System and method for providing a web-based operating system

• US 20070106757A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: VistaPrint Limited (Cimpress Plc)
• Inventors: Malmer, Fredrik, Pishevar, Shervin, Morris, Drew, Arvidsson, Erik
• Granted Patent: US 8,069,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A system and method for providing a web-based operating system is disclosed. A web-based operating system is downloaded from a server to a network-enabled device. The web-based operating system provides a platform from which to run web-based computer applications. Web-based computer applications are downloaded from the server onto the network-enabled device, and executed in conjunction with the web-based operating system. Those portions of the web-based operating system software and web-based computer application software are downloaded to the network-enabled device as needed. A component-based environment for the development and deployment of a web-based operating system and web-based computer applications is also provided. Components are deployed within library files as part of a component-based development model. The web-based operating system downloads those library files needed to execute the web-based computer applications.

Claims

1. A method for executing a web-based application within a browser, comprising:

loading a top-level page, said top-level page referencing a first library file;

loading said first library file, wherein said first library file includes an application program interface component;

loading a second library file, wherein said second library file references said application program interface component; and

executing said application program interface component referenced by said second library file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said top-level page provides an execution context for said first library file and for said second library file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said top-level page includes a library manager for loading library files.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said loading said first library file further comprises loading said first library file into a new context within said top-level page.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said new context is an iframe.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said new context is a layer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said loading said second library file further comprises loading said second library file into a new context within said top-level page.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said new context is a new iframe.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said new context is a new layer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising loading a sub-library file in response to a reference to said sub-library file in said first library file.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising loading a sub-library file in response to a reference to said sub-library file in said second library file.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said second library file is loaded in response to user interaction with the browser.

13. A method for implementing a web-based application program interface, comprising:

loading a top-level page into a web-browser, said top-level page adapted to be processed by the web-browser;

receiving a request to load a first library file, said first library file including an application program interface component;

determining if said first library file has been loaded;

loading said first library file into a new context in said top-level page if said first library file has not been loaded;

determining if said first library file references a second library file;

determining if said second library file has been loaded; and

loading said second library file into a new context in said top-level page if said second library file has not been loaded.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said top-level page includes a library manager for loading library files.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said request is included in said top-level page.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said request is generated by user interaction with the web-browser.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said request is generated by a web-based application executing in the web-browser.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said new context is an iframe.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said new context is a layer.

20. A computer program product for enabling a processor in a computer system to implement a system for executing a web-based application within a browser, said computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said computer usable medium for causing a program to execute on the computer system, said computer readable program code means comprising;

means for enabling the computer system to load a top-level page, said top-level page referencing a first library file;

means for enabling the computer system to load said first library file, wherein said first library file includes an application program interface component;

means for enabling the computer system to load a second library file, wherein said second library file references said application program interface component; and

means for enabling the computer system to execute said application program interface component referenced by said second library file.