Method for creating and maintaining user data

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether user data exists for the user, comprises: checking a registry value to determine whether user data exists for the user.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of providing an indication that user data exists for the user, comprises: setting the registry value to indicate that user data exists for the user.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 , wherein the user data component specifies user data registry values, and wherein the step of using the user data component to create user data comprises: setting the user data registry values for the user in a section of a registry designated for the user.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 , wherein the user data component specifies a user data file, and wherein the step of using the user data component to create user data comprises: creating the user data file in an application data folder designated for the user.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 , wherein the installation file comprises a program module feature that corresponds to the program module and a user settings feature, and the user data component is associated with both the program module feature and the user settings feature, and wherein the step of identifying a user data component of the installation file that is associated with the program module comprises: using the user settings feature to identify the user data component.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 , wherein the installation file comprises a program module feature and a non-user data component and the program module feature is associated with the non-user data component and the user data component, and wherein the program module is installed using the program module feature to install the non-user data component and the user data component, further comprising the step of: in response to the user uninstalling the program module, uninstalling the non-user data component, but not the user data component.

Claim 9

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, comprising: a first feature comprising a plurality of application subfeatures and corresponding to a plurality of application programs, each of the application subfeatures corresponding to a different one of the application programs; a second feature comprising a plurality of user settings subfeatures; and a plurality of components including a common user data component associated with the first feature and the second feature; a plurality of application user data components, each of the application user data components associated with one of the application subfeatures and one of the user settings subfeatures; and a plurality of non-user data components, each of the non-user data components associated with one of the application subfeatures; wherein the first feature and the application subfeatures are used to install the common user data component, the application user data components, and the non-user data components when the application programs are installed.

Claim 10

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, comprising: a first feature comprising a plurality of application subfeatures and corresponding to a plurality of application programs, each of the application subfeatures corresponding to a different one of the application programs; a second feature comprising a plurality of user settings subfeatures; and a plurality of components including a common user data component associated with the first feature and the second feature; a plurality of application user data components, each of the application user data components associated with one of the application subfeatures and one of the user settings subfeatures; and a plurality of non-user data components, each of the non-user data components associated with one of the application subfeatures; wherein the first feature and the application subfeatures are used to install the common user data component, the application user data components, and the non-user data components when the application programs are installed.

Claim 11

The computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the second feature corresponds to user settings for a plurality of application programs and a selected one of the user settings subfeatures associated with a selected application user data component corresponds to a selected application program, and wherein the second feature and the selected user settings subfeature are used to install the common user data component and the selected application user data component if user data for a user does not exist when the user initiates the selected application program.

Claim 12

The computer-readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising a customized user data component that is associated with the first feature and the second feature.

Claim 13

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, comprising: a first feature comprising a plurality of subfeatures and corresponding to a plurality of application programs, each of the subfeatures corresponding to a different one of the application programs; a plurality of components including a common user data component associated with the first feature; a plurality of application user data components, each of the application user data components associated with one of the subfeatures; and a plurality of non-user data components, each of the non-user data components associated with one of the subfeatures; and a second feature that is associated with the common user data component and the application user data components; wherein the first feature and the subfeatures are used to install the common user data component, the application user data components, and the non-user data components when the application programs are installed.

Claim 14

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, comprising: a first feature comprising a plurality of subfeatures and corresponding to a plurality of application programs, each of the subfeatures corresponding to a different one of the application programs; a plurality of components including a common user data component associated with the first feature; a plurality of application user data components, each of the application user data components associated with one of the subfeatures; and a plurality of non-user data components, each of the non-user data components associated with one of the subfeatures; and a second feature that is associated with the common user data component and the application user data components; wherein the first feature and the subfeatures are used to install the common user data component, the application user data components, and the non-user data components when the application programs are installed.

Claim 15

The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein each of the subfeatures corresponds to a different application program and wherein the second feature is used to install the common user data component and the application user data components if user data for a user does not exist when the user initiates one of the application programs.

Claim 16

The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein a selected subfeature associated with a selected application user data component corresponds to a selected application program, and wherein the second feature is used to install the common user data component and the selected application user data component if user data for a user does not exist when the user initiates the selected application program.

Claim 17

The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising a customized user data component that is associated with the first feature and the second feature.

Claim 20

The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of determining whether user data exists for the second user comprises checking a registry value associated with the second user.

Claim 21

The method of claim 15 , wherein the user data component comprises user data registry values and user data files, and installing the user data component for the first user comprises setting the user data registry values for the first user in a first section of the registry designated for the first user and creating the user data files in a first application data folder designated for the first user, and wherein the step of creating user data for the second user comprises: setting the user data registry values for the second user in a second section of the registry designated for the second user; and creating the user data files for the second user in a second application data folder designated for the second user.

Claim 22

The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of creating the user data files for the second user comprises: conditionally creating each of the user data files for the second user so that a selected one of the user data files is not created, if the selected file already exists.

Claim 23

The method of claim 15 , wherein the first feature is associated with a non-user data feature, further comprising the steps of: if the first user uninstalls the program module, then uninstalling the non-user data component, but not the installed user data component for the first user.

Claim 24

The method of claim 15 , wherein the first feature is associated with a non-user data feature, further comprising the steps of: if the second user reinstalls the program module, then reinstalling the non-user data component, but not the installed user data component for the second user.

Claim 27

The method of claim 21 , wherein the user data component comprises a user data registry value and a user data file, and wherein the step of using the first feature to install the first set of user data comprises: using the first feature to identify the user data component; setting the user data registry value in a first section of the registry designated for the first user; and creating the user data file in a first application data folder designated for the first user.

Claim 28

The method of claim 21 , wherein the user data component comprises a user data registry value and a user data file, and wherein the step of using the second feature to install the second set of user data comprises: using the second feature to identify the user data component; setting the user data registry value in a second section of the registry designated for the second user; and creating the user data file in a second application data folder designated for the second user.

Claim 29

The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of determining whether a first set of user data exists comprises checking a first registry value.

Claim 30

The method of claim 21 , wherein the first feature is associated with a non-user data component, further comprising the step of: in response to the first user uninstalling the application program, uninstalling the non-user data component associated with the first feature, but not the first set of user data or the second set of user data.