Intelligent prioritization of activated extensions

• US 8,843,822 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Claux, David, Henderson, Jason Todd, Ouliankine, Oleg, Faoro, Michael Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US13/361,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20130198623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 715/200, 715/201, 715/202, 715/203, 715/204, 715/205, 715/207, 715/208, 715/210, 715/234, 715/243, 715/255, 715/256, 715/273, 715/700, 715/713, 715/750, 715/751, 715/752, 715/760, 715/761, 715/762, 715/763, 715/764, 715/797, 715/853, 717/100, 717/114, 717/115, 717/116, 717/120, 717/148, 717/173, 717/174, 717/177
• US Class Current: 715/273
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Extension prioritization may be provided. Upon opening a document in a software application, a determination may be made whether the document satisfies a respective activation rule for each of a plurality of application extensions associated with the software application. In response to determining that the document satisfies a respective activation rule for each of a plurality of application extensions associated with the software application a priority may be identified for each of the plurality of application extensions and a user interface element associated with at least one of the plurality of application extensions may be displayed.

Claims

1. A computer-readable hardware storage device which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for providing extension prioritization, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

opening a document in a software application operative to display at least a list of a plurality of documents, wherein the software application comprises at least one of the following;

a messaging application, a document processing application, a productivity application, and a web browsing application;

retrieving a plurality of activation triggers, wherein each of the plurality of activation triggers is associated with at least one of a plurality of application extensions for the software application and each of the plurality of activation triggers is retrieved from a configuration manifest associated with a respective one of the plurality of application extensions,

determining whether the document satisfies a respective activation rule for at least a subset of a plurality of application extensions associated with the software application; and

in response to determining that the document satisfies a respective activation rule for at least the subset of the plurality of application extensions associated with the software application;

identifying a priority for each of at least the subset of the plurality of application extensions, wherein the identified priority is based on at least one of the following;

an order of satisfying at least one of the plurality of activation triggers in the document, an order of installation of each of the extensions, a frequency of activation of each of the extensions, a priority defined by the document, a priority defined by the software application, and a placement of an element in the document that satisfies the activation trigger, and

displaying a tabular interface comprising a plurality of tabs each associated with a one of at least the subset of the plurality of application extensions, wherein the plurality of tabs are ordered from left to right according to the priority identified for each of the extensions.

2. The computer-readable hardware storage device of claim 1, wherein opening the document in the software application comprises opening the document in the software application wherein the software application is operative to display a plurality of selectable documents.

3. The computer-readable hardware storage device of claim 2, further comprising hiding at least one extension associated with a non-selected one of the plurality of selectable documents.

4. The computer-readable hardware storage device of claim 1, wherein displaying the tabular interface comprises displaying a numerical element associated with a count of the plurality of application extensions.

5. A method for providing extension prioritization, the method executed by a processor, the method comprising:

opening a document in a software application operative to display at least a list of a plurality of documents;

retrieving a plurality of activation triggers, wherein each of the plurality of activation triggers is associated with at least one of a plurality of application extensions for the software application and each of the plurality of activation triggers is retrieved from a configuration manifest associated with a respective one of the plurality of application extensions,

determining whether the document satisfies a respective activation rule for at least a subset of a plurality of application extensions associated with the software application; and

in response to determining that the document satisfies a respective activation rule for at least the subset of the plurality of application extensions associated with the software application;

identifying a priority for each of at least the subset of the plurality of application extensions, wherein the identified priority is based on at least one of the following;

an order of satisfying at least one of the plurality of activation triggers in the document, an order of installation of each of the extensions, a frequency of activation of each of the extensions, a priority defined by the document, a priority defined by the software application, and a placement of an element in the document that satisfies the activation trigger, and

displaying a tabular interface comprising a plurality of tabs each associated with a one of at least the subset of the plurality of application extensions, wherein the plurality of tabs are ordered from left to right according to the priority identified for each of the extensions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein opening the document in the software application comprises opening the document in the software application comprising at least one of the following:

a messaging application, a document processing application, a productivity application, and a web browsing application is an e-mail client.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein opening the document in the software application comprises opening the document in the software application wherein the software application is operative to display a plurality of selectable documents.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising hiding at least one extension associated with a non-selected one of the plurality of selectable documents.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein displaying the tabular interface comprises displaying a numerical element associated with a count of the plurality of application extensions.

10. A system for providing extension prioritization, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processor coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processor is operable to;

open a document in a software application operative to display at least a list of a plurality of documents;

retrieve a plurality of activation triggers, wherein each of the plurality of activation triggers is associated with at least one of a plurality of application extensions for the software application and each of the plurality of activation triggers is retrieved from a configuration manifest associated with a respective one of the plurality of application extensions,

determine whether the document satisfies a respective activation rule for at least a subset of a plurality of application extensions associated with the software application; and

in response to determining that the document satisfies a respective activation rule for at least the subset of the plurality of application extensions associated with the software application;

identify a priority for each of at least the subset of the plurality of application extensions, wherein the identified priority is based on at least one of the following;

an order of satisfying at least one of the plurality of activation triggers in the document, an order of installation of each of the extensions, a frequency of activation of each of the extensions, a priority defined by the document, a priority defined by the software application, and a placement of an element in the document that satisfies the activation trigger, and

display a tabular interface comprising a plurality of tabs each associated with a one of at least the subset of the plurality of application extensions, wherein the plurality of tabs are ordered from left to right according to the priority identified for each of the extensions.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor being operable to open the document in the software application comprises the processor being operable to open the document in the software application comprising at least one of the following:

a messaging application, a document processing application, a productivity application, and a web browsing application is an e-mail client.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor being operable to open the document in the software application comprises the processor being operable to open the document in the software application wherein the software application is operative to display a plurality of selectable documents.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising the processor being operable to hide at least one extension associated with a non-selected one of the plurality of selectable documents.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor being operable to open display the tabular interface comprises the processor being operable to open display a numerical element associated with a count of the plurality of application extensions.