Method and system for controlling software to facilitate cross-version collaboration of files

Methods and systems are provided for controlling elements of computing systems including operating systems, software applications and different versions of software applications to better facilitate cross-application and cross-version collaboration of files. Elements within a computing system, for example, operating systems, applications, or particular versions of an application, are reconfigured at application start time or document start time so that individual elements may interact with existing files of an otherwise different computing system or such that individual elements may generate or edit files targeted at otherwise different computing systems.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to collaborative use of disparate computing and software systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and systems for controlling software to facilitate cross-application and cross-version collaboration of files.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the advent of the computer age, computer and software users have grown accustomed to user-friendly software applications that help then write, calculate, organize, prepare presentations, send and receive electronic mail, make music, and the like. For example, modern electronic word processing applications allow users to prepare a variety of useful documents. Modem spreadsheet applications allow users to enter, manipulate, and organize data. Modem electronic slide presentation applications allow users to create a variety of slide presentations containing text, pictures, data and other useful objects.

As society continues to embrace computers and computer software at an ever-increasing rate, the computing world has become a fragmented heterogeneous system made up of computers running a multitude of different operating systems, applications and versions of applications. Each element within a single computing system (for example, operating system, applications and different versions of applications) has differences in user interface, features/functionality, application program interfaces and file formats. The differences between these elements cause problems when two or more users from different computing systems attempt to collaborate. For example, when one user from one computing system using a second generation or second version of a given software application creates or edits a document intended for a first or former version of the same software application, features or functionalities available on the later version of the software application may apply properties to the document that may not be compatible with available functionalities or features available to the earlier version of the software application.

Typical problems the average user encounters include a failure to open a file received from a different computing system, a failure to save a file intended for use in a different computing system without file degradation, visual and content changes or loss when consuming a file on a different computing system from the computing system on which the file was created or edited, and programmatic errors when trying to consume a file on a different computing system from the computing system on which the file was created or edited. Prior solutions to these problems fail to mitigate most of the potential problems users can expect. Further, prior solutions often are deployed when a user is no longer in a position to easily identify or fix the offending component of a file. Examples of such solutions include compatibility checkers, translators, and converters.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method and system for improving the control of software applications and components of computing systems to facilitate better cross-application and cross-version collaboration of files. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention solve the above and other problems by providing methods and systems for controlling elements of computing systems including operating systems, software applications, and different versions of software applications to better facilitate cross-application and cross-version collaboration of files. Generally described, according to embodiments of the present invention, elements within a computing system, for example operating systems, applications, or particular versions of an application, are reconfigured so that individual elements may interact with existing files of an otherwise different computing system or such that individual elements may generate files targeted at otherwise different computing systems.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a given element of a computing system is constrained such that as the element is used, functionality available to the element that may cause cross-application or cross-version collaboration problems is disabled or otherwise is made unavailable for use in creating or editing a file that is intended for a different type or different version of the computing system element. According to this embodiment, an element of the computing system may be constrained according to a spectrum of constraints where on one end of the spectrum the application or element is completely disallowed from performing editing functions on a given file. At the other end of the spectrum, the application or element may be configured or constrained so that a particular set of features of functionalities of the application are disabled according to a profile applied to the application or element for enabling or disabling certain features or functionalities of the application or element so as to prevent cross-application or cross-version problems between the application or element and a different application or element of the same type or from a different version of the same application or element.

According to another embodiment, a computing system or elements of a computing system may be configured in a particular way that is optimized for general needs of a given user or group of users, but when a file is encountered by the computing system from a different computing system, the first computing system may automatically offer to reconfigure itself for consuming the file so as to avoid cross-application or cross-version collaboration problems. According to this embodiment, one or more compatibility configurations may be loaded by the application or element being used to create or edit a file for configuring the application or element to prevent cross-application or cross-version problems.

According to another embodiment, once a computing system element has been configured with a set of feature and/or functionality limitations for preventing cross-application or cross-version problems, the computing system element may nonetheless be returned to full utility by removing the cross-application or cross-version configurations applied to the computing system element.

