context; and

a dual application context.

16. The system of claim 14, said said resources said second application selected from among a group composed of:

a second application operating in a virtual application context;

a second application operating in a virtual machine context; and

a second application operating on a separate hardware platform.

17. A method comprising:

executing a virtual application on a first hardware platform, said virtual application having a first configuration defining a first state, said virtual application including a plurality of resources, at least one of said plurality of resources being executed on a second hardware platform;

detecting a change to said virtual application, said change defining a second state, said change affecting at least one of said plurality of resources;

determining at least one first set of contexts for said second state, said first set of contexts including at least one context other than user context and machine context, said first set of contexts comprising at least one virtual context;

referencing a policy defined for at least a portion of said first set of contexts; and

storing said change based on said at least a portion of said first set of contexts as defined in said policy.

18. The method of claim 17, said at least one virtual context comprising at least one of a group composed of:

a virtual application context; and

a virtual machine context.