System and method for a context-sensitive extensible plug-in architecture

• US 20060242126A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Fitzhugh, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/165,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242126A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor

Abstract

A system and method for a context-sensitive extensible plug-in architecture. Specifically, an extensible plug-in architecture is described. The plug-in architecture includes a main application responding to at least one media object under a current context. A plug-in application is also included that extends capabilities of the main application. The plug-in architecture also includes an interface for sharing the current context with the plug-in application so that the plug-in application responds to the at least one media object under the current context.

Claims

1. An extensible plug-in architecture, comprising:

a main application responding to at least one media object under a current context;

a plug-in application for extending capabilities of said main application; and

an interface for sharing said current context with said plug-in application so that said plug-in application responds to said at least one media object under said current context.

2. The extensible plug-in architecture of claim 1, wherein said main application comprises a information browser application.

3. The extensible plug-in architecture of claim 2, wherein said main application comprises a photo browser application.

4. The extensible plug-in architecture of claim 1, wherein said current context is taken essentially from a group consisting of:

a time period;

location; and

personal identity.

5. The extensible plug-in architecture of claim 1, wherein said interface provides for compatibility between said main application and said plug-in application.

6. The extensible plug-in architecture of claim 1, further comprising:

a navigation selection for changing said current context to a second context, wherein said interface is capable of sharing said second context with said plug-in application so that said plug-in application responds to said at least one media object under said second context.

7. The extensible plug-in architecture of claim 1, further comprising:

a second plug-in application for extending capabilities of said main application, wherein said interface is capable of sharing said current context with said second plug-in application so that said second plug-in application responds to said at least one media object under said current context.

8. The extensible plug-in architecture of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of plug-in applications is located on a remote device in a distributed plug-in architecture.

9. An extensible plug-in architecture, comprising:

an information browser application responding to at least one media object under a current context;

a plurality of plug-in applications for extending capabilities of said information browser application; and

an interface for sharing said current context with said plurality of plug-in applications, so that each of said plurality of plug-in applications responds to said at least one media object under said current context.

10. The extensible plug-in architecture of claim 9, wherein said current context is taken essentially from a group consisting of:

a date and time;

location; and

personal identity.

11. The extensible plug-in architecture of claim 9, wherein said interface provides for compatibility between said information browser application and said plurality of plug-in applications.

12. The extensible plug-in architecture of claim 9, wherein one of said plurality of plug-in applications comprises a search engine for providing related information from the internet.

13. The extensible plug-in architecture of claim 9, wherein one of said plurality of plug-in applications comprises a mapping capability for mapping a location associated with said at least one media object.

14. The extensible plug-in architecture of claim 9, further comprising:

a navigation selection for changing said current context to a second context, wherein said interface is capable of sharing said second context with said plurality of plug-in applications so that each of said plurality of plug-in applications responds to said at least one media object under said second context.

15. A method of extending a plug-in architecture, comprising:

responding to at least one media object under a current context with a main application;

sharing said current context with a plug-in application through an interface so that said plug-in application responds to said at least one media object under said current context;

performing a context search with said plug-in application, wherein said context search is based on said current context;

presenting information derived from results of said context search.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sharing said current context with a second plug-in application through said interface so that said second plug-in application responds to said at least one media object under said current context;

performing a context-sensitive search with said second plug-in application based on results of said context search; and

presenting information derived from results of said context-sensitive search.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

changing said current context to a second context that is associated with said at least one media object; and

sharing said second context with said plug-in application through said interface so that said plug-in application responds to said at least one media object under said second context.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

changing said current context to a second context that is associated with said at least one media object; and

sharing said second context with said second plug-in application through said interface so that said second plug-in application responds to said at least one media object under said second context.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said responding to at least one media object further comprises:

responding to said at least one media object under a current context with said main application that comprises an information browser application.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said sharing said current context further comprises:

sharing said current context with said plug-in application that is remotely located in a distributed plug-in architecture.

21. A computer system comprising:

a bus;

a memory unit coupled to said bus; and

a processor coupled to said bus, said processor for executing computer executable instructions in a method of extending a plug-in architecture, comprising;

responding to at least one media object under a current context with a main application;

sharing said current context with a plug-in application through an interface so that said plug-in application responds to said at least one media object under said current context;

performing a context search with said plug-in application, wherein said context search is based on said current context;

presenting information derived from results of said context search.

22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein said method comprises additional instructions, which when executed effect said method of extending a plug-in architecture, said additional instructions comprising:

sharing said current context with a second plug-in application through said interface so that said second plug-in application responds to said at least one media object under said current context;

performing a context-sensitive search with said second plug-in application based on results of said context search; and

presenting information derived from results of said context-sensitive search.

23. The computer system of claim 21, wherein said method comprises additional instructions, which when executed effect said method of extending a plug-in architecture, said additional instructions comprising:

changing said current context to a second context that is associated with said at least one media object; and

sharing said second context with said plug-in application through said interface so that said plug-in application responds to said at least one media object under said second context.

24. The computer system of claim 22, wherein said method comprises additional instructions, which when executed effect said method of extending a plug-in architecture, said additional instructions comprising:

changing said current context to a second context that is associated with said at least one media object; and

sharing said second context with said second plug-in application through said interface so that said second plug-in application responds to said at least one media object under said second context.

25. The computer system of claim 21, wherein said instructions for sharing said current context further comprises additional instructions which, when executed effect said method for extending a plug-in architecture, said additional instructions comprising:

sharing said current context with a plug-in application that is remotely located in a distributed plug-in architecture.

26. A computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that when executed effect a method of extending a plug-in architecture, comprising:

responding to at least one media object under a current context with a main application;

sharing said current context with a plug-in application through an interface so that said plug-in application responds to said at least one media object under said current context;

performing a context search with said plug-in application, wherein said context search is based on said current context; and

presenting information derived from results of said context search.