Abstract: A data structure including simple and complex objects. Each simple object includes a content type indicator, a size indicator, and one or more simple data types. Each complex object includes a content type indicator, a size indicator, and one or more child objects. The complex objects include a layer object having first and second child objects. The first child object is a collection of complex objects storing information for configuring a virtual filesystem of a virtual application at application startup. The second child object is a collection of complex objects storing information for configuring a virtual registry of the virtual application at application startup. Reading of selected simple and complex objects may be deferred at startup based on the content type indicator. Deferred objects may be read after startup when access to information stored by the deferred object is request by the virtual application.

Abstract: A method of constructing an application file from a plurality of files, each storing only a portion of an original application file. Each of the files stores one or more data blocks obtained from the original application file, and a location in the original application file from which each of the data blocks was obtained. At least one of the files stores the size of the original application file. The method includes allocating a block of memory the size of the original application file and storing each of the data blocks of the files in a memory location of the block of memory corresponding to the location in the original application file from which the data block was obtained. Before the block of memory includes the entire original application file, a reconstructed application file comprising the block of memory is executed to thereby at least partially implement an application.

Abstract: A virtual process manager for use with a client application. Both the virtual process manager and the client application are installed on a client computing device. The client application is configured to receive a user command to execute a virtual application at least partially implemented by a virtualized application file stored on a remote computing device. In response to the user command, the client application commands to the virtual process manager to execute the virtualized application file. Without additional user input, the virtual process manager downloads the virtualized application file from the remote computing device and executes the virtual application at least partially implemented by the downloaded virtualized application file on the client computing device. The client application may comprise a conventional web browser or operating system shell process.

Abstract: A method and system for profiling execution of an application implemented by an application file comprising a plurality of data blocks. The application is executed in response to an execute command from a management process. Read messages are sent to the management process each time the application reads one or more of the plurality of data blocks of the application file. The management process records information about the read operations in one or more transcripts which may be used to create a streaming model for the application allowing the application to be downloaded using a conventional download protocol without using a specialized streaming protocol.

Abstract: A method for collecting transcripts each storing an order in which portions of an application file were accessed by the file when the file was executed on one of a plurality of computing devices. The method includes receiving requests to download the file from directing processes each executing on a different one of the computing devices, and in response to those requests, downloading the file to the computing devices and instructing the directing processes to profile usage of the file. Then, transcripts created by the directing processes are received therefrom. A streaming model may be created based on the transcripts received. The file may be divided into a plurality of smaller files based on the streaming model. The streaming model may be used to download the file by downloading at least a portion of the smaller files using a conventional download protocol without using a specialized streaming protocol.

Abstract: A method of constructing a plurality of downloadable files from an application file and a plurality of transcripts. The application file stores data blocks and implements an application. Each of the transcripts stores at least one order in which at least a portion of the data blocks of the application file were accessed by the application when executed previously. The transcripts are combined into a combined transcript storing at least one combined order comprising a combined portion of the data blocks. The data blocks of the combined portion are arranged in a data structure having an origin. A first set of data blocks within a predetermined distance from the origin is stored in at least one initial execution file. A second set of data blocks outside the predetermined distance from the origin is stored in downloadable sequence files.

Abstract: A method and system for publishing virtual applications on the Internet. The method includes obtaining a list of applications associated with a publisher from a server computing device and displaying the list to a user via a user interface. Next, a selection by the user of one of the applications is received from the user interface. A new virtualized version of the selected application is built. The virtualized version includes at least one application file that at least partially implements the new virtualized version of the selected application. Then, the application file is uploaded to the server computing device. An application address is received from the server computing device and a link to the application address is displayed to the user via the user interface. The virtualized version of the application is available at the application address for download and execution over a network (e.g., the Internet).

Abstract: A method of constructing a plurality of downloadable files from an application file and a plurality of transcripts. The application file stores data blocks and implements an application. Each of the transcripts stores at least one order in which at least a portion of the data blocks of the application file were accessed by the application when executed previously. The transcripts are combined into a combined transcript storing at least one combined order comprising a combined portion of the data blocks. The data blocks of the combined portion are arranged in a data structure having an origin. A first set of data blocks within a predetermined distance from the origin is stored in at least one initial execution file. A second set of data blocks outside the predetermined distance from the origin is stored in downloadable sequence files.

Abstract: A method of virtualizing an application to execute on a plurality of operating systems without installation. The method includes creating an input configuration file for each operating system. The templates each include a collection of configurations that were made by the application during installation on a computing device executing the operating system. The templates are combined into a single application template having a layer including the collection of configurations for each operating system. The collection of configurations includes files and registry entries. The collections also identifies and configures environmental variables, systems, and the like. Files in the collection of configurations and references to those files may be replaced with references to files stored on installation media. The application template is used to build an executable of the virtualized application.

Abstract: A method of virtualizing an application to execute on a plurality of operating systems without installation. The method includes creating an input configuration file for each operating system. The templates each include a collection of configurations that were made by the application during installation on a computing device executing the operating system. The templates are combined into a single application template having a layer including the collection of configurations for each operating system. The collection of configurations includes files and registry entries. The collections also identifies and configures environmental variables, systems, and the like. Files in the collection of configurations and references to those files may be replaced with references to files stored on installation media. The application template is used to build an executable of the virtualized application.