These and other features and advantages, which characterize the present invention, will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As briefly described above, embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for controlling elements of a computing system, for example operating systems, software applications, or different versions of software applications to facilitate improved cross-application and cross-version collaboration of files. According to embodiments of the present invention, features and/or functionalities or other configurations of an element of a computing system may be modified to allow a given element of the computing system to create, edit or otherwise operate on a file or document in a manner that allows a different computing system element, different software application, or a different version of the same software application to receive and use the file or document without the problems normally associated with incompatible computing systems or incompatible computer system elements, or associated with different versions of a same software application as set out above in the background section. These embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements through the several figures, aspects of the present invention and an exemplary operating environment will be described.FIG. 1and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which the invention may be implemented. While the invention will be described in the general context of program modules that execute in conjunction with an application program that runs on an operating system on a personal computer, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may also be implemented in combination with other program modules.

Turning now toFIG. 1, an illustrative computer architecture for a personal computer2for practicing the various embodiments of the invention will be described. The computer architecture shown inFIG. 1illustrates a conventional personal computer, including a central processing unit4(“CPU”), a system memory6, including a random access memory8(“RAM”) and a read-only memory (“ROM”)10, and a system bus12that couples the memory to the CPU4. A basic input/output system containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer, such as during startup, is stored in the ROM10. The personal computer2further includes a mass storage device14for storing an operating system16, application programs, such as the application program105, and data.

The mass storage device14is connected to the CPU4through a mass storage controller (not shown) connected to the bus12. The mass storage device14and its associated computer-readable media, provide non-volatile storage for the personal computer2. Although the description of computer-readable media contained herein refers to a mass storage device, such as a hard disk or CD-ROM drive, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the personal computer2.

According to various embodiments of the invention, the personal computer2may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to remote computers through a TCP/IP network18, such as the Internet. The personal computer2may connect to the TCP/IP network18through a network interface unit20connected to the bus12. It should be appreciated that the network interface unit20may also be utilized to connect to other types of networks and remote computer systems. The personal computer2may also include an input/output controller22for receiving and processing input from a number of devices, including a keyboard or mouse (not shown). Similarly, an input/output controller22may provide output to a display screen, a printer, or other type of output device.

As mentioned briefly above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored in the mass storage device14and RAM8of the personal computer2, including an operating system16suitable for controlling the operation of a networked personal computer, such as the WINDOWS operating systems from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. The mass storage device14and RAM8may also store one or more application programs. In particular, the mass storage device14and RAM8may store an application program105for providing a variety of functionalities to a user. For instance, the application program105may comprise many types of programs such as a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, a desktop publishing application, and the like. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the application program105comprises a multiple functionality software application suite for providing functionality from a number of different software applications. Some of the individual program modules that may comprise the multiple functionality application suite105include a word processing application125, a slide presentation application135, a spreadsheet application140and a database application145. An example of such a multiple functionality application suite105is OFFICE manufactured by Microsoft Corporation. Other software applications illustrated inFIG. 1include an electronic mail application130.

According to embodiments of the present invention, elements of a given computing system, for example an operating system, a given software application, or a particular version of a given software application, configure themselves so that they can interact with existing files of an otherwise different system or such that they can generate files targeted at the otherwise different computing system. Configuration modifications utilized by elements of a computing system according to embodiments of the present invention include configuration modifications at a variety of levels including user interfaces, features/functionalities, application program interface (API) sets and file format support.

According to one embodiment of the invention, configuration of an application for improved cross-application or cross-version collaboration may be performed at application load time. As should be understood, cross-application collaboration may include collaboration on documents or files on two different applications of the same type, for example, two word processing applications manufactured by different companies. Cross-version collaboration may include collaboration on documents or files on two versions (e.g., 2003 version versus 2004 version) of the same software application.

