API Redirection for Limited Capability Operating Systems

• US 20130347009A1
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hall, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,733,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4482 Procedural

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the execution of application programs on computing devices with limited-capability operating systems by dynamically redirecting certain API calls are disclosed. Such systems, methods and computer program products provide one or more API intercept layers and a rules engine that facilitates the ability to make dynamic decisions on how to handle specific API calls. The redirection may be initiated for any number of reasons/factors/characteristics related to the computing device that render the operating system to be considered “limited capability,” such as, for example, lack of local API implementation, power level, location, central processor unit usage, and any other pattern which determines that redirecting an API call to another entity is more efficient. Such entity may be a hardware component, a partitioned or virtualized operating system image, a network-based image or a cloud-based service.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating the execution of application programs on a computing device having a limited-capability operating system, comprising:

a first application programming interface (API) intercept layer capable of intercepting an API call from an application executing on the computing device;

wherein said API call is intended for a component of the limited-capability operating system; and

an API redirect rules engine capable of instructing said first API intercept layer to redirect said API call away from said component of the limited-capability operating system to an entity;

wherein said rules engine applies at least one redirection rule.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said entity is one of:

a hardware component located on the computing device;

a virtualized operating system image located on the computing device;

a second computing device coupled to said computing device via a network; and

a cloud-based service.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one redirection rule applied by said API redirect rules engine is related to one of the following characteristics of the computing device:

a central processor unit load;

a hardware acceleration;

a missing API handler;

a security requirement;

a network connection speed; and

a power level.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first API intercept layer is configured to intercept said API call at a first layer of the limited-capability operating system.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a second API intercept layer capable of intercepting said API call from said application executing on the computing device;

wherein said second API intercept layer is configured to intercept said API call at a second layer of the limited-capability operating system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first API intercept layer is configured to intercept said API call from said application executing on the computing device after said API call accesses a shared library file of the limited-capability operating system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is one of:

a payment terminal; and

a game console.

8. A method for facilitating the execution of application programs on a computing device having a limited-capability operating system, the method executing on a processor of the computing device, comprising the steps:

intercepting, by a first application programming interface (API) intercept layer, an API call from an application executing on the computing device;

wherein said API call is intended for a component of the limited-capability operating system; and

instructing, by an API redirect rules engine, said first API intercept layer to redirect said API call away from said component of the limited-capability operating system to an entity;

wherein said rules engine applies at least one redirection rule.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said entity is one of:

a hardware component located on the computing device;

a virtualized operating system image located on the computing device;

a second computing device coupled to said computing device via a network; and

a cloud-based service.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least one redirection rule applied by said API redirect rules engine is related to one of the following characteristics of the computing device:

a central processor unit load;

a hardware acceleration;

a missing API handler;

a security requirement;

a network connection speed; and

a power level.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said first API intercept layer is configured to intercept said API call at a first layer of the limited-capability operating system.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

intercepting, by a second API intercept layer, said API call from said application executing on the computing device at a second layer of the limited-capability operating system.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said first API intercept layer is configured to intercept said API call from said application executing on the computing device after said API call accesses a shared library file of the limited-capability operating system.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the computing device is one of:

a payment terminal; and

a game console.

15. A computer program product comprising computer usable medium encoded in a computer having a limited-capability operating system and control logic stored therein for causing the computer to facilitate the execution of application programs, said control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to intercept, by a first application programming interface (API) intercept layer, an API call from an application executing on the computer;

wherein said API call is intended for a component of the limited-capability operating system; and

second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to instruct, by an API redirect rules engine, said first API intercept layer to redirect said API call away from said component of the limited-capability operating system to an entity;

wherein said rules engine applies at least one redirection rule.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said entity is one of:

a hardware component located on the computer;

a virtualized operating system image located on the computer;

a computing device coupled to said computer via a network; and

a cloud-based service.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said at least one redirection rule applied by said API redirect rules engine is related to one of the following characteristics of the computer:

a central processor unit load;

a hardware acceleration;

a missing API handler;

a security requirement;

a network connection speed; and

a power level.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said first API intercept layer is configured to intercept said API call at a first layer of the limited-capability operating system.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising:

third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to intercept, by a second API intercept layer, said API call from said application executing on the computer at a second layer of the limited-capability operating system.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said first API intercept layer is configured to intercept said API call from said application executing on the computer after said API call accesses a shared library file of the limited-capability operating system.