System, method and apparatus for providing functions to applications on a digital electronic device
First Claim
1. A method for providing functions to a plurality of applications running in a plurality of application environments on a digital electronic device, comprising:
- enabling an application function server with at least one function from at least one plug-in through at least one API, the application function server and the plug-in being on the digital electronic device;
communicating information pertaining to a function request for the function issued by any one of the applications, between the application issuing the function request and the plug-in and through the application function server, the applications being compliant with an application command protocol comprising commands, notifications, acknowledgements, data relating to the function request, or any combination thereof; and
processing, within the application function server, the information pertaining to the function request to interact with the plug-in and perform the function on behalf of the application issuing the function request.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
To greatly simplify the developer'"'"'s task, an application function server or application logic controller (“ALC”) server runs on a digital electronic device with a common set of tools and methods to deliver high-value capabilities to applications developed in different application languages and running in various different application environments. The applications and the application function server have a local client-server relationship. The functions themselves are provided by various plug-ins. The interface of a plug-in illustratively is a discrete set of functions, common to the command plug-ins. The ALC Server accepts simplified commands directly from the applications, applies the appropriate policy, and interacts with the plug-ins to perform the requested functions on behalf of the applications. The result is that applications can use various capabilities without dealing with the complex methods, standards, and system interoperability required to make the technologies work, and technology additions and upgrades can be performed independently from the applications that use them.
116 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for providing functions to a plurality of applications running in a plurality of application environments on a digital electronic device, comprising:
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enabling an application function server with at least one function from at least one plug-in through at least one API, the application function server and the plug-in being on the digital electronic device; communicating information pertaining to a function request for the function issued by any one of the applications, between the application issuing the function request and the plug-in and through the application function server, the applications being compliant with an application command protocol comprising commands, notifications, acknowledgements, data relating to the function request, or any combination thereof; and processing, within the application function server, the information pertaining to the function request to interact with the plug-in and perform the function on behalf of the application issuing the function request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An application function server for providing functions to a plurality of applications running in a plurality of application environments on a digital electronic device, comprising:
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an application manager for tracking registration of the applications and for routing notifications to the applications; a socket server for listening for incoming connections, receiving command messages from the applications, and sending notifications to the applications; a command parser processor for parsing commands from the applications; a command dispatcher for validating commands from the applications; a plug-in manager for loading, tracking and unloading plug-ins; a command manager for processing commands validated by the command dispatcher in accordance with a rules-based policy, and requesting the plug in manager to execute the processed commands; a policy manager for applying rules and conditions during operations; a database manager for managing data during operations; a security manager for securing data communications and storage during operations; and a core manager module for sequencing initialization and configuration of the application manager, the socket server, the command parser processor the command dispatcher, the command manager, the plug-in manager, the policy manager, the database manager, and the security manager.
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22. A computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a digital electronic device, cause the digital electronic device to perform a method for providing functions to a plurality of applications running in a plurality of application environments on the digital electronic device, the method comprising:
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enabling an application function server with at least one function from at least one plug-in through at least one API, the application function server and the plug-in being on the digital electronic device; communicating information pertaining to a function request for the function issued by any one of the applications, between the application issuing the function request and the plug-in and through the application function server, the applications being compliant with an application command protocol comprising commands, notifications, acknowledgements, data relating to the function request, or any combination thereof; and processing, within the application function server, the information pertaining to the function request to interact with the plug-in and perform the function on behalf of the application issuing the function request. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A digital electronic device comprising a processor and memory, the processor being operatively configured by instructions in the memory to run a plurality of applications in a plurality of application environments, and to provide functions to the applications in accordance with a method comprising:
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enabling an application function server with at least one function from at least one plug-in through at least one API, the application function server and the plug-in being on the digital electronic device; communicating information pertaining to a function request for the function issued by any one of the applications, between the application issuing the function request and the plug-in and through the application function server, the applications being compliant with an application command protocol comprising commands, notifications, acknowledgements, data relating to the function request, or any combination thereof; and processing, within the application function server, the information pertaining to the function request to interact with the plug-in and perform the function on behalf of the application issuing the function request. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification