FEATURE MANAGER SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING COMMUNICATION AND SHARED FUNCTIONALITY AMONG COMPONENTS

• US 20080141238A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Implicit, LLC (Edward Balassanian)
• Original Assignee: Implicit, LLC (Edward Balassanian)
• Inventors: BALASSANIAN, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/933,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20080141238A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• 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

The feature manager system for facilitating communication and shared functionality among components comprises a network of components, where one component receives or generates a request for a feature, searches its local system for the feature, and if the feature is not available locally, sends a request to a server component in the network. The server component searches its local system for the feature, and either sends the feature to the requesting component, or sends a separate request for the feature to another server component in the network.

Claims

1. A method of deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

searching locally for the code for the feature;

requesting the code for the feature from a server component in the network;

receiving the code for the feature from the server component; and

activating the feature.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a need for the code for the feature.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing a need for the code for the feature is based on a request for the feature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature comprises at least one sub-feature.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the sub-feature may be used with other features.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the code received from the server component for the feature is an upgrade to an existing feature.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising upgrading other existing features based on the code received from the server component for the feature.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the feature comprises activating all resources associated with the feature.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the code for the feature received from the server component is a mapping.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting the code for the feature from a server component in the network includes at least one restriction on the feature.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one restriction on the feature is set by a user.

12. A method of deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

searching locally for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features; and

requesting the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component within the network.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

requesting the code for the feature from the sever component within the network; and

receiving information from the server component within the network about the sub-features.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving code for the at least one sub-feature requested from the server component within the network.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a mapping for the at least one sub-feature requested from the server component within the network.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a mapping for the at least one sub-feature requested from the server component within the network.

17. A method of deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

receiving a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network;

searching locally for the code for the feature; and

requesting the code for the feature from a second component in the network.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving the code for the feature from the second component within the network.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining whether the first component has capability to process the code for the feature.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein capability to process the code for the feature is based on a type of processor on the first component.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein capability to process the code for the feature is based on memory space on the first component.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein capability to process the code for the feature is based on an operating system on the first component.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising transferring the code for the feature to the first component within the network.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising encrypting the code for the feature before transferring the code for the feature to the first component within the network.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising digitally signing the code for the feature before transferring the code for the feature to the first component within the network.