Self-contained application disk for automatically launching application software or starting devices and peripherals

Abstract

A system and method for automatically executing a participating application upon insertion of a removable media into a computing device. When the computing device detects that the removable media containing has been inserted, a task disk control file is read from the removable media. The task disk control file contains all of the configuration information necessary to run the participating application from the removable media The participating application is then launched for use by a user. After the user is finished using the participating application, the removable disk is automatically ejected. In addition to monitoring for insertion of the removable media, events such as a completion of the self-contained application and a request to eject the media are monitored. When a completion event is encountered, all data files are saved, temporary files deleted and configuration information removed prior to the removable disk ejection. When an ejection event is encountered, the computing device is instructed to wait until the completion events are executed prior to actual ejection of the removable media.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of managing a participating application or device in accordance with a task disk control file contained on removable media, said participating application or device being run with a computing device having a removable media drive, said method comprising: 
 detecting an insertion of said removable media into said removable media drive;    configuring said computing device in accordance with said task disk control file contained on said removable media;    launching said participating application in accordance with information in said task disk control file;    monitoring events in said removable media drive and said participating application until execution of said participating software application is completed, and thereafter;    ejecting said removable media from said removable media drive.    
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said configuring said computing device in accordance with said task disk control file further comprises: 
 determining a unique identifier of said removable media;    accessing said task disk control file in accordance with said unique identifier; and    configuring said computing device by providing at least one of executable files, linked library files, device drivers, path information, environmental information, and registry entries to said computing device.    
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein accessing said task disk control file comprises decrypting said task disk control file using said unique identifier as a decryption key.  
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring events in said removable media drive comprises monitoring for an application save/close completion event.  
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 saving all data files to a predetermined location specified in said task disk control file;    deleting temporary files; and    unconfiguring said computing device in accordance with said task disk control file.    
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said unconfiguring comprises removing at least one of executable files, linked library files, device drivers, path information, environmental information, and registry entries from said computing device.  
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring includes monitoring for a request to eject said removable media.  
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 saving all data files to said removable media;    deleting any temporary files;    unconfiguring said computing device in accordance with said task disk control file; and    ejecting said removable media once said unconfiguring has completed.    
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said unconfiguring comprises removing at least one of executable files, linked library files, device drivers, path information, environmental information, and registry entries.  
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said participating application is adapted to be stored on said removable media or on non-removable storage media, and 
 wherein said launching said participating application in accordance with information in said task disk control file comprises launching said participating application from said removable media, said non-removable storage media, or both said removable media and said non-removable media.    
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions executed by a computing device having a removable media drive that receives said computer-readable medium, said instructions for performing: 
 configuring said computing device in accordance with a task disk control file contained on said computer-readable media;    launching a participating application in accordance with information in said task disk control file;    monitoring events in said removable media drive and said participating application until execution of said participating software application is completed, and thereafter;    ejecting said computer-readable media from said removable media drive.    
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said configuring said computing device in accordance with said task disk control file further comprises: 
 determining a unique identifier of said computer-readable medium;    accessing said task disk control file in accordance with said unique identifier; and    configuring said computing device by providing at least one of executable files, linked library files, device drivers, path information, environmental information, and registry entries to said computing device.    
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 12 , wherein accessing said task disk control file comprises decrypting said task disk control file using said unique identifier as a decryption key.  
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said monitoring events in said removable media drive comprises monitoring for an application save/close completion event.  
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 saving all data files to a predetermined location specified in said task disk control file;    deleting temporary files; and    unconfiguring said computing device in accordance with said task disk control file.    
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said unconfiguring comprises removing at least one of executable files, linked library files, device drivers, path information, environmental information, and registry entries from said computing device.  
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said monitoring includes monitoring for a request to eject said computer-readable medium.  
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 saving all data files to said computer-readable medium;    deleting any temporary files;    unconfiguring said computing device in accordance with said task disk control file; and    ejecting said computer-readable medium once said unconfiguring has completed.    
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said unconfiguring comprises removing at least one of executable files, linked library files, device drivers, path information, environmental information, and registry entries.  
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said participating application is adapted to be stored on said computer-readable medium or on non-removable storage media, and 
 wherein said launching said participating application in accordance with information in said task disk control file comprises launching said participating application from said computer-readable medium, said non-removable storage media, or both said computer-readable medium and said non-removable storage medium.    
     
     
         21 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a task list control file comprising: 
 a pre-run section containing instructions to be executed by a computer-implemented device prior to launching a predetermined participating application;    an application run section data containing instructions to launch said participating application; and    a clean-up section containing instructions to be executed upon closing said participating application.    
     
     
         22 . The task list control file of  claim 21 , wherein said pre-run section comprises 
 instructions to configure registry information such that the operating system is aware of at least one of a path, environmental variables and commands to launch said participating application.    
     
     
         23 . The task list control file of  claim 22  further comprising instructions to specify files to be copied to a hard drive of said computer-implemented device to execute said participating application.  
     
     
         24 . The task list control file of  claim 21 , wherein said application run section comprises instructions for the operating system to load said participating application for use.  
     
     
         25 . The task list control file of  claim 21 , wherein said clean-up section removes all registry information added by the pre-run section.  
     
     
         26 . The task list control file of  claim 25 , wherein said clean-up section removes from the hard drive the files copied thereto to execute the participating application as specified by said pre-run section.