Unified Installer for Multiple Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for installing multiple applications on a computer require individual installations, leading to inconsistencies in GUIs, repeated PC reboots, and complex browser settings, causing user distrust and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and program that generate an application list and configuration file to facilitate collective installation, using a common installer to set up multiple applications with shared settings, reducing the need for reboots and simplifying browser configurations by using MSI files and registry settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If applications are installed individually, then each application can be installed with its specific settings, but the installation process becomes complex and requires repeated PC reboots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual application installations into a single unified installation process. The installer aggregates installation information from multiple applications and executes them through one common interface, eliminating the need for separate installation operations and reducing the number of required PC reboots to a single operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal installer that can handle multiple different applications through a single common interface. The installer is designed to accommodate various application types (PC applications, browser applications, Web applications) and automatically determines the appropriate installation method for each, providing multi-functional capability in one tool.
2Reliability
If applications are installed individually, then each application can be configured separately, but user trust is reduced due to inconsistent GUIs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the installation interfaces of multiple applications into a single unified GUI. Instead of presenting users with different installation interfaces for different applications, the common installer provides a consistent user experience while maintaining the ability to install multiple applications with their specific configurations through one consistent interface.
3Productivity
If multiple applications requiring PC reboot are installed, then all applications can be installed, but the installation time increases due to repeated reboots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by collecting installation information from all applications before executing the installation process. The installer aggregates all installation data, including reboot requirements, and plans the installation sequence to minimize reboots. By preparing the installation plan in advance, the system can execute applications that don't require reboot first, then perform a single final reboot for applications that need it, rather than rebooting after each individual installation.
4Ease of manufacture
If browser applications are installed using common PC application setup, then installation is simplified, but browser-specific settings cannot be properly configured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic installation handling where the installer automatically detects the application type and adapts the installation process accordingly. For browser applications, the installer dynamically switches to browser-specific installation procedures that create shortcuts and registry entries appropriate for browser applications, while maintaining the same unified user interface. This allows the system to be both simple to use and adaptable to different application types.
Data Source
AI summary
An installer generates an application list containing application program type of each application, generates, based on the application list, a configuration file containing predetermined items set for all the installed applications and predetermined item set for respective installed applications, sets a common item in a registry, sets the number of installed applications and the like as attributes of the common item, sets an item for each application immediately under the common item, sets program installation folder and the like as attributes of the item set for each application, sets the number of installed applications in the field of number of installed applications in the registry using a computer, sets a value of an IP address in the field of IP address in the registry, and installs selected applications.