Patent ID: 8065617
Filing Date: 2011-11-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. At a computer system including one or more processors and system memory, the computer system also including a Web browser, a method for discovering alternative user experiences for Websites, the method comprising: an act of submitting a request for content to a Web site; an act of receiving responsive content responsive to the request from the Web site; an act of determining that the responsive content includes a link to an application manifest, the application manifest listing one or more alternative applications configured to access content from the Web site, wherein the one or more alternative applications are Rich Internet Applications (RIAs); an act of indicating at the Web browser that the Web site includes the alternative applications in response to determining that the responsive content includes the link to the application manifest; an act of receiving an user indication of a user desire to retain the alternative applications listed in the application manifest; an act of downloading components associated with the alternative applications to the computer system in response to the user indication; an act of caching the downloaded components at the computer system to retain the alternative applications for subsequent use; an act of indicating that the alternative applications are available through an alternative application center at the computer system, the alternative application center providing a common location for accessing alternative applications for different Web sites; an act of receiving user input for opening the alternative application center; an act of presenting available alternative applications available to the user; an act of receiving a user selection of one of the presented available alternative applications; an act of accessing cached components for the alternative application to activate the alternative application for use; an act of the alternative application submitting a request for content to the Web site; an act of the alternative application receiving content back from the Web site in response to the request; and an act of presenting the received content at the alternative application.