Patent ID: 7275150

Claim:
A method for causing an application selected for launching by a user during an operating session of a computer system to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, wherein the method comprises: a) determining that the application has been launched during a portion of the operating session; b) determining that the application has been launched a number of times exceeding a launch number criterion during portions of previous operating sessions, wherein the launch number criterion is held at a first level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has not been set regarding the application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, and wherein the launch number criterion is held at a second level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has been set regarding the application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions; c) determining that the application has been launched a percentage of times exceeding a launch percentage criterion during the portions of previous operating sessions, wherein the launch percentage criterion is held at a third level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has not been set regarding the application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, and wherein the launch percentage criterion is held at a fourth level in response to a the launch percentage criterion is held at a fourth level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has been set regarding the application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions; d) displaying a user interface providing for a user selection indicating that the user wants the application to be launched during the subsequent operating sessions, wherein the user interface additionally provides for a user selection indicating that the user wants the application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions; e) receiving a selection signal indicating that the user wants the application to be launched during the subsequent operating sessions; and f) writing data to a startup sequence causing the application to be launched by the computer system during the subsequent operating sessions.