Patent Publication Number: US-2003236799-A1

Title: Method for managing files and dependent applications that act on them

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Technical Field  
       [0002] The present invention relates generally to computer applications, and more specifically to installing and deleting applications associated with particular file types.  
       [0003] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0004] Computer files often require specific applications in order for users to properly access them. Many of these applications are preloaded onto the computer whether or not the user has specific files which require those applications.  
       [0005] However, a user may also install an application on a computer specifically to handle a particular file. This occurs often when downloading files from a network. For example, if a user downloads a file from the Internet, the user&#39;s machine may not have the necessary application for using the file. Therefore, the user must download the application in addition to the file.  
       [0006] In many cases, the user may only require an application for one particular file, or a small group of files. Downloading applications for use with specific files can create storage problems on the computer, requiring some of these applications to be deleted.  
       [0007] In general, there are problems with deleting applications when the system still contains files that require those applications. As explained above, such applications are usually downloaded because files that require these applications were downloaded first.  
       [0008] Therefore it would be desirable to have method fro determining which applications need to be downloaded for use with particular types of files, as well as a method for determining whether such applications are no longer needed and may be deleted.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] The present invention provides a method, program and system for downloading and deleting applications associated with particular file types. The invention comprises, when opening a browser, determining if a given file type has an associated application on the computer. If the file type does not have an associated application, the invention determines if the user has previously been asked about this file type. If the user has not previously been asked about this file type, the invention asks if the user wants to download the associated application for the file type. If user chooses to, the application is downloaded.  
       [0010] When a user enters a request to delete a program from the computer, the invention determining if the program is the last one servicing a given file type on the computer. If the program is not the last one servicing this file type, this program is deleted. If the program is the last one servicing that file type, the invention searches the computer to determine if there are any files using that type. If there are, the invention give the user the opportunity to delete such file.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
     [0012]FIG. 1 depicts a pictorial representation of a network of data processing systems in which the present invention may be implemented;  
     [0013]FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a data processing system that may be implemented as a server in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0014]FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram illustrating a data processing system in which the present invention may be implemented;  
     [0015]FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart illustrating a process for downloading necessary applications during web browser start in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0016]FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart illustrating an application deletion process in accordance with the present invention; and  
     [0017]FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart illustrating an alternate application deletion process in accordance with the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0018] With reference now to the figures, FIG. 1 depicts a pictorial representation of a network of data processing systems in which the present invention may be implemented. Network data processing system  100  is a network of computers in which the present invention may be implemented. Network data processing system  100  contains a network  102 , which is the medium used to provide communications links between various devices and computers connected together within network data processing system  100 . Network  102  may include connections, such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables.  
     [0019] In the depicted example, a server  104  is connected to network  102  along with storage unit  106 . In addition, clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  also are connected to network  102 . These clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  may be, for example, personal computers or network computers. In the depicted example, server  104  provides data, such as boot files, operating system images, and applications to clients  108 - 112 . Clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  are clients to server  104 . Network data processing system  100  may include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown.  
     [0020] In the depicted example, network data processing system  100  is the Internet with network  102  representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, government, educational and other computer systems that route data and messages. Of course, network data processing system  100  also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN). FIG. 1 is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation for the present invention.  
     [0021] Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a data processing system that may be implemented as a server, such as server  104  in FIG. 1, is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Data processing system  200  may be a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system including a plurality of processors  202  and  204  connected to system bus  206 . Alternatively, a single processor system may be employed. Also connected to system bus  206  is memory controller/cache  208 , which provides an interface to local memory  209 . I/O bus bridge  210  is connected to system bus  206  and provides an interface to I/O bus  212 . Memory controller/cache  208  and I/O bus bridge  210  may be integrated as depicted.  
     [0022] Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridge  214  connected to I/O bus  212  provides an interface to PCI local bus  216 . A number of modems may be connected to PCI bus  216 . Typical PCI bus implementations will support four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. Communications links to network computers  108 - 112  in FIG. 1 may be provided through modem  218  and network adapter  220  connected to PCI local bus  216  through add-in boards.  
