Method and apparatus for converting objects between weakly and strongly typed programming frameworks

• US 20050021754A1
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Viewkko Poystila, Anthony Arthur J. Alda, Brent Richard Bysouth, Carla Maureen Ulrich, David Brett Rudd, Lloyd Clayton Dwayne Bell, Ricardo J. Rosado, Ryan Michael Christiansen, Shazron Abdullah, Zubin Adi Balsara
• Original Assignee: Andrew Viewkko Poystila, Anthony Arthur J. Alda, Brent Richard Bysouth, Carla Maureen Ulrich, David Brett Rudd, Lloyd Clayton Dwayne Bell, Ricardo J. Rosado, Ryan Michael Christiansen, Shazron Abdullah, Zubin Adi Balsara
• Inventors: Bell, Lloyd Clayton Dwayne, Ulrich, Carla Maureen, Alda, Anthony Arthur J., Balsara, Zubin Adi, Rudd, David Brett, Abdullah, Shazron, Bysouth, Brent Richard, Poystila, Andrew Viewkko, Rosado, Ricardo J., Christiansen, Ryan Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,478,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented

Abstract

A mapping method for converting objects in order to optimize utilization of a programming environment on an associated platform includes the steps of identifying a strongly typed object and a type of conversion. A name of a weakly typed object is based upon an attribute associated with a target object and reflection is used on the strongly typed object to obtain properties of the object input parameter. Default names are assigned and stored based upon the obtained properties in a dictionary cache. The dictionary cache is used to complete attributes associated with new object for use in the programming environment.

Claims

1. A method of presenting multimedia content residing at a first computer, using a restricted access program executing on said first computer, said restricted access program having restricted access to said multimedia content at said first computer and having access to a resource at a second computer in communication with said first computer, the method comprising:

a) using the restricted access program to request from the second computer a set of computer-readable instructions operable to cause said first computer to transmit said multimedia content to the resource at the second computer accessible by said restricted access program;

b) receiving and executing said set of computer-readable instructions at the first computer; and

c) causing the restricted access program to access said resource at said second computer to cause said multimedia content to be presented at said first computer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein using the restricted access program to request from the second computer comprises producing a uniform resource locator identifying a server page at the second computer.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein producing said uniform resource locator comprises producing said uniform resource locator in response to a login ticket.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein producing said uniform resource locator comprises producing said uniform resource locator in response to an access key.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein using the restricted access program comprises using said uniform resource locator to access a server page at the second computer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving said set of computer-readable instructions comprises receiving at the first computer a dynamic web page from the second computer.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein executing said set of computer-readable instructions comprises causing a browser executing on the first computer to display said dynamic web page.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein executing said set of computer-readable instructions comprises receiving user input to identify a memory location at the first computer, at which said multimedia content is stored.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein executing said set of computer-readable instructions comprises receiving user input to identify at least one of a create, edit and delete function.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein executing said set of computer-readable instructions comprises receiving user input to identify said multimedia content to be uploaded to the second computer.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising receiving user input to identify a memory location at the second computer, at which identified multimedia content at said first computer is to be stored.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising causing the first computer to transmit identified multimedia content to the resource accessible by the restricted access program at the second computer.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein causing said first computer to transmit comprises transmitting from said first computer to the second computer an HTTP request comprising a content file name, at least one of an access key and login ticket, a multipurpose internet mail extensions type and a plurality of mixed-object native and object-transformed file types.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising compressing said multimedia content prior to transmitting.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising communicating from said set of instructions to said restricted access program an identification of said multimedia content transmitted to the second computer.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein causing said restricted access program to access said multimedia content at the second computer comprises transmitting to said second computer a uniform resource locator identifying a location at said second computer, where said multimedia content is stored.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein causing said restricted access program to access said multimedia content comprises receiving at the first computer said multimedia content from the second computer.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising presenting said multimedia content at the first computer.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein presenting comprises displaying said multimedia content at the first computer.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein presenting comprises playing said multimedia content at the first computer.

21. An apparatus for presenting multimedia content, the apparatus comprising:

a first computer comprising a processor circuit;

a memory operable to store multimedia content;

a program memory operable to store computer-readable codes for directing said processor circuit to perform functions;

a first set of computer readable codes in said program memory, operable to direct said processor circuit to have access to a resource at a second computer in communication with said processor circuit, said first set of computer readable codes having restricted access to said multimedia content;

said first set of computer readable codes being operable to direct said first processor circuit to request from the second computer a second set of computer-readable codes operable to cause said processor circuit to transmit said multimedia content to said resource at the second computer; and

said processor circuit being operable to receive and execute said second set of computer readable codes to cause said processor circuit to transmit said multimedia content to said resource at the second computer such that said first set of computer readable codes has access to said multimedia content to permit said multimedia content to be presented at said first computer while said multimedia content is stored at said resource.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first set of computer readable codes is operable to cause said processor circuit to produce a uniform resource locator identifying a server page at the second computer.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to produce said uniform resource locator in response to a login ticket.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to produce said uniform resource locator in response to an access key.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to use said uniform resource locator to access a server page at the second computer.

26. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said second set of computer-readable instructions includes a dynamic web page.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a browser executing on said processor circuit, said browser causing said processor circuit to display said dynamic web page.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said second set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to receive user input to identify a memory location at the first computer, at which said multimedia content is stored.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said second set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to receive user input to identify at least one of a create, edit and delete function.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said second set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to receive user input to identify said multimedia content to be uploaded to the second computer.

31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said second set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to receive user input to identify a first memory location at the second computer, at which identified multimedia content at said first computer is to be stored.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said second set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to transmit identified multimedia content to said resource.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said first set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to transmit from said first computer to the second computer an HTTP request, comprising a content file name, at least one of an access key and login ticket, a multipurpose internet mail extensions type and a plurality of mixed-object native and object-transformed file types.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said first set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to compress said multimedia content prior to transmitting.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said second set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to communicate from said second set of computer readable codes to said first set of computer readable codes an identification of said multimedia content transmitted to the second computer.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said first set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to transmit to said second computer a uniform resource locator identifying said first location at said second computer, where said multimedia content is stored.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said first set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to receive at the first-computer said multimedia content from the second computer.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said first set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to present said multimedia content at said first computer.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said first set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to display said multimedia content at said first computer.

40. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said first set of computer readable codes causes said processor circuit to play said multimedia content at said first computer.

41. An apparatus for presenting multimedia content, the apparatus comprising:

a first computer comprising a processor circuit;

a memory operable to store multimedia content;

a program memory operable to store computer readable codes for directing said processor circuit to perform functions, said computer readable codes including a restricted access program having restricted access to said multimedia content at said first computer and having access to a resource at a second computer in communication with said processor circuit;

means for causing said restricted access program to request from the second computer a set of computer readable instructions operable to cause said first computer to transmit said multimedia content to the resource at said second computer;

means for receiving and executing said set of computer readable instructions at the first computer; and

means for causing said restricted access program to access said resource at said second computer to cause said multimedia content to be presented at said first computer.

42. A computer readable medium comprising codes for directing a processor circuit to carry out a method of:

a) using the restricted access program to request from the second computer a set of computer-readable instructions operable to cause said first computer to transmit said multimedia content to the resource at the second computer accessible by said restricted access program;

b) receiving and executing said set of computer-readable instructions at the first computer; and

c) causing the restricted access program to access said resource at said second computer to cause said multimedia content to be presented at said first computer.

43. A signal encoded with computer readable codes for directing a processor circuit to carry out a method of:

a) using the restricted access program to request from the second computer a set of computer-readable instructions operable to cause said first computer to transmit said multimedia content to the resource at the second computer accessible by said restricted access program;

b) receiving and executing said set of computer-readable instructions at the first computer; and

c) causing the restricted access program to access said resource at said second computer to cause said multimedia content to be presented at said first computer.

44. A method of facilitating third party representation of an object, the method comprising:

(a) maintaining a database of structured and unstructured data associated with a plurality of objects, said database being accessible through a computer;

(b) facilitating communications between said computer and a first communications appliance having a first set of access criteria to permit an operator of the first communications appliance to create, modify or delete said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects;

(c) facilitating communications between said computer and a second communications appliance having a second set of access criteria to permit an operator of the second communications appliance to group into a package said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects; and

