Content formatting and installation techniques

• US 20060069735A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Czeisler, Adam C., Paradise, Paul M., Figueroa-Morales, Jose J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,245,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

Content formatting and installation techniques are described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving one or more inputs for initiating an installation process of one or more content items and performing the installation process without user intervention. The performing of the installation process includes obtaining a content package, from over a network, which includes a manifest which describes a content type for each of the content items. Each of the content items is installed for use by an application module based on a respective content type.

Claims

1. A method comprising installing one or more content items without user intervention and for use by a application module that is executable on a client by:

downloading a content package that includes a manifest from a content provider;

parsing the manifest to determine a content type for each said content item; and

writing each said content item to memory of the client based on a respective said content type such that the application module is configured to utilize the content item during an instant messaging session.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more content items are included in the content package.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the content package includes one or more references of where the one or more said content items are located.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the installing includes receiving a network address of the content provider.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the installing includes determining whether the content provider is trusted through comparison with a content provider list, and if so, performing the downloading.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the downloading, the parsing, and the writing are performed through execution of the application module.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more content items are selected from the group consisting of:

a display picture;

a dynamic display picture;

a background picture;

an emoticon;

a wink;

a dynamic menu;

video content;

audio content; and

a theme.

8. A method comprising initiating an installation process for installing content items on a client without user intervention which includes:

determining whether a content provider of the content items is trusted through comparison with a content provider list;

if the content provider is trusted, obtaining a content package from over a network which includes the one or more content items and a manifest which describes a content type for each said content item; and

installing each said content item, based on a respective said content type, for use by an application module on the client.

9. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the determining, the obtaining, and the installing of each said content item is performed through execution of the application module on the client.

10. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the installation process further includes:

receiving a network address by the application module from a content manager module; and

comparing the network address with the content provider list.

11. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the content manager module is configured as an ActiveX control.

12. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the installing of each said content item includes:

parsing the manifest to determine a content type for each said content item; and

writing each said content item to memory of the client based on a respective said content type such that the application module is configured to utilize the content item.

13. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the application module is selected from a group consisting of:

an audio content player;

email application;

browser;

note-taking application;

word processor;

an operating system; and

a spreadsheet application.

14. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the application module is a messaging module which is configured to perform instant messaging over a network.

15. A method comprising:

forming one or more lists which indicate whether one or more of a plurality of content providers is trustworthy; and

providing the one or more lists for use in a process which involves automatic installation of content on a client from at least one said content provider for utilization by an application module, wherein if the at least said content provider is not indicated to be trustworthy, the automatic installation is not permitted.

16. A method as described in claim 15, wherein the automatic installation includes:

determining whether one said content provider is trusted based on at least one said content provider list;

if the content provider is trusted, obtaining a content package from the content provider over a network which includes a manifest which describes a content type for each item of content; and

installing each said content item, based on a respective said content type, for use by an application module on the client.

17. A method as described in claim 16, wherein the content is included in the content package.

18. A method as described in claim 16, wherein the content package includes one or more references of where the content is located over a network.

19. A method as described in claim 15, wherein the application module is selected from a group consisting of:

an audio content player;

an email application;

a browser;

a note-taking application;

a word processor;

an operating system; and

a spreadsheet application.

20. A method as described in claim 15, wherein the application module is a messaging module which is configured to perform instant messaging over a network.