     [0023] Additional PCI bus bridges  222  and  224  provide interfaces for additional PCI buses  226  and  228 , from which additional modems or network adapters may be supported. In this manner, data processing system  200  allows connections to multiple network computers. A memory-mapped graphics adapter  230  and hard disk  232  may also be connected to I/O bus  212  as depicted, either directly or indirectly. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in FIG. 2 may vary. For example, other peripheral devices, such as optical disk drives and the like, also may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention.  
     [0024] The data processing system depicted in FIG. 2 may be, for example, an eServer pSeries system, a product of International Business Machines Corporation in Armonk, N.Y., running the Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX) or Linux operating systems.  
     [0025] With reference now to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrating a data processing system is depicted in which the present invention may be implemented. Data processing system  300  is an example of a client computer. Data processing system  300  employs a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus architecture. Although the depicted example employs a PCI bus, other bus architectures such as Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) and Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) may be used. Processor  302  and main memory  304  are connected to PCI local bus  306  through PCI bridge  308 . PCI bridge  308  also may include an integrated memory controller and cache memory for processor  302 . Additional connections to PCI local bus  306  may be made through direct component interconnection or through add-in boards. In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter  310 , SCSI host bus adapter  312 , and expansion bus interface  314  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by direct component connection. In contrast, audio adapter  316 , graphics adapter  318 , and audio/video adapter  319  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by add-in boards inserted into expansion slots. Expansion bus interface  314  provides a connection for a keyboard and mouse adapter  320 , modem  322 , and additional memory  324 . Small computer system interface (SCSI) host bus adapter  312  provides a connection for hard disk drive  326 , tape drive  328 , CD-ROM drive  330 , and DVD drive  332 . Typical PCI local bus implementations will support three or four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors.  
     [0026] An operating system runs on processor  302  and is used to coordinate and provide control of various components within data processing system  300  in FIG. 3. The operating system may be a commercially available operating system, such as Windows 2000, which is available from Microsoft Corporation. An object oriented programming system such as Java may run in conjunction with the operating system and provide calls to the operating system from Java programs or applications executing on data processing system  300 . “Java” is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented operating system, and applications or programs are located on storage devices, such as hard disk drive  326 , and may be loaded into main memory  304  for execution by processor  302 .  
     [0027] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware in FIG. 3 may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash ROM (or equivalent nonvolatile memory) or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIG. 3. Also, the processes of the present invention may be applied to a multiprocessor data processing system.  
     [0028] As another example, data processing system  300  may be a stand-alone system configured to be bootable without relying on some type of network communication interface, whether or not data processing system  300  comprises some type of network communication interface. As a further example, data processing system  300  may be a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, which is configured with ROM and/or flash ROM in order to provide non-volatile memory for storing operating system files and/or user-generated data.  
     [0029] The depicted example in FIG. 3 and above-described examples are not meant to imply architectural limitations. For example, data processing system  300  also may be a notebook computer or hand held computer in addition to taking the form of a PDA. Data processing system  300  also may be a kiosk or a Web appliance.  
     [0030] The present invention provides a method for ensuring that any files downloaded to computers have the necessary application(s) for proper access.  
     [0031] Referring to FIG. 4, a flowchart illustrating a process for downloading necessary applications during web browser start is depicted in accordance with the present invention. When the web browser is opened (step  401 ), it reads the meta data files, which include book marks, caches and history (step  402 ), and gets a list of file types (step  403 ).  
     [0032] The browser then retrieves the first file type in the list (step  404 ), and determines if the machine contains an application for using that file type (step  405 ). If the machine does have such an application, the browser checks the list for more file types (step  406 ). If there are more file types in the list, the browser retrieves the next one (step  404 ). If there are no more file types in the list, the browser is done.  
