Portable platform for executing software applications in a virtual environment

1. A method for executing software applications on a computing device in a virtual environment, the method comprising:

providing a portable platform that includes at least a virtual operating system (VOS) and a plurality of software packages; and

executing the plurality of software packages on the computing device using the VOS, wherein the VOS comprises:

a virtual file system (VFS) for interfacing between an operating system (OS) running on the computing device and the VOS;

a single file system for translating a set of file system commands of the computing device to a set of commands to be executed by the portable platform;

a virtual service manager (VSCM) for generating a virtual environment for the execution of services requested by the software packages;

a virtual registry file manager (VRFM) for handling registry file requests; and

a virtual digital rights management (VDRM).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable platform further comprises:

setting files associated with the plurality of software packages; and

data files for maintaining information saved by a user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of software packages includes at least one of a software application, a virtual desktop, and an add-on.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the software application comprises at least one of: a document processing software application, a spreadsheet software application, an email exchange software application, an Internet browser software application, and a media player software application.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the virtual desktop comprises an operating system shell.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable platform is installed on at least one of a portable memory device, and a portable storage device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable platform is downloaded from a web site.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the plurality software of packages comprising:

initializing the VOS;

for each software package, uploading, on-demand, registry files, services and executable files of the software package to the computing device; and

running the executable files of the software package in a user-mode of the operating system.

9. The method of claim 8 , further being capable of coupling between at least two software packages at run-time.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises at least one of a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a notebook computer, and a networked device.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the software applications in a virtual environment comprising :

executing the software applications without installing the software applications on the computing device.

12. A non-transitory computer program product including a computer-readable medium comprising software instructions operable to enable a computer to perform a method for executing software applications on a computing device in a virtual environment, comprising:

providing a portable platform that includes at least a virtual operating system (VOS) and a plurality of software packages; and

executing the plurality of software packages on the computing device using the VOS, wherein the VOS comprises:

a virtual file system (VFS) for interfacing between an operating system (OS) running on the computing device and the VOS;

a single file system for translating a set of file system commands of the computing device to a set of commands to be executed by the portable platform;

a virtual service manager (VSCM) for generating a virtual environment for the execution of services requested by the software packages;

a virtual registry file manager (VRFM) for handling registry file requests; and

a virtual digital rights management (VDRM).

13. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the portable platform further comprises:

setting files associated with the plurality of software packages; and

data files for maintaining information saved by a user.

14. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of software packages includes at least one of a software application, a virtual desktop, and an add-on.

15. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the software application comprises at least one of: a document processing software application, a spreadsheet software application, an email exchange software application, an Internet browser software application, and a media player software application.

16. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the virtual desktop comprises an operating system shell.

17. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the portable platform is installed on at least one of a portable memory device, a portable storage device.

18. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the portable platform is downloaded from a web site.

19. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12 , wherein executing the plurality software packages comprising :

initializing the VOS;

for each software package, uploading, on-demand, registry files, services and executable files of the software package to the computing device; and

running the executable files of the software package in a user-mode of the operating system.

20. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 19 , further being capable of coupling between at least two software packages at run-time.

21. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the computing device comprises at least one of: a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a notebook computer, and a networked device.

22. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12 , wherein executing the software applications in a virtual environment comprising:

executing the software applications without installing the software applications on the computing device.

23. A portable platform includes a storage media for allowing the execution of a plurality of software applications on a computing device in a virtual environment, the portable platform comprising:

a plurality of software packages; and

a virtual operating system (VOS) for enabling the execution of the software applications on a computing device, wherein the VOS comprises:

a virtual file system (VFS) for interfacing between an operating system (OS) running on the computing device and the VOS;

a single file system for translating a set of file system commands of the computing device to a set of commands to be executed by the portable platform;

a virtual service manager (VSCM) for generating a virtual environment for the execution of services requested by the software packages;

a virtual registry file manager (VRFM) for handling registry file requests; and

a virtual digital rights management (VDRM).

24. The portable platform of claim 23 , further comprising:

setting files associated with the software packages; and

data files for maintaining information saved by a user.

25. The portable platform of claim 23 , being installed on at least one of a portable memory device, a portable storage device.

26. The portable platform of claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of software packages includes at least one of a software application, a virtual desktop, and an add-on.

27. The portable platform of claim 23 , wherein the portable platform is downloaded from a web site.

28. The portable platform of claim 23 , wherein executing the plurality software packages comprising:

initializing the VOS;

for each software package, uploading, on-demand, registry files, services and executable files of the software package to the computing device; and

running the executable files of the software package in a user-mode of the operating system.

29. The portable platform of claim 28 , further being capable of coupling between at least two software packages at run-time.

30. The portable platform of claim 23 , wherein the computing device comprises at least one of:

a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a notebook computer, and a networked device.

31. The portable platform of claim 23 , wherein executing the software applications in a virtual environment comprising:

executing the software applications without installing the software applications on the computing device.