Apparatus and methods for implementation of network software interfaces
First Claim
1. In a CPE having a Java-based software environment and a plurality of applications which are precluded from accessing each other'"'"'s class files or instantiated objects, a method of providing access to at least one of a plurality of network-specific APIs, comprising:
- providing an API manager within said CPE environment;
providing a registry associated with said manager, said registry adapted to register a plurality of said APIs;
running at least one of said plurality of applications on said CPE, at least one of said APIs being required by said at least one application; and
accessing said registry to obtain said at least one API.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for improved software programming interface functionality in a network. In one exemplary embodiment, the network comprises an HFC cable network with CPE in which network-specific programming interfaces (e.g., APIs) may be downloaded to the CPE, registered, authenticated, stored and executed in a software protocol stack implementing OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP) or Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) standards. The host device software comprises a “manager” module that registers APIs identified by the OCAP Monitor Application, such that all applications launched thereafter on the device can use these communications APIs, provided they have the appropriate permission(s). This relieves individual applications from having to support details regarding network-specific protocols and APIs. In an alternate embodiment, class and data files associated with the API functionality are downloaded along with an application. The downloaded application registers the API using a modified version of the API using a description file (DF). The DF describes the class and data files provided with the application that are part of the registered API.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. In a CPE having a Java-based software environment and a plurality of applications which are precluded from accessing each other'"'"'s class files or instantiated objects, a method of providing access to at least one of a plurality of network-specific APIs, comprising:
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providing an API manager within said CPE environment;
providing a registry associated with said manager, said registry adapted to register a plurality of said APIs;
running at least one of said plurality of applications on said CPE, at least one of said APIs being required by said at least one application; and
accessing said registry to obtain said at least one API. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of operating client equipment in operative communication with a content-based network, said equipment comprising at least one application, the method comprising:
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providing a manager module adapted to manage a plurality of network-specific interfaces;
registering at least one programming interface specific to said content-based network using said module;
running said at least one application; and
based at least in part on said registration, accessing said at least one programming interface with said application. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A storage device having a medium adapted to store a plurality of data bits thereon, said data bits comprising a computer program, said computer program comprising an interface manager program, said interface manager adapted to run on a digital processor and further to:
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register one or more network-specific APIs within an associated registry;
interface with one or more network-agnostic applications requesting access to said APIs. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. CPE adapted for operation within a first cable network, said CPE comprising:
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an application which is substantially generic across a plurality of different networks;
a manager module resident within a protocol stack of said CPE, said manager module being adapted to register APIs adapted for use within said first network;
wherein said application can query said protocol stack for one or more of said APIs in order to communicate with another entity associated with said first network. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. Apparatus adapted for operation within a first cable network, said apparatus comprising:
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a processor;
a storage device operatively coupled to said processor;
a monitor application running on said processor and adapted to control at least one function within said apparatus;
an API manager adapted to manage one or more APIs; and
at least one software application adapted to run on said processor;
wherein said apparatus is configured to;
(a) download at least one API from said first network; and
(b) selectively provide access to said API by said at least one software application using at least said manager. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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- 35. Reduced-profile CPE adapted for coupling to a cable network, said CPE having an interface manager disposed thereon, said interface manager being adapted to provide for access to at least one network-specific interface by one or more network-generic applications, said network-generic applications requiring a reduced hardware profile within said CPE.
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38. A method of operating a cable network having a plurality of client devices operatively coupled thereto, the method comprising:
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providing an on-demand or conditional access capability within said network;
providing an API manager on each of said plurality of devices;
providing at least one on-demand or conditional access-related application for use on each of said devices;
providing at least one network-specific API to each of said devices; and
accessing said on-demand or conditional access capability from at least one of said client devices using said at least one application and said at least one API, said API manager controlling access to said API by said application.
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39. A software architecture adapted for use in a cable network, comprising:
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at least one software application having substantially all network-specific programming interfaces and protocols abstracted therefrom;
at least one network-specific programming interface; and
at least one manager entity, said manager entity being adapted to run within the same software environment as said at least one interface and application, said manager entity registering said at least one interface and providing access thereto by said application. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of conducting business over a network, said network having at least one server adapted to interface directly or indirectly with a plurality of client devices operatively coupled to said network, said client devices operated by respective end users, said method comprising:
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providing the ability to utilize selectively or conditionally accessible services over said network to a plurality of said users;
distributing to at least some of said users a manager module adapted to interface with a plurality of applications, at least one of said applications relating to said services;
providing at least one network-specific API adapted for use in providing said services; and
providing said services to said client devices using at least said manager module, said at least one network-specific API, and said at least one application. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of operating first and second networks so as to be able to use at least one common application in both, the method comprising:
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providing substantially identical versions of an application from which substantially all network-specific functionality has been abstracted to client devices in each of said first and second networks;
providing first and second network-specific functional entities to client devices within said first and second networks, respectively, said first and second functional entities each being adapted to provide at least in part said network-specific functionality relevant to said first and second networks, respectively;
providing an entity manager to said client devices of said first and second networks, said entity manager adapted to interface with said application and the respective ones of said first and second functional entities; and
operating said application on the client devices of said first and second networks, said application and manager of said client devices within said first network cooperating to access said first network specific functional entities, said application and manager of said client devices within said second network cooperating to access said second network specific functional entities.
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51. CPE adapted to run at least one application program thereon, said CPE having at least one interface to a network, said CPE being further adapted to:
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receive said at least one application via said at least one interface;
receive a plurality of files associated with said at least one application; and
register at least one API based at least in part on information contained within said plurality of files. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method of operating network CPE, comprising:
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providing a software application including at least one descriptive file, said at least one file identifying at least one class to be shared;
registering an API using at least said descriptive file;
signaling for access to said API by said application using at least a first descriptor; and
generating an entity having access to said at least one class of said descriptive file. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
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Specification