Systems and methods for controlling a local application through a web page

• US 10,397,219 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2018
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Original Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Inventors: Garmark, Sten, Soderlind, Nicklas, Cyprian, Samuel, Levin, Aron, Graah, Hannes, Hartwig, Erik, Kreitz, Gunnar
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Khoi V
• Application Number:
  US15/943,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20180332024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/335 for accessing specific resources, e.g. using Kerberos tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/14 Tree-structured documents parsing G06F40/205; validation G06F40/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for controlling a local utility are disclosed. A first request originating from an application and including a first token is received at a local utility. The application received a web page, including a plurality of links and the first token, from a first server. The plurality of links are received by the application from a second server. The first token is authenticated. Authentication includes sending the first token to a third server. In response to authenticating the first token, a second token is generated at the local utility. The second token is sent to the application for inclusion in subsequent requests from the application.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling a local utility comprising:

at a client computer having a processor and memory storing instructions for execution by the processor;

at a web browser displaying a control for a local utility executed on the client computer, wherein the control includes a link that includes a domain that resolves to a loopback network address, wherein the loopback network address is a self-referencing address for a local web server at the client computer, and the local utility is distinct from the web browser;

receiving a user input selecting the control;

scanning a plurality of ports associated with a network address of a local web server to identify an open port;

in accordance with a determination that there is no open port associated with the network address of the local web server, executing a uniform resource indicator (URI) recognizable by the client computer, wherein execution of the URI causes initiation of the local utility and the local web server associated with the local utility; and

after initiating the local utility and the local web server associated with the local utility, issuing a request through the link of the selected control to the local web server at the client computer, the local web server coupled with the local utility;

at the local web server;

receiving, from the web browser, the request; and

providing the local utility with a command portion of the request; and

at the local utility coupled with the local web server;

in response to receiving the command portion of the request from the local web server, taking one or more actions based on the command portion of the request, wherein the one or more actions are selected from the group consisting of;

playing a media file;

stopping a media file;

pausing a media file;

fast forwarding a media file;

rewinding a media file;

skipping a media file;

changing a playback order of a playlist;

adding a media file to a playlist; and

removing a media file from a playlist.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the web browser includes a module that contains the control for the local utility.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the module is included in an inline frame in a web page.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the URI comprises a custom URI scheme recognized by an operating system of the client computer.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the link of the selected control is a uniform resource locator.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the request issued from the web browser is a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the loopback network address is an internet protocol (IP) address.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a name of the domain is distinct from the loopback network address.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the domain is divided into multiple subdomains; and

each subdomain is associated with the loopback network address.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the link of the selected control specifies HTTP Secure (HTTPS) protocol.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the local web server and the local utility are part of the same software application.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein initiation of the local utility and the local web server associated with the local utility includes launching the local utility to establish communication with the web browser.

13. A client computer, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing two or more programs including a local utility and a web browser distinct from the local utility, wherein the two or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the two or more programs including instructions for;

at the web browser;

displaying a control for the local utility, wherein the control includes a link that includes a domain that resolves to a loopback network address, wherein the loopback network address is a self-referencing address for a local web server at the client computer;

receiving a user input selecting the control;

scanning a plurality of ports associated with a network address of a local web server to identify an open port;

in accordance with a determination that there is no open port associated with the network address of the local web server, executing a uniform resource indicator (URI) recognizable by the client computer, wherein execution of the URI causes initiation of the local utility and the local web server associated with the local utility; and

after initiating the local utility and the local web server associated with the local utility, issuing a request through the link of the selected control to the local web server at the client computer, the local web server coupled with the local utility;

at the local web server;

receiving, from the web browser, the request; and

providing the local utility with a command portion of the request; and

at the local utility coupled with the local web server;

in response to receiving the command portion of the request from the local web server, taking one or more actions based on the command portion of the request, wherein the one or more actions are selected from the group consisting of;

playing a media file;

stopping a media file;

pausing a media file;

fast forwarding a media file;

rewinding a media file;

skipping a media file;

changing a playback order of a playlist;

adding a media file to a playlist; and

removing a media file from a playlist.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs comprising instructions, executable by a client computer, for:

displaying, at a web browser, a control for a local utility executed on the client computer, wherein the control includes a link that includes a domain that resolves to a loopback network address, wherein the loopback network address is a self-referencing address for a local web server at the client computer, and the local utility is distinct from the web browser; and

scanning a plurality of ports associated with a network address of a local web server to identify an open port;

in accordance with a determination that there is no open port associated with the network address of the local web server, executing a uniform resource indicator (URI) recognizable by the client computer, wherein execution of the URI causes initiation of the local utility and the local web server associated with the local utility; and

after initiating the local utility and the local web server associated with the local utility and in response to a user input selecting the control, issuing a request through the link of the selected control to the local web server at the client computer, the local web server coupled with the local utility, wherein the request comprises a command portion to instruct the local utility to take one or more actions, wherein the one or more actions are selected from the group consisting of;

playing a media file;

stopping a media file;

pausing a media file;

fast forwarding a media file;

rewinding a media file;

skipping a media file;

changing a playback order of a playlist;

adding a media file to a playlist; and

removing a media file from a playlist.