Method and apparatus for allowing sharing of streamable applications

摘要

A client on a network includes a file system that includes various non-streamable software applications. A streaming support system in the client enables a streamable software application to be located in the file system and executed in a streaming mode without being isolated from the non-streamable software applications in the file system. Non-streamable software applications can invoke the streamable software application, and vice versa. Multiple streamable software applications can be concurrently located throughout the file system and can be executed in the client in the streaming mode without restriction to any particular portion of the main file system. Streamable applications can be located anywhere in the file system that the corresponding non-streamable versions of the applications would be able to be located. The main file system does not need to contain complete copies of the required files for any streamable applications.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
installing, in a client computer system having a file system, a software module that is executable to configure the client computer system to share information between a streamable user application and a non-streamable user application executable on an operating system of the client computer system to request blocks of data for their respective applications and to receive an input from a user; wherein the software module is executable to configure the client computer system to share information by:
locating the non-streamable user application and downloaded portions of the streamable user application in the file system; andthe operating system maintaining a single registry for the streamable user application and the non-streamable user application, wherein the single registry does not include a portion dedicated to registry data for streamable applications.