     [0033] If the machine does not have an application needed to use the file type in question, the browser determines if the user has already been asked about this file type before (step  407 ). To facilitate this inquiry, the browser maintains a record of what types of files and associated applications the user has rejected in the past and ignore those file types in the future. If the user has previously been asked about this file type, the browser moves on to check the list for more file types, as explained above (step  406 ).  
     [0034] If the user has not yet been asked about the file type in question, the browser asks if the user wants to download the necessary application for that file type (step  408 ). If the user does not want to download the application for the file type in question, the browser records this and returns to step  406  to check for more file types in the list. If the user does want the application, the browser downloads the application to the machine (step  409 ).  
     [0035] After the browser downloads the application, it returns to step  406  to check for remaining file types in the list. If there are no more file types to check, the process is complete.  
     [0036] In order to manage storage space on a computer, applications may have to be deleted. Ideally, the user should delete applications that are no longer in regular use. Examples of such applications include applications that are downloaded for use with specific files. Once the files are no longer used, the applications needed for those files can be discarded. However, when deleting applications, users may often forget about certain files for which they still have use, and which rely on the application(s) to be deleted. Therefore, when deleting applications, it is important to determine if any files remain that depend on that application, and whether the user wants to keep such files.  
     [0037] Referring to FIG. 5, a flowchart illustrating an application deletion process is depicted in accordance with the present invention. When the user enters a deletion request for an application (step  501 ), the deletion program first determines if the application in question is the last servicing a particular type of file (step  502 ). If the application is not the last one servicing the file type, then the deletion process continues (step  503 ).  
     [0038] If the application is the last one servicing the file type, the deletion program asks the user whether or not the user wishes to search the machine for files of this particular type (step  504 ). If the user does not want to search the machine, then the deletion continues (step  503 ).  
     [0039] If the user does want to search the machine for the file type, the deletion program searches the machine for a list of files using this type (step  505 ). If a list of such files is not found, the deletion process continues (step  503 ).  
     [0040] If a list of files using the type in question is found on the machine, the deletion program asks the user if the user wants to delete all of the files at once, or one at a time (step  507 ). If the user chooses to delete the falls all at once, the deletion program does so (step  508 ) and then continues with the deletion process (step  503 ).  
     [0041] If the user prefers to delete the files in the list one at a time, the deletion program gets the first file in the list (step  509 ), and asks if the user wants to delete the file (step  510 ). If the user chooses not to delete the file, the deletion program determines if there is another file in the list (step  512 ). If the user does choose to delete the file, the deletion program does so (step  511 ), and then check for other files in the list (step  512 ).  
     [0042] If there are other files in the list, the deletion program gets the next file from the list (step  509 ). If there are no more files in the list, the deletion process continues (step  503 ).  
     [0043] Referring to FIG. 6, a flowchart illustrating an alternate application deletion process is depicted in accordance with the present invention. When the user enters a deletion request for an application (step  601 ), the deletion first determines if the application in question is the last servicing a particular type of file (step  602 ). If the application is not the last one servicing the file type, then the deletion process continues (step  603 ).  
     [0044] If the application is the last one servicing the file type, the deletion program asks the user whether or not the user wishes to search the machine for files of this particular type (step  604 ). If the user does not want to search the machine, then the deletion process continues (step  603 ).  
     [0045] If the user does want to search the machine for the file type, the deletion program searches the machine for a list of files using this type (step  605 ). If a list of such files is not found, the deletion process continues (step  603 ).  
     [0046] If a list of files using the type in question is found on the machine, the deletion program displays the list to the user (step  607 ), and asks if the user wishes to continue with the deletion of the application (step  608 ). If the user wishes to continue, the application is deleted (step  603 ). If the user chooses not to continue the deletion, the deletion program exits (step  609 ).  
     [0047] It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functioning data processing system, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of a computer readable medium of instructions and a variety of forms and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computer readable media include recordable-type media, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a RAM, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, and transmission-type media, such as digital and analog communications links, wired or wireless communications links using transmission forms, such as, for example, radio frequency and light wave transmissions. The computer readable media may take the form of coded formats that are decoded for actual use in a particular data processing system.  
     [0048] The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.