Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

William Lewis Veghte

Robert M Price

Andrew L Silverman

David R Dickman

Shannon Scott Hysom

Leonard Thomas Smale

Gregory A Jones

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 associating, synchronizing and reconciling files. Associated files are synchronized and their synchronization status reported. Based on the synchronization status. the operating system recommends a preferred reconciliation action. Furthermore, file conflicts are recognized and an application interface for computer applications is provided to allow conflicting files to be merged.

Method and system of associating, synchronizing and reconciling computer

A method and system for associating, synchronizing and reconciling files. Associated files are synchronized and their synchronization status reported. Based on the synchronization status, the operating system recommends a preferred reconciliation action. Furthermore, file conflicts are recognized and an application interface for computer applications is provided to allow conflicting files to be merged.

A method and system for authenticating access to heterogeneous computing services is provided. In a preferred embodiment, logon providers are configured into the computer system, which provide secure access to their services by requiring authentication of user identification information using a logon mechanism. According to this embodiment, a user designates a primary logon provider to provide an initial logon user interface. The user enters identification information when this user interface is displayed, for example a user name, a password and a domain. The computer system executes a logon sequence, which first invokes the primary logon provider to collect identification information and to authenticate the user for access to services provided by the primary logon provider. The system then authenticates the collected identification information to provide the user access to operating system computer services. If the system logon authentication procedure is not successful, then the logon sequence displays its own user interface to collect additional identification information. The logon sequence then invokes the logon routines of other logon providers to enable them to authenticate already collected identification information without displaying additional user interfaces. A preferred embodiment enables the system logon sequence to use authentication information stored on a network to authenticate the user for access to local computing services. Also, logon providers can be provided for drivers other than network drivers when a logon mechanism is required to access their computing services. Further, using a primary logon provider, the initial logon user interface displayed to collect identification information can be replaced.

Growing community of inventors

Bellevue, WA, United States of America

William Lewis Veghte