When a given application loads, the application may pick up appropriate configurations and apply those configurations relative to a different application or different version of the same application to which documents or files created or edited by the first application are intended. For example, if a first application includes a word processing application provided by a first software company is to be used for generating documents directed to an organization that operates a second word processing application provided by a second software company, compatibility configurations may be necessary for the first software application in order to generate documents or files that may be utilized by the organization operating the second software application without file or document degradation associated with incompatibility problems between the two software applications. For example, the first software application may allow formatting functionalities that are not allowed or available by the second software application. Accordingly, a set of compatibility configurations may be constructed and applied to the first application that will disable functionality provided by the first software application while the first application is being used to generate or edit files intended for use on the second software. In effect, a given compatibility configuration setting operates as a profile of the computing system element to which a document or file is intended for allowing a creating or editing application to create or edit documents for use on an otherwise different or incompatible computing system or computing system element.

FIG. 2is a flow diagram illustrating steps performed by a method and system of the present invention for loading compatibility configurations at application load time onto a computing system element for preventing cross-application or cross-version collaboration problems. At block210a first application is started. At block215, compatibility configurations for reconfiguring the first application for creating or editing a document or file intended for the second application are loaded onto the first application. For example, when the first application is started, a functionality button or control may be provided in a user interface associated with the first application to allow the user to select compatibility configurations for configuring the first application for use in association with a variety of different applications including the example second software application described above. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a list of compatibility configurations may be provided to a user at application load time, and a prompt may be provided to alert the user of available compatibility configurations. Upon selection of the desired application for which the first application is to be configured, compatibility configurations associated with the second application are loaded onto the first application.

When the application loads, and when a particular compatibility configuration is selected, the configuration may be taken from a variety of sources. As illustrated at block220, a global compatibility configuration may be set onto the first application for applying a standard set of compatibility configurations to the first application. For example, the global compatibility configuration may be a configuration determined by an organization's computing system administrator for configuring all computing systems for generating or editing documents or files according to a set compatibility configuration if those documents or files created by all computing systems in the organization are directed to persons or organizations operating a different computing system or computing system element for which the compatibility configurations are required.

Alternatively, as illustrated at block225, local compatibility configurations may be applied to the first application whereby the compatibility configurations may be customizable by the end user of the first application. For example, if a particular user in an organization knows that a document created or edited on his/her local computing system is to be utilized by another user having a different software application of the same type as the first software application (e.g., word processing application), or operating a different version of the same software application, then a local compatibility configuration may be applied to the first application whereby the end user of the first application sets customized compatibility configurations on the first application. A user interface button may be provided for displaying a menu of compatibility configurations that may be set by the end user. For example, the end user may be allowed to disable particular functionalities or features such as formatting options and the like. Once the global or local compatibility configurations are loaded at block215, at block230the configurations are applied to the application, and the routine ends at block235.

Referring now toFIG. 3, a compatibility configuration or profile applied to a computing system element may range from simple modifications to the features/functionalities of the computing system element to very complex configuration modifications. As shown inFIG. 3, on the simple end300of the configuration spectrum, simple configuration settings may be applied, for example disallowing all editing by a given computing system element. At position310on the spectrum, an example configuration is shown of disallowing only non-text editing. At position330on the spectrum, a configuration is shown for disabling user interface controls A, B and F for feature A, but enabling a feature A object model. At position335on the spectrum, a configuration setting is shown for disabling user interface controls A, B and F of feature A, enabling feature A object model and obtaining a control G plug-in at a particular online location. As should be understood, the configuration settings illustrated atFIG. 3are for purposes of example only and are not limiting of the variety of different configuration settings that may be applied to a computing system element.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, compatibility configurations may be applied to a computing system element, for example a software application, a particular version of the software application, operating system, and the like, upon the loading of a particular file or document for editing or other processing. According to this embodiment, when a particular document or file is launched using a given application, a determination may be made that a compatibility configuration should be applied to the application so that edits or other processing performed on the document or file will be compatible with other applications or versions of the same application for which the document or file is intended. For example, if a user attempts to open a file generated on an older version of a software application using a later version of the same software application, the user may desire to apply a compatibility configuration to the later version of the software application such that edits made to the document or file will not create compatibility problems when the document or file is subsequently opened using the older version of the software application.

