Automatic Computer Program Customization Based On A User Information Store

Abstract

Software programs, such as an operating system or other application programs, are automatically customized to a specific user(s) based on data corresponding to the specific user(s) that is maintained in a user information store. In one embodiment, the information store is a unified store that is accessible by multiple programs including the operating system. Thus, new information or information changes can be made available to multiple programs by the user adding (or changing) the information only once. In another embodiment, the operating system image to be installed on a computer is pre-populated with user-specific information at the factory. The user-specific information can be integrated into the operating system at the factory or alternatively upon an initial boot of the computer by the user.

1 . A method comprising steps of:
 accessing a bill of materials (BOM) comprising information describing a user and data describing a hardware preference of the user; and   automatically customizing an application program while the application program is being installed on a computing device, the step of automatically customizing comprising:
 integrating the information describing the user and the hardware preference of the user from the BOM into the application program; and 
 configuring the application program based at least on the information describing the user and the hardware preference of the user. 
   
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising storing the BOM on the computing device before the computing device is shipped to the user. 
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the step of storing is controlled by a manufacturer or a distributor of the computing device. 
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing comprises accessing the BOM on a local storage device of the computing device. 
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a bill of materials (BOM) interface is provided to facilitate communication between the BOM and the application program. 
   
   
       6 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the step of accessing comprises accessing the BOM on a remote storage device via the BOM interface. 
   
   
       7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically customizing is performed during an initial boot of the computing device by the user. 
   
   
       8 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the application program comprises an operating system. 
   
   
       9 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the BOM comprises data having information of multiple users. 
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the BOM comprises data identifying components to be installed on the computing device. 
   
   
       11 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of integrating is conducted via a setup program. 
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically customizing further comprises determining, based at least on the information in the BOM, which components are to be installed on the computer. 
   
   
       13 . One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a plurality of instructions to implement the method recited in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       14 . A computing device comprising:
 an operating system; and   a bill of materials (BOM) communicatively coupled to the operating system, the BOM comprising data accessible to the operating system, wherein the operating system is installed and automatically customized on the computing device based at least on the data.   
   
   
       15 . A computing device as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a bill of materials (BOM) interface, the BOM interface coupled to the BOM and the operating system, wherein the BOM interface is configured to facilitate retrieval of the data from the BOM to the operating system. 
   
   
       16 . A computing device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the data in the BOM comprises user identity information and a user hardware preference. 
   
   
       17 . A computing device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the BOM comprises user information of multiple users. 
   
   
       18 . A computing device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the data in the BOM comprises data identifying components installed in the operating system of the computing device. 
   
   
       19 . A computing device comprising:
 an operating system; and   a bill of materials (BOM) interface communicatively coupled to the operating system, the BOM interface being configured to access a bill of materials (BOM), the BOM comprising data identifying identity information of a user and a hardware preference of the user, wherein the operating system is being automatically customized on the computing device based at least on the data during an installation of the operating system.   
   
   
       20 . A computing device as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the BOM is stored in a remote storage device and is accessible to the operating system via a network.