Feature manager system for facilitating communication and shared functionality among components

• US 20080201406A1
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Published: 08/21/2008
• 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:
  US11/599,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201406A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• 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.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising storing locally the code for the feature.

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

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

searching locally for the code for the feature; and

transferring the code for the feature to the component within the network.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the code for the feature transferred to the component within the network is a mapping.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the feature comprises separate versions.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising determining a version of the code for the feature to transfer to the component within the network.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein determining a version of the code for the feature to transfer to the component within the network is based on a restriction.

32. 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;

requesting the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component in the network;

receiving code for at least one sub-feature from the server component; and

activating the at least one sub-feature received from the server component.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one sub-feature received from the server component is a mapping.

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

receiving a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network, wherein the feature comprises at least one sub-feature;

searching locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

determining whether the component has capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising transferring the code for the at least one sub-feature to the component within the network.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the code for the at least one sub-feature transferred to the component within the network is a mapping.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising transferring some of the code for sub-features of the feature to the component within the network.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising transferring code for a mapping to the component within the network.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature is based on a type of processor on the component.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature is based on memory space on the component.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature is based on an operating system on the component.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the request for the code for the feature includes at least one restriction on the feature.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one sub-feature comprises separate versions.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

determining a version of the code for the at least one sub-feature to transfer to the component within the network; and

transferring the version of the code for the at least one sub-feature to the component within the network.

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

receiving code for a feature;

determining whether a client needs the feature; and

transferring the code for the feature to at least one client.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the feature is an upgrade to an old feature.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising transferring code for a mapping to the at least one client.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the code transferred is a mapping.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the feature is a sub-feature.

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

receiving a request for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

searching locally for the code for the feature;

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

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

searching locally for the code for the sub-features;

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

receiving the code for the at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network; and

activating the at least one sub-feature.

51. 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, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

sending information to the first component about the sub-features;

receiving a request for the code for at least one sub-feature from the first component within the network;

searching locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

requesting the code for the at least one sub-feature from a second component in the network.

52. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for searching locally for the code for the feature;

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

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

means for activating the feature.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the feature comprises at least one sub-feature.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the sub-feature may be used with other features.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the code received from the server component for the feature is an upgrade to an existing feature.

56. The system of claim 55, further comprising means for upgrading other existing features based on the code received from the server component for the feature.

57. The method of claim 52, wherein the means for requesting the code for the feature from a server component in the network includes at least one restriction on the feature.

58. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

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

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

59. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

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

means for searching locally for the code for the feature; and

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

60. The system of claim 59, further comprising means for receiving the code for the feature from the second component within the network.

61. The system of claim 60, further comprising means for determining whether the first component has capability to process the code for the feature.

62. The system of claim 60, further comprising means for transferring the code for the feature to the first component within the network.

63. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

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

means for searching locally for the code for the feature; and

means for transferring the code for the feature to the component within the network.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the feature comprises separate versions.

65. The system of claim 64, further comprising means for determining a version of the code for the feature to transfer to the component within the network.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for determining a version of the code for the feature to transfer to the component within the network is based on a restriction.

67. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

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

means for requesting the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component in the network;

means for receiving code for at least one sub-feature from the server component; and

means for activating the at least one sub-feature received from the server component.

68. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for receiving a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network, wherein the feature comprises at least one sub-feature;

means for searching locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

means for determining whether the component has capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature.

69. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for receiving code for a feature;

means for determining whether a client needs the feature; and

means for transferring the code for the feature to at least one client.

70. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for receiving a request for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

means for searching locally for the code for the feature;

means for requesting the code for the feature from a server component within the network;

means for receiving information from the server component within the network about the sub-features;

means for searching locally for the code for the sub-features;

means for requesting the code for at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network;

means for receiving the code for the at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network; and

means for activating the at least one sub-feature.

71. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for receiving a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

means for sending information to the first component about the sub-features;

means for receiving a request for the code for at least one sub-feature from the first component within the network;

means for searching locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

means for requesting the code for the at least one sub-feature from a second component in the network.

72. An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the feature;

means for causing the computer to request the code for the feature from a server component in the network;

means for causing the computer to receive the code for the feature from the server component; and

means for causing the computer to activate the feature.

73. An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features; and

means for causing the computer to request the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component within the network.

74. An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to receive a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network;

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the feature; and

means for causing the computer to request the code for the feature from a second component in the network.

75. An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to receive a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network;

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the feature; and

means for causing the computer to transfer the code for the feature to the component within the network.

76. An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

means for causing the computer to request the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component in the network;

means for causing the computer to receive code for at least one sub-feature from the server component; and

means for causing the computer to activate the at least one sub-feature received from the server component.

77. An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to receive a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network, wherein the feature comprises at least one sub-feature;

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

means for causing the computer to determine whether the component has capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature.

78. An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to receive code for a feature;

means for causing the computer to determine whether a client needs the feature; and

means for causing the computer to transfer the code for the feature to at least one client.

79. An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to receive a request for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the feature;

means for causing the computer to request the code for the feature from a server component within the network;

means for causing the computer to receive information from the server component within the network about the sub-features;

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the sub-features;

means for causing the computer to request the code for at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network;

means for causing the computer to receive the code for the at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network; and

means for causing the computer to activate the at least one sub-feature.

80. An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to receive a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

means for causing the computer to send information to the first component about the sub-features;

means for causing the computer to receive a request for the code for at least one sub-feature from the first component within the network;

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

means for causing the computer to request the code for the at least one sub-feature from a second component in the network.

81. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to;

search locally for the code for the feature;

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

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

activate the feature.

82. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to;

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

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

83. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to;

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

search locally for the code for the feature; and

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

84. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to;

receive a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network;

search locally for the code for the feature; and

transfer the code for the feature to the component within the network.

85. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to;

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

request the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component in the network;

receive code for at least one sub-feature from the server component; and

activate the at least one sub-feature received from the server component.

86. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to;

receive a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network, wherein the feature comprises at least one sub-feature;

search locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

determine whether the component has capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature.

87. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to;

receive code for a feature;

determine whether a client needs the feature; and

transfer the code for the feature to at least one client.

88. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to;

receive a request for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

search locally for the code for the feature;

request the code for the feature from a server component within the network;

receive information from the server component within the network about the sub-features;

search locally for the code for the sub-features;

request the code for at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network;

receive the code for the at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network; and

activate the at least one sub-feature.

89. A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to;

receive a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

send information to the first component about the sub-features;

receive a request for the code for at least one sub-feature from the first component within the network;

search locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

request the code for the at least one sub-feature from a second component in the network.