Referring toFIG. 4, at block405, the application is use (e.g., later version) is loaded. At block410, the user performs some action such as opening an existing file or document, or opening a new file or document. If the user opens a new file or document, the routine proceeds to block445, and no compatibility configurations are applied to the software application in use because no existing document or file is being edited that may have been generated or previously edited by a different software application or by a different version of the same software application. As should be understood, if the user knows that the new file or new document is to be generated for use by a different application or different application version, the user may apply a compatibility configuration to the application at application load time as described above with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring still toFIG. 4, if an existing file or document is being opened, the routine proceeds to block415, and a determination is made as to whether the file or document has an associated compatibility configuration. For example, a determination is made as to whether the document or file was generated by another application to which a compatibility configuration was applied at the time the document or file was generated as described above with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3. As should be understood, properties may be associated with a document or file which identify attributes (e.g., application type, name, version, compatibility configuration, etc.) of an application used for generating or editing the document or file.

If the document is associated with a particular compatibility configuration, the routine proceeds to block420, and the user is prompted to use the same compatibility configuration on the computing system element or application currently in use. If the user does not wish to utilize the proposed compatibility configuration, the routine proceeds to block445, and the user may edit the document or file according to the functionality/feature configurations associated with the in-use application. If the user does desire to apply the proposed compatibility configuration, the routine proceeds to block425, and the proposed compatibility configuration is applied to the computing system element or application. As should be understood, the proposed compatibility configuration may be provided to the user in a user interface element such as a pop-up dialog, drop-down menu, and the like. Alternatively, when a particular document or file is launched on a given application, a list of compatibility configurations may be provided for configuring the application relative to configurations applied to a previous or other application used for generating or editing the document or file.

Referring back to block415, if the document or file is not associated with a given compatibility configuration, the routine proceeds to block430, and a determination is made as to whether the document or file was generated by a different version of the same software application in use. If not, the routine proceeds to block445, and the software application or other computing system element may be utilized without the application of a given or customized compatibility configuration. If a determination is made that the document or file was generated or edited using a software application of a different version, the routine proceeds to block435, and a determination is made as to whether a compatibility configuration is available for configuring the software application is use for generating or editing a document or file for use by a different version of the software application.

If no compatibility configuration is available, the routine proceeds to block445, and the user may decide to continue with edits to the document or file without regard to potential compatibility problems that may be caused by generating or editing the document with the application version in use. If a configuration is available, the routine proceeds to block440, and the user may be prompted to load the available compatibility configuration. If the user accepts the proposed compatibility configuration, the routine proceeds to block425, and the proposed compatibility configuration is applied to the application in use. The routine then proceeds to block445, and the reconfigured application may be utilized for editing the document or file.

In some cases, a user may desire to upgrade the configurations of a given computing system element to remove or modify constraints placed on features or functionalities of a given element. Or, a user may desire to remove altogether a configuration applied to an application at application load time or in association with a loaded file or document.FIG. 5is a flow diagram illustrating steps performed by a method and system of the present invention for upgrading cross-application or cross-version configurations applied to an element of a computing system. Referring toFIG. 5, a user may upgrade or remove configurations at document start time or at application load time.

At block505, when a particular document or file is loaded, or when an application is loaded or started, the routine proceeds to block510. At block510, a user input is received, for example selection of a feature or functionality for application to a document or file. If the feature or functionality selected by the user is not constrained by an applied compatibility configuration, the routine loops back around to block510, and subsequent user inputs are received. If the feature selected by the user is constrained by an applied compatibility configuration, the routine proceeds to block515, and a prompt may be provided to the user to allow the user to upgrade the compatibility configurations applied to the application so that the user may indeed utilize the desired feature of functionality. That is, the previously applied compatibility configuration which disallows use of the selected feature or functionality may be changed so that the compatibility configuration is upgraded to allow selection and use of the otherwise constrained feature.

If the user decides not to upgrade the compatibility configurations to allow use of the selected feature or functionality, the routine proceeds back to block510for the next user input. On the other hand, if the user decides to upgrade the compatibility configuration to allow use of the selected feature or functionality, the routine proceeds to block520, and a new compatibility configuration is applied to the software application in use to allow for selection and use of the desired feature or functionality. The routine ends at block530.

As described herein, methods and systems are provided for controlling computing system elements for facilitating improved cross-application or cross-version collaboration of files and documents. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.