Abstract: A method of modifying a virtual application configuration to include modifications made at runtime by a virtual application that is implemented by a first virtualized application file that was created previously using the virtual application configuration. At runtime, the virtual application implemented by the first virtualized application file stores modifications to its configuration in a sandbox memory location. The method includes reading the modifications from the sandbox memory location. Then, the modifications are written to the virtual application configuration. The modified virtual application configuration is then used to create a second virtualized application file that includes the modifications stored in the sandbox memory location.

Abstract: A virtual process manager for use with a client application. Both the process manager and the client application are installed on a client computing device. In response to a user command to execute a virtual application at least partially implemented by a virtualized application file stored on a remote computing device, the client application sends a high priority command to the process manager to execute the virtual application. Before receiving the user command, the client application sends a low priority command to the process manager to download at least a portion of the virtualized application file. In response to the high priority command, and without additional user input, the process manager downloads any portion of the file not downloaded in response to the low priority command, and executes the virtual application on the client computing device. The client application may comprise a conventional web browser or operating system shell process.

Abstract: Methods and systems for restricting the launch of virtual application files. In one embodiment, a launching application is signed with a digital signature. When the launching application launches a runtime engine and instructs it to execute an application file, the runtime engine determines whether an entity identifier associated with the launching application identifies an authorized entity. If the entity identifier identifies an authorized entity and the digital signature is valid, the runtime engine executes the application file. In another embodiment, a ticket is transmitted to the launching application along with an instruction to launch the application file. The ticket includes a digital signature and an expiration date. The launching application communicates the ticket to the runtime engine, which will execute the application file only if the digital signature is valid and a current date is not later than the expiration date.

Abstract: A virtual process manager for use with a client application. Both the process manager and the client application are installed on a client computing device. In response to a user command to execute a virtual application at least partially implemented by a virtualized application file stored on a remote computing device, the client application sends a high priority command to the process manager to execute the virtual application. Before receiving the user command, the client application sends a low priority command to the process manager to download at least a portion of the virtualized application file. In response to the high priority command, and without additional user input, the process manager downloads any portion of the file not downloaded in response to the low priority command, and executes the virtual application on the client computing device. The client application may comprise a conventional web browser or operating system shell process.

Abstract: A method including downloading a streaming model file and at least one initial execution file from a server via a conventional download protocol without using a specialized streaming protocol. When executed, the initial execution file only partially implements an application. The model file stores information identifying additional portions of the application file to be downloaded from the server. Data is read from the initial execution file, and stored in a local copy of the application file. Then, the application is executed by executing the local copy. Until the entire application file has been downloaded and as the application is executing, the information is read from the model file to identify a next file to download, the next file is downloaded via the conventional download protocol without using a specialized streaming protocol, next data is read from the next file, and the next data is stored in the local copy.

Abstract: A method of constructing a plurality of downloadable files from an application file and a plurality of transcripts. The application file stores data blocks and implements an application. Each of the transcripts stores at least one order in which at least a portion of the data blocks of the application file were accessed by the application when executed previously. The transcripts are combined into a combined transcript storing at least one combined order comprising a combined portion of the data blocks. The data blocks of the combined portion are arranged in a data structure having an origin. A first set of data blocks within a predetermined distance from the origin is stored in at least one initial execution file. A second set of data blocks outside the predetermined distance from the origin is stored in downloadable sequence files.

Abstract: A data structure including simple and complex objects. Each simple object includes a content type indicator, a size indicator, and one or more simple data types. Each complex object includes a content type indicator, a size indicator, and one or more child objects. The complex objects include a layer object having first and second child objects. The first child object is a collection of complex objects storing information for configuring a virtual filesystem of a virtual application at application startup. The second child object is a collection of complex objects storing information for configuring a virtual registry of the virtual application at application startup. Reading of selected simple and complex objects may be deferred at startup based on the content type indicator. Deferred objects may be read after startup when access to information stored by the deferred object is request by the virtual application.

Abstract: A method for collecting transcripts each storing an order in which portions of an application file were accessed by the file when the file was executed on one of a plurality of computing devices. The method includes receiving requests to download the file from directing processes each executing on a different one of the computing devices, and in response to those requests, downloading the file to the computing devices and instructing the directing processes to profile usage of the file. Then, transcripts created by the directing processes are received therefrom. A streaming model may be created based on the transcripts received. The file may be divided into a plurality of smaller files based on the streaming model. The streaming model may be used to download the file by downloading at least a portion of the smaller files using a conventional download protocol without using a specialized streaming protocol.

Abstract: A method for collecting transcripts each storing an order in which portions of an application file were accessed by the file when the file was executed on one of a plurality of computing devices. The method includes receiving requests to download the file from directing processes each executing on a different one of the computing devices, and in response to those requests, downloading the file to the computing devices and instructing the directing processes to profile usage of the file. Then, transcripts created by the directing processes are received therefrom. A streaming model may be created based on the transcripts received. The file may be divided into a plurality of smaller files based on the streaming model. The streaming model may be used to download the file by downloading at least a portion of the smaller files using a conventional download protocol without using a specialized streaming protocol.

Abstract: A data structure including simple and complex objects. Each simple object includes a content type indicator, a size indicator, and one or more simple data types. Each complex object includes a content type indicator, a size indicator, and one or more child objects. The complex objects include a layer object having first and second child objects. The first child object is a collection of complex objects storing information for configuring a virtual filesystem of a virtual application at application startup. The second child object is a collection of complex objects storing information for configuring a virtual registry of the virtual application at application startup. Reading of selected simple and complex objects may be deferred at startup based on the content type indicator. Deferred objects may be read after startup when access to information stored by the deferred object is request by the virtual application.