File Type Association via Isolation Scopes and Chooser Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Incompatible software application programs often conflict when accessing shared native resources, leading to installation and execution issues on single-user and multi-user computers, resulting in compatibility and sociability problems.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves virtualizing user and application access to native resources like the file system, registry database, and system objects, allowing multiple applications to coexist without modification, using isolation scopes to provide unique views of resources and manage conflicts, enabling the association of file types with chooser tools for seamless execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple incompatible applications are installed on a single computer, then application compatibility is improved, but resource conflicts and system stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shared native resources into application-specific isolated views. Each application receives a dedicated scope of resources that prevents conflicts with other applications. The file system, registry database, and system objects are divided into separate namespaces for each application, allowing incompatible applications to coexist without interfering with each other's resource access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (isolation environment) between applications and native resources. This intermediary manages resource allocation and access control, translating application requests into isolated resource operations. The chooser tool acts as an intermediary for file type associations, routing file operations to the appropriate application without direct conflicts.
2Ease of operation
If file type associations are restricted to single applications, then resource access control is simplified, but application versatility and user choice deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the file type association mechanism universal by allowing multiple applications to be associated with the same file type. Instead of a one-to-one mapping, the system supports many-to-many associations where a file type can be linked to multiple applications, and applications can handle multiple file types. The chooser tool provides a unified interface for managing these associations across all applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic selection in file type associations through the chooser tool. When a file is opened, the system dynamically presents available applications to the user, allowing runtime selection based on current needs. This dynamic approach replaces static single-application associations with flexible multi-application support, enabling users to choose the most appropriate application for each specific file operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for associating a file type of a file with one or more programs includes the step of receiving a request to store in a configuration store file type association information. From the request, an application program is determined that is to be associated with a file type in the configuration store. An association of the file type with a chooser tool is written to the configuration store