Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Other

Leonard Thomas Smale

Robert M Price

William Lewis Veghte

A method and system for connecting to, browsing, and accessing computer network resources are provided. In a network in which the preferred embodiment of the present invention operates, a client video display includes a container called &ldquo;Network Neighborhood.&rdquo; The Network Neighborhood provides a constrained view of the network in a NOS-independent manner. The Network Neighborhood provides a constrained view of the network by displaying only those network resources that are determined to be interesting to the user. Further, the Network Neighborhood provides this view in a NOS-independent manner by displaying all of the network resources in a consistent manner, regardless of the type of client software that was used to enumerate or discover the network resources. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each type of client software installed on a client determines a list of network resources that are interesting to the user. The combination of these lists of network resources is initially included in the Network Neighborhood. The user (or the user's administrator) can then determine that additional network resources are interesting to the user and can add these resources to the Network Neighborhood. Once the network resources that have been determined to be interesting to the user have been included in the Network Neighborhood, the user can browse and access these resources through the Network Neighborhood.

Method and system for connecting to, browsing, and accessing computer network resources

A method and system for connecting to, browsing, and accessing computer network resources are provided. In a network in which the preferred embodiment of the present invention operates, a client video display includes a container called 'Network Neighborhood.' The Network Neighborhood provides a constrained view of the network in a NOS-independent manner. The Network Neighborhood provides a constrained view of the network by displaying only those network resources that are determined to be interesting to the user. Further, the Network Neighborhood provides this view in a NOS-independent manner by displaying all of the network resources in a consistent manner, regardless of the type of client software that was used to enumerate or discover the network resources. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each type of client software installed on a client determines a list of network resources that are interesting to the user. The combination of these lists of network resources is initially included in the Network Neighborhood. The user (or the user's administrator) can then determine that additional network resources are interesting to the user and can add these resources to the Network Neighborhood. Once the network resources that have been determined to be interesting to the user have been included in the Network Neighborhood, the user can browse and access these resources through the Network Neighborhood.

Method and system for connecting to, browsing, and accessing computer

A method and system for coordinating software extensions by utilizing a central management system. One or more extensions register with the central manager, the extensions being capable of providing extended functionality to one or more lower level functions. As calls are made from an application program to a lower level function, the calls are intercepted at the central manager. Each of the appropriately registered extensions is then notified of the existence of the call, thereby allowing the extensions to provide extended functionality thereto. The call is then passed by the manager to the lower level function, which returns a result of the call to the manager. The extensions are then notified of the result of the call. This enables the registered extensions to modify the result of the call to provide its extended functionality.

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Leonard Thomas Smale