Bundling extension installation with web browser installation

• US 9,021,468 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2011
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kay, Erik, Boodman, Aaron, Pizano, Carlos E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, Jr., Lewis A
• Assistant Examiner(s): APONTE, FRANCISCO JAVIER
• Application Number:
  US13/110,894
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 717/174, 717/175, 717/176, 717/177, 717/178, 341/50, 341/51, 380/28, 380/29
• US Class Current: 717/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0766 Error or fault reporting or storing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/53 by executing in a restricted environment, e.g. sandbox or secure virtual machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/57 Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1483 service impersonation, e.g. phishing, pharming or web spoofing detection of rogue wireless access points H04W12/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 : Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

According to one general aspect, a computer-implemented method may include receiving, at a server, a request from a computing device for an executable installation file. The executable installation file may be configured, when executed on the computing device, to install a web browser application on the computing device. The request may be associated with a specific network resource location that is hosted by the server. The method may include, in response to receiving the request, obtaining the executable installation file, dynamically incorporating a data file into the executable installation file. The data file may include a browser extension definition for a browser extension corresponding with the specific network resource location. The executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, may be further configured, when executed on the computing device, to install the defined browser extension on the computing device. The method may also include providing the executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, to the computing device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a server, a request from a computing device for an executable installation file, the executable installation file being configured, when executed on the computing device, to install a web browser on the computing device, the request being associated with a specific network resource location that is hosted by the server; and

in response to receiving the request;

obtaining the executable installation file;

dynamically incorporating a data file into the executable installation file, the data file including a browser extension definition for a browser extension corresponding with the specific network resource location, wherein the executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, is further configured, when executed on the computing device, to install the defined browser extension on the computing device; and

providing the executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, to the computing device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the obtained executable installation file includes a digital signature corresponding with a first portion of the obtained executable installation file, the obtained executable installation file including a second portion that is not used to generate the digital signature; and

dynamically incorporating the data file comprises dynamically incorporating the data file in the second portion of the executable installation file.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the specific network resource location is a location associated with a specific Uniform Resource Locator.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the executable installation file comprises obtaining an executable installation file for a most current version of the web browser.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein dynamically incorporating the data file comprises:

obtaining a definition of a most current version of the defined browser extension; and

incorporating a data file including the obtained definition.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, is further configured to, when executed on the computing device, establish one or more operational settings of the web browser.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the one or more operational settings include at least one of:

a setting that causes the web browser to periodically check for and install updates to the web browser; and

a setting that causes the web browser to periodically check for and install updates to the defined browser extension.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the browser extension definition includes a unique identifier of the browser extension, the unique identifier being stored in an encoding scheme that does not use numeric characters.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the browser extension definition includes a unique identifier of the browser extension, the unique identifier comprising a sub-portion of a cryptographic hash value generated from a public encryption key portion of a public/private encryption key pair.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the executable installation file comprises obtaining the executable installation file from a network resource location other than the specific network resource location.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the browser extension definition includes a network resource location at which the defined browser extension is located, the executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, being further configured to, when executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to obtain the defined browser extension included in the browser extension definition.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data file further includes a second browser extension definition, the executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, being further configured to, when executed on the computing device, install the second browser extension on the computing device.

13. A non-transitory recordable storage medium having recorded and stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a first computing device, cause the first computing device to:

receive, at the first computing device, a request from a second computing device for an executable installation file, the executable installation file being configured, when executed on the second computing device, to install a web browser on the second computing device, the request being associated with a specific network resource location that is hosted by the first computing device; and

in response to receiving the request;

obtain the executable installation file;

dynamically incorporate a data file into the executable installation file, the data file including a browser extension definition for a browser extension corresponding with the specific network resource location, wherein the executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, is further configured, when executed on the second computing device, to install the defined browser extension on the second computing device; and

provide the executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, to the second computing device.

14. The non-transitory recordable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions that cause the first computing device to obtain the executable installation file comprise instructions that cause the first computing device to obtain an executable installation file for a most current version of the web browser.

15. The non-transitory recordable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions that cause the first computing device to dynamically incorporate the data file comprise instructions that cause the first computing device to:

obtain a definition of a most current version of the defined browser extension; and

incorporate a data file including the obtained definition.

16. The non-transitory recordable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the browser extension definition includes a unique identifier of the browser extension, the unique identifier comprising a sub-portion of a cryptographic hash value generated from a public encryption key portion of a public/private encryption key pair.

17. The non-transitory recordable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions that cause the first computing device to obtain the executable installation file comprise instructions that cause the first computing device to obtain the executable installation file from a network resource location other than the specific network resource location.

18. The non-transitory recordable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the browser extension definition includes a network resource location at which the defined browser extension is located.

19. The non-transitory recordable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the data file further includes a second browser extension definition, the executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, being further configured to, when executed on the second computing device, install the second browser extension on the second computing device.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory recordable storage medium having instructions recorded thereon, wherein, the apparatus is configured, as result of executing the instructions, to;

receive, at a server, a request from a computing device for an executable installation file, the executable installation file being configured, when executed on the computing device, to install a web browser on the computing device, the request being associated with a specific network resource location that is hosted by the server; and

in response to receiving the request;

obtain the executable installation file;

dynamically incorporate a data file into the executable installation file, the data file including a browser extension definition for a browser extension corresponding with the specific network resource location, wherein the executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, is further configured, when executed on the computing device, to install the defined browser extension on the computing device; and

provide the executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, to the computing device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the data file further includes a second browser extension definition, the executable installation file, with the incorporated data file, being further configured to, when executed on the computing device, install the second browser extension on the computing device.