Dynamic Addition and Removal of Operating System Components

A method for facilitating the dynamic addition and removal of operating system components on a computing device, the method executing on a processor of the computing device, comprising the steps:

• (a) intercepting, by a first application programming interface (API) intercept layer, an API call from an application executing on the computing device, wherein said API call is intended for a component of the operating system;
• (b) reading, by a rules engine coupled to said API intercept layer, information stored by said first API intercept layer, said information related to said API call from said application executing on the computing device;
• and
• (c) applying, by said rules engine, at least one hydrate rule which utilizes said information to instruct a hydrate engine coupled to said rules engine to do one of:
• add said component to the operating system of the computing device;
• and remove said component from the operating system of the computing device.

A computer program product comprising computer usable medium encoded in a computer having an operating system and control logic stored therein for causing the computer to facilitate the dynamic addition and removal of operating system components, said control logic comprising:

• first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to intercept, by a first application programming interface (API) intercept layer, an API call from an application executing on the computer, wherein said API call is intended for a component of the operating system;
• second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to read, by a rules engine coupled to said API intercept layer, information stored by said first API intercept layer, said information related to said API call from said application executing on the computer;
• and
• third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to apply, by said rules engine, at least one hydrate rule which utilizes said information to instruct a hydrate engine coupled to said rules engine to do one of:
• add said component to the operating system of the computer;
• and remove said component from the operating system of the computer.