(d) facilitating communications between said computer and a third communications appliance having a third set of access criteria to permit said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects in said package to be presented to an operator at said third communications appliance.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein said first, second and third sets of access criteria are different from each other.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein said first set of access criteria includes an identification identifying an operator of said first communications appliance as a first type of operator, wherein said second set of access criteria includes an identification identifying an operator of said second communications appliance as a second type of operator and wherein said third set of access criteria includes an identification identifying an operator of said third communications appliance as a third type of operator.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein facilitating communications between said computer and the first communications appliance comprises transmitting at least one remoting environment program module from a first group of program modules to the first communications appliance, said at least one remoting environment program module from said first group being operable to cause an object profile to be displayed at the first communications appliance and populated with structured and unstructured data from said database.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein said at least one remoting environment program module from said first group is operable to cause the first communications appliance to receive operator input and communicate said operator input to the computer to cause the computer to cause said structured and unstructured data at the database to be created, modified or deleted.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein facilitating communications between said computer and the second communications appliance comprises transmitting at least one remoting environment program module from a second group of program modules to the second communications appliance, said at least one remoting environment program module from said second group being operable to cause the second communications appliance to receive operator input to cause the second communications appliance to communicate with said computer to cause at least some of said structured and unstructured data associated with at least one object to be presented at the second communications appliance.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said at least one remoting environment communications module from said second group is operable to cause the second communications appliance to simultaneously display at least some of said unstructured data associated with at least two objects to permit operator-comparison of said unstructured data.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein simultaneously displaying at least some of said unstructured data comprises displaying thumbnail views of pictures defined by said unstructured data.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein said at least one remoting environment communications module from said second group is operable to cause the second communications appliance to receive operator input identifying structured and unstructured data associated with at least one object to be grouped into said package.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein said at least one remoting environment communications module from said second group is operable to cause the second communications appliance to group identified structured and unstructured data associated with at least one object into said package.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said at least one remoting environment communications module from said second group is operable to cause the second communications appliance to transmit an identification of structured and unstructured data in said package to the third communications appliance.

55. The method of claim 52 wherein said at least one remoting environment communications module from said second group is operable to cause the second communications appliance to receive and associate with said package an expiry time after which said package is no longer presentable at said third communications appliance.

56. The method of claim 44 wherein facilitating communications between said computer and the third communications appliance comprises transmitting at least one remoting environment program module from a third group of program modules to the third communications appliance, said at least one remoting environment program module from said third group being operable to cause said third communications appliance to receive operator input to cause said third communications appliance to receive from said computer structured and unstructured data associated with said at least one object, in said package, and to cause said structured and unstructured data associated with said at least one object to be presented at the third communications appliance.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein said at least one remoting environment program module from the third group is operable to cause the third communications appliance to receive operator input identifying a list of requirements of a desired object and communicate said list of desired requirements to the computer for communication to the second communications appliance.

58. The method of claim 44 wherein facilitating communications between said computer and the second communications appliance comprises transmitting at least one remoting environment program module from a second group of program modules to the second communications appliance, said at least one remoting environment program module from said second group being operable to cause the second communications appliance to communicate with the computer to receive and display at the second communications appliance an object profile populated with structured and unstructured data from said database.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein said at least one remoting environment program module from said second group is operable to cause the second communications appliance to receive operator input and communicate said operator input to the computer to cause the computer to cause said structured and unstructured data at the database to be created, modified or deleted.

60. The method of claim 56 wherein said at least one remoting environment program module from the third group is operable to cause the third communications appliance to facilitate selection of structured and unstructured data from a plurality of different objects from a plurality of different packages.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising associating an operator of the first communications appliance with an object and associating an operator of the second communications appliance with said object and notifying said operators of said first and second communications appliances of selection by an operator of said third communications appliance of the object with which they are associated.

62. An apparatus for facilitating third party representation of an object, the apparatus comprising:

a) a computer having access to a database operable to store structured and unstructured data;

(b) first means for facilitating communications between said computer and a first communications appliance having a first set of access criteria to permit said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects to be created, modified or deleted by an operator of the first communications appliance;

(c) second means for facilitating communications between said computer and a second communications appliance having a second set of access criteria to permit said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects to be grouped into a package by an operator of the second communications appliance; and

(d) third means for facilitating communications between said computer and a third communications appliance having a third set of access criteria to permit said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects in said package to be presented to an operator of the third communications appliance.

63. An apparatus for facilitating third party representation of an object, the apparatus comprising:

a) a computer having access to a database operable to store structured and unstructured data;

(b) a first communications facility facilitating communications between said computer and a first communications appliance having a first set of database access criteria to permit said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects to be created, modified or deleted by an operator of said first communications appliance;

(c) a second communications facility facilitating communications between said computer and a second communications appliance having a second set of access criteria to permit an operator of said second communications appliance to group said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects into a package; and

(d) a third communications facility facilitating communications between said computer and a third communications appliance having a third set of access criteria to permit said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects in said package to be presented to an operator at said third communications appliance.

64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said first, second and third sets of access criteria are different from each other.

65. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said first set of access criteria includes an identification identifying an operator of said first communications appliance as a first type of operator, wherein said second set of access criteria includes an identification identifying an operator of said second communications appliance as a second type of operator and wherein said third set of access criteria includes an identification identifying an operator of said third communications appliance as a third type of operator.

66. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said computer is operable to access a first group of remoting environment program modules and wherein the first communications facility is operable to cause said computer to transmit at least one of said remoting environment program modules from said first group to the first communications appliance, said at least one remoting environment program module from said first group being operable to cause the first communications appliance to display an object profile populated with structured and unstructured data from said database.

67. The apparatus of claim 66 wherein said at least one remoting environment program module from said first group is operable to cause the first communications appliance to receive operator input and communicate said operator input to said computer to cause the computer to create, modify or delete said structured or unstructured data at the database.

68. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said computer has access to a second group of remoting environment program modules and wherein the second communications facility is operable to transmit at least one remoting environment program module from said second group of program modules to the second communications appliance, said at least one remoting environment program module from said second group being operable to cause the second communications appliance to receive operator input and communicate said operator input to said computer to cause the computer to cause at least some of said structured and unstructured data associated with at least one object identified by said operator input to be presented at the second communications appliance.

69. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein said at least one remoting environment communications module from said second group is operable to cause the second communications appliance to simultaneously display at least some of said unstructured data associated with at least two objects to permit operator-comparison of said unstructured data.

70. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein said at least one remoting environment communications module from said second group is operable to cause the second communications appliance to display thumbnail views of pictures defined by said unstructured data.

71. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein said at least one remoting environment communications module from said second group is operable to cause the second communications appliance to receive operator input identifying structured and unstructured data associated with at least one object to be grouped into said package and to cause the second communications appliance to communicate said operator input to said computer.

72. The apparatus of claim 71 wherein said at least one remoting environment communications module is operable to cause the second communications appliance to group identified structured and unstructured data associated with at least one object into said package.

73. The apparatus of claim 72 wherein said at least one remoting environment communications module is operable to cause said package to be transmitted from the second communications appliance to said third communications appliance.

74. The apparatus of claim 71 wherein said at least one remoting environment communications module from said second group is operable to receive operator input specifying an expiry time after which said package is no longer presentable at said third communications appliance and to associate said expiry time with said package.

75. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said computer is operable to access a third group of remoting environment program modules and wherein the third communications facility is operable to cause at least one remoting environment program module from said third group of program modules to be transmitted from said computer to the third communications appliance, said at least one remoting environment program module from said third group being operable to cause the third communications appliance to communicate with said database to cause said structured and unstructured data associated with said at least one object, in said package, to be presented at the third communications appliance.

76. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the third communications facility is operable to cause said computer to receive from the third communications appliance a list of requirements of at least one desired object and wherein the third communications facility is operable to cause said computer to communicate said list of requirements to the second communications appliance.

77. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said computer is operable to access a second group of remoting environment program modules and wherein the second communications facility is operable to transmit at least one remoting environment program module from said second group of program modules to the second communications appliance, said at least one remoting environment program module from said second group being operable to cause an object profile to be displayed at the second communications appliance and populated with structured and unstructured data from said database.

78. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein said at least one remoting environment program module from said second group is operable to cause the second communications appliance to receive operator input and to communicate said operator input to said computer to cause said computer to create, modify or delete said structured and unstructured data associated with an object.

79. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein said at least one remoting environment program module from the third group is operable to facilitate selection by an operator of the third communications appliance, of structured and unstructured data from a plurality of different objects from a plurality of different packages.

80. The apparatus of claim 79 wherein said computer is operable to associate an operator of the first communications appliance with an object and associate an operator of the second communications appliance with said object and notify said operators of said first and second communications appliances of selection by an operator of said third communications appliance of the object with which they are associated.

81. A computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to perform a process comprising:

(a) maintaining a database of structured and unstructured data associated with a plurality of objects, said database being accessible through a computer;

(b) facilitating communications between said computer and a first communications appliance having a first set of access criteria to permit an operator of the first communications appliance to create, modify or delete said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects;

(c) facilitating communications between said computer and a second communications appliance having a second set of access criteria to permit an operator of the second communications appliance to group into a package said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects; and

(d) facilitating communications between said computer and a third communications appliance having a third set of access criteria to permit said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects in said package to be presented to an operator at said third communications appliance.

82. A signal encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to perform a process comprising:

(a) maintaining a database of structured and unstructured data associated with a plurality of objects, said database being accessible through a computer;

(b) facilitating communications between said computer and a first communications appliance having a first set of access criteria to permit an operator of the first communications appliance to create, modify or delete said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects;

(c) facilitating communications between said computer and a second communications appliance having a second set of access criteria to permit an operator of the second communications appliance to group into a package said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects; and

(d) facilitating communications between said computer and a third communications appliance having a third set of access criteria to permit said structured and unstructured data for at least some of said objects in said package to be presented to an operator at said third communications appliance.