Dynamically selecting an application to open a file
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorSumit Popli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An application can be dynamically selected to open a file. An application broker service can be configured to received intercepted requests to open files. The application broker service can process the intercepted requests to determine a type and location of the files to be opened. Using the type and the location of the files to be opened, the application broker service can select applications to open the files. If a file fails to open in a selected application, the application broker service can select another application to open the file.
Claims20
A method for dynamically selecting an application to open a file, the method comprising:
- in response to a user generating a request to open a first file on a computing device, intercepting the request at an overlay;
- redirecting, by the overlay, the request to open the first file to an application broker service;
- accessing, by the application broker service, the request to open the first file to identify:
- (1) a location where the first file is stored, and (2) a first application that the request specifies for opening the first file on the computing device;
- accessing, by the application broker service, a dynamic application selection database to determine that a second application is associated with the location where the first file is stored;
- based on the determination that the second application is associated with the location where the first file is stored, selecting, by the application broker service, the second application to open the file;
- and
- modifying the request to open the first file to specify the second application rather than the first application for opening the file;
- and
- in conjunction with modifying the request to open the first file, causing the request to open the first file to be further processed to thereby request that an operating system of the computing device cause the first file to be opened in the second application rather than the first application.
A method for dynamically selecting an application to open a file, the method comprising:
- in response to a user generating a request to open a first file on a computing device, intercepting the request at an overlay;
- redirecting, by the overlay, the request to open the first file to an application broker service;
- accessing, by the application broker service, the request to open the first file to identify:
- (1) a location where the first file is stored, and (2) a first application that the request specifies for opening the first file on the computing device;
- accessing, by the application broker service, a dynamic application selection database to determine that a second application is associated with the location where the first file is stored;
- based on the determination that the second application is associated with the location where the first file is stored, selecting, by the application broker service, the second application to open the file;
- modifying the request to open the first file to specify the second application rather than the first application for opening the file;
- detecting that the first file failed to open in the second application;
- and
- causing the first file to be opened in a third application, the third application being associated with either or both the location where the first file is stored or a type of the first file.
One or more computer storage media storing computer executable instructions which when executed implement a method for dynamically selecting an application to open a file, the method comprising:
- in response to a user generating a request to open a first file on a computing device, intercepting the request at an overlay;
- redirecting, by the overlay, the request to open the first file to an application broker service;
- accessing, by the application broker service, the request to open the first file to identify:
- (1) a location where the first file is stored, and (2) a first application that the request specifies for opening the first file on the computing device;
- accessing, by the application broker service, a dynamic application selection database to determine that a second application is associated with the location where the first file is stored;
- based on the determination that the second application is associated with the location where the first file is stored, selecting, by the application broker service, the second application to open the file;
- modifying the request to open the first file to specify the second application rather than the first application for opening the file;
- and
- in conjunction with modifying the request to open the first file, causing the request to open the first file to be further processed to thereby request that an operating system of the computing device cause the first file to be opened in the second application rather than the first application.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.