Techniques for providing information regarding software components available for installation

Abstract

Techniques are described for providing information about installation states of software components using an interactive object. Information regarding one or more classifications is received. Each of the classifications indicates a different installation state. At least a portion of the information is displayed in a first area of the interactive object. A selectable element is included in the interactive object which, when selected, causes performance of an action.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 rendering, by a computing device, an interactive object in a first display state on a screen of the computing device;   receiving, by the computing device from a server, information regarding one or more software components available for installation;   rendering, by the computing device, the interactive object in a second display state to notify a user of the computing device that one or more software components are available for installation;   displaying, by the interactive object, a portion of the information regarding the one or more software components available for installation in response to user interaction with the interactive object rendered in the second display state;   providing, by the interactive object, a selectable element corresponding to at least one software component available for installation; and   in response to user selection of the selectable element, the interactive object performing one or more of:
 downloading the at least one software component from the server, 
 installing the at least on software component on the computing device, and 
 launching the at least one software component on the computing device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive object displays an icon corresponding to each software component available for installation and a description of each software component available for installation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more software components available for installation include a software component for an application currently installed on the computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more software components available for installation include a software component for an operating system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more software components available for installation include a software component for a game. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the one or more software components available for installation is received from the server via a wireless connection. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a touch input device. 
     
     
         8 . A computing device comprising:
 a processor for executing computer-executable instructions; and   memory storing computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
 rendering an interactive object in a first display state on a screen of the computing device; 
 receiving, from a server, information regarding one or more software components available for installation; 
 rendering the interactive object in a second display state to notify a user of the computing device that one or more software components are available for installation; 
 displaying, by the interactive object, a portion of the information regarding the one or more software components available for installation in response to user interaction with the interactive object rendered in the second display state; 
 providing, by the interactive object, a selectable element corresponding to at least one software component available for installation; and 
 in response to user selection of the selectable element, the interactive object performing one or more of:
 downloading the at least one software component from the server, 
 installing the at least on software component on the computing device, and 
 launching the at least one software component on the computing device. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the interactive object displays an icon corresponding to each software component available for installation and a description of each software component available for installation. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more software components available for installation include a software component for an application currently installed on the computing device. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more software components available for installation include a software component for an operating system. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more software components available for installation include a software component for a game. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the information regarding the one or more software components available for installation is received from the server via a wireless connection. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 8 , further comprising a touch input device. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising:
 rendering an interactive object in a first display state on a screen of the computing device;   receiving, from a server, information regarding one or more software components available for installation;   rendering the interactive object in a second display state to notify a user of the computing device that one or more software components are available for installation;   displaying, by the interactive object, a portion of the information regarding the one or more software components available for installation in response to user interaction with the interactive object rendered in the second display state;   providing, by the interactive object, a selectable element corresponding to at least one software component available for installation; and   in response to user selection of the selectable element, the interactive object performing one or more of:
 downloading the at least one software component from the server, 
 installing the at least on software component on the computing device, and 
 launching the at least one software component on the computing device. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the interactive object displays an icon corresponding to each software component available for installation and a description of each software component available for installation. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more software components available for installation include a software component for an application currently installed on the computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more software components available for installation include a software component for at least one of an operating system or a game. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the information regarding the one or more software components available for installation is received from the server via a wireless connection. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the computing device comprises a touch input device.