Patent Application

App. No. 11/382,899

Abstract

Claims (41)

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving as inputs a software update service and a software application;

collecting information regarding the software application; and

generating an integrated application based on the collected information, the integrated application including the collected information, the software application, and a runtime module for the software update service.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the collected information includes a request to check for, access, or install an update to the software application at a specified time or in response to a specified event.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the integrated application is configured to check for, access, or install the update at the specified time or in response to the specified event.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the collected information includes a request to add a feature to the software application or to replace an existing feature of the software application with a new feature.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the runtime module is configured to add the feature to the software application or to replace the existing feature of the software application with the new feature.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the integrated application is configured to check for, access, or install an update to the software application in response to a user selecting the added feature or the new feature.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the integrated application is configured to check for one or more of the following information regarding the software application in response to the user selecting the added feature or the new feature: the availability of new or changed technical support and training offering, the availability of new or changed software documentation, the availability of new or changed diagnostic tools, and special marketing offers.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the collected information includes a request to track user usage of a feature of the integrated application.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising intercepting one or more messages to or from the integrated application to track the user usage of the feature.

10 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform:

receiving as inputs a software update service and a software application;

collecting information regarding the software application; and

generating an integrated application based on the collected information, the integrated application including the collected information, the software application, and a runtime module for the software update service.

11 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the collected information includes a request to check for, access, or install an update to the software application at a specified time or in response to a specified event.

12 . The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the integrated application is configured to check for, access, or install the update at the specified time or in response to the specified event.

13 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the collected information includes a request to add a feature to the software application or to replace an existing feature of the software application with a new feature.

14 . The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the runtime module is configured to add the feature to the software application or to replace the existing feature of the software application with the new feature.

15 . The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the integrated application is configured to check for, access, or install an update to the software application in response to a user selecting the added feature or the new feature.

16 . The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the integrated application is configured to check for one or more of the following information regarding the software application in response to the user selecting the added feature or the new feature: the availability of new or changed technical support and training offering, the availability of new or changed software documentation, the availability of new or changed diagnostic tools, and special marketing offers.

17 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the collected information includes a request to track user usage of a feature of the integrated application.

18 . The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform:

intercepting one or more messages to or from the integrated application to track the user usage of the feature.

19 . A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions;

wherein the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

receiving as inputs a software update service and a software application;

collecting information regarding the software application; and

generating an integrated application based on the collected information, the integrated application including the collected information, the software application, and a runtime module for the software update service.

20 . The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the collected information includes a request to check for, access, or install an update to the software application at a specified time or in response to a specified event.

21 . The computer system of claim 20 , wherein the integrated application is configured to check for, access, or install the update at the specified time or in response to the specified event.

22 . The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the collected information includes a request to add a feature to the software application or to replace an existing feature of the software application with a new feature.

23 . The computer system of claim 22 , wherein the runtime module is configured to add the feature to the software application or to replace the existing feature of the software application with the new feature.

24 . The computer system of claim 23 , wherein the integrated application is configured to check for, access, or install an update to the software application in response to a user selecting the added feature or the new feature.

25 . The computer system of claim 24 , wherein the integrated application is configured to check for one or more of the following information regarding the software application in response to the user selecting the added feature or the new feature: the availability of new or changed technical support and training offering, the availability of new or changed software documentation, the availability of new or changed diagnostic tools, and special marketing offers.

26 . The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the collected information includes a request to track user usage of a feature of the integrated application.

27 . The computer system of claim 26 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to:

intercepting one or more messages to or from the integrated application to track the user usage of the feature.

Assignments (13)