Apparatus, system, and method for locating an application compatible with a file
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for finding an application compatible with a file. An identification module is included to associate an identifier with a file within a computing device, the identifier configured to identify an application compatible with the file. An access module is included to access the identifier in response to selection of the file. A reference module is included to reference an application external to the computing device using the identifier. In an alternate embodiment, the access module accesses the identifier in response to selection of the file and failure to locate an application registered with the computing device compatible with the file.
1 . An apparatus for finding an application compatible with a file, the apparatus comprising:
an identification module configured to associate an identifier with a file within a computing device, the identifier configured to identify an application compatible with the file;
an access module configured to access the identifier in response to selection of the file; and
a reference module configured to reference an application external to the computing device using the identifier.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the access module is further configured to access the identifier in response to selection of the file and failure to locate an application registered with the computing device and compatible with the file.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reference module is further configured to prompt a user to obtain the referenced application.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reference module is further configured to automatically install the referenced application.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reference module is further configured to open the file with the referenced application.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein code for implementing the identification module, the access module, and the reference module is free from code of the referenced application.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the referenced application comprises a preferred application.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the reference module is further configured to reference a second application compatible with the file in addition to the preferred application using the identifier.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises a Uniform Resource Identifier (“URI”).
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the URI references an external location accessible to the computing device, the external location supplying the referenced application.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reference module is further configured to open a window in response to the access module accessing the file, the window including a selection for retrieving the referenced application.
12 . An apparatus for finding an application compatible with a file, the apparatus comprising:
a storage module configured to store a plurality of identifiers on a computing device, each identifier configured to identify an application and a location for the application compatible with a file;
a pointer module configured to associate a pointer within a file with one of the identifiers external to the file;
an access module configured to read the pointer and access the associated identifier in response to selection of the file; and
a reference module configured to reference an application external to the computing device and using the identifier.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the access module is further configured to access the identifier in response to selection of the file and failure to locate an application registered with the computing device and compatible with the file.
14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the identifier comprises a Uniform Resource Identifier (“URI”) that references a web address accessible to the computing device for accessing the referenced application.
15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the reference module is further configured to open a window in response to the access module accessing the file, the window including a selection for retrieving the referenced application.
16 . A system for finding an application compatible with a file, the system comprising:
a central processing unit (“CPU”);
a data storage device;
an input/output interface;
a memory comprising,
an identification module configured to associate an identifier with a file within a computing device, the identifier configured to identify an application compatible with the file;
an access module configured to access the identifier in response to selection of the file; and
a reference module configured to reference an application external to the computing device using the identifier; and
a communication bus configured to facilitate communication between the CPU, the memory, the data storage device, and the input/output interface.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the access module is further configured to access the identifier in response to selection of the file and failure to locate an application registered with the computing device and compatible with the file.
18 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising a communications adapter coupled to the communication bus and configured to communicate with a repository for the referenced application.
19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the identifier comprises a Uniform Resource Identifier (“URI”) for referencing an external location accessible to the computing device, the external location supplying the referenced application.
20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the reference module is further configured to open a window in response to the access module accessing the file, the window including a selection for retrieving the referenced application.
21 . A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform an operation for finding an application compatible with a file, the operation comprising:
associating an identifier with a file within a computing device, the identifier configured to identify an application compatible with the file;
accessing the identifier in response to selection of the file; and
referencing an application external to the computing device using the identifier.
22 . The signal bearing medium of claim 21 , wherein accessing the identifier further comprises an operation to access the identifier in response to selection of the file and failure to locate an application registered with the computing device and compatible with the file.
23 . The signal bearing medium of claim 21 , wherein referencing the application external to the computing device further comprises an operation to prompt a user to obtain the identified application.
24 . The signal bearing medium of claim 21 , wherein referencing the application external to the computing device further comprises an operation to automatically install the referenced application.
25 . The signal bearing medium of claim 21 , wherein referencing the application external to the computing device further comprises an operation to open the file with the identified application.
26 . The signal bearing medium of claim 21 , wherein code for associating an identifier with a file, accessing the identifier, and referencing an application external to the computing device using the identifier is free from code of the referenced application.
27 . The signal bearing medium of claim 21 , wherein referencing the application external to the computing device comprises referencing a preferred application.
28 . The signal bearing medium of claim 27 , further comprising referencing a second application compatible with the file in addition to the preferred application.
29 . The signal bearing medium of claim 21 , wherein the identifier comprises a Uniform Resource Identifier (“URI”).
30 . The signal bearing medium of claim 29 , wherein the URI references a web address accessible to the computing device for accessing the referenced application.
31 . The signal bearing medium of claim 21 , wherein referencing the application external to the computing device further comprises opening a window in response to accessing the file, the window including a selection for accessing the referenced application.
32 . A method for finding an application compatible with a file, the method comprising:
associating an identifier with a file within a computing device, the identifier configured to identify an application compatible with the file;
accessing the identifier in response to selection of the file; and
referencing an application external to the computing device using the identifier.
33 . An apparatus for finding an application compatible with a file, the apparatus comprising:
means for associating an identifier with a file within a computing device, the identifier configured to identify an application compatible with the file;
means for accessing the identifier in response to selection of the file; and
means for referencing an application external to the computing device using the identifier.