Notification mechanism for coordinating software extensions
First Claim
1. In a computer system having at least one active application program capable of making calls to lower level functions, a method of extending the functionality of at least one of the lower level functions, comprising the steps of:
- registering multiple extensions for a lower level function with a notification manager, the multiple extensions being capable of providing extended functionality to the lower level function;
intercepting a call from an application program to the lower level function;
notifying the appropriate registered multiple extensions of the existence of the call, thereby allowing the multiple extensions to provide extended functionality;
receiving a response from the notified multiple extensions before passing the call to the lower level function; and
passing the call to the lower level function.
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Abstract
A method and system for coordinating software extensions by utilizing a central management system. One or more extensions register with the central manager, the extensions being capable of providing extended functionality to one or more lower level functions. As calls are made from an application program to a lower level function, the calls are intercepted at the central manager. Each of the appropriately registered extensions is then notified of the existence of the call, thereby allowing the extensions to provide extended functionality thereto.
The call is then passed by the manager to the lower level function, which returns a result of the call to the manager. The extensions are then notified of the result of the call. This enables the registered extensions to modify the result of the call to provide its extended functionality.
134 Citations
13 Claims
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1. In a computer system having at least one active application program capable of making calls to lower level functions, a method of extending the functionality of at least one of the lower level functions, comprising the steps of:
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registering multiple extensions for a lower level function with a notification manager, the multiple extensions being capable of providing extended functionality to the lower level function; intercepting a call from an application program to the lower level function; notifying the appropriate registered multiple extensions of the existence of the call, thereby allowing the multiple extensions to provide extended functionality; receiving a response from the notified multiple extensions before passing the call to the lower level function; and passing the call to the lower level function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer system for providing extended functionality to at least one existing function which is called from an application program, comprising:
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a notification manager including means for intercepting calls to the function; multiple extensions capable of providing extended functionality to a function; means for communicating information from the notification manager to the multiple extensions in response to an intercepted call to the function, including information associated with the intercepted call; and means for communicating instructions from the multiple extensions to the notification manager in accordance with the multiple extensions'"'"' extended functionality in response to communicating information associated with the intercepted call to the multiple extensions and before passing the call to the function; and means for passing the intercepted call to the function. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification