Abstract: The operating system of a computer maintains an extension catalog that stores data relating extensions with information about the contracts the extensions support. Extensions are registered in this catalog according to the contract they implement. The extension catalog can be queried to identify extensions that support a given contract. An extension can be selected from among the results from a query, and the selected extension can be activated. When activated, the extension is set up by the operating system as an independent process from, and with context from, the application for which it is an extension. Information about the extension is provided to the application to enable the extension and the application to communicate according to the supported contract.

Abstract: Systems and methods of pre-fetching data for applications in a computer system that are terminated or suspended and may be pre-launched by the computer system are disclosed. The applications may employ data that is remote from the computer system and available from a third party content resource. A method for pre-fetching such remote data comprises associating a set of application with such data and/or its location; determining a set of pre-fetching conditions, determining which applications may be pre-fetched and pre-fetching the data, if pre-fetch conditions meet a desired pre-fetch policy. A predictive module or technique may be used to identify those applications which may be pre-launched. The present system may comprise a pre-fetch success module capable of measuring the success data for a current pre-fetch and associating such success data with an application to improve future pre-fetches.

Abstract: The operating system of a computer maintains an extension catalog that stores data relating extensions with information about the contracts the extensions support. Extensions are registered in this catalog according to the contract they implement. The extension catalog can be queried to identify extensions that support a given contract. An extension can be selected from among the results from a query, and the selected extension can be activated. When activated, the extension is set up by the operating system as an independent process from, and with context from, the application for which it is an extension. Information about the extension is provided to the application to enable the extension and the application to communicate according to the supported contract.