Method and system for hypermedia browser API simulation to enable use of browser plug-ins and applets as embedded widgets in script-language-based interactive programs

• US 6,857,124 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2000
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eolas Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eolas Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Doyle, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): EL HADY, NABIL M
• Application Number:
  US09/481,984
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/501, 709/512, 709/513, 709/315, 719/315, 719/316, 719/317, 719/313
• US Class Current: 719/316
• 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: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells

Abstract

A system is described which provides the capability for high-level extensible scripting language interpreters to incorporate and employ Web browser plug-ins as components within script-based programs. A script interpreter extension is described which simulates the plug-in API interface of a Web browser, from the point of view of the browser plug-in, to allow program scripts to cause browser plug-ins to be launched and manipulated, in a manner similar to the scripting platform'"'"'s native widgets, from within the executing program script. This system allows embedded external program objects to be used to display and enable interactive processing of embedded data objects.

Claims

1. A computer program product forming an extension of a scripting language platform that extends a set of widgets used in a graphical script language platform interface to include web browser plug-in applications designed to extend the functionality of web browser programs, where an extension command is added to the scripting language and with an extension command syntax including a source locator parameter, with the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium for storing plug-in-interface extension program code for extending the functionality of a script interpreter platform by employing web-browser plug-in applications as widget components within the graphical script language platform interface, said plug-in-interface extension program code comprising;

parsing program code for causing a computer to parse a script to identify an extension command and the source locator parameter, which can reference any browser plug-in application included in an installed base of browser plug-in applications, included in the syntax of the extension command;

fetching program code for, when the extension command is parsed, fetching objects referenced by the source locator parameter using standard internet procedures;

program code, providing the same functions and interfaces to a web browser plug in as is provided by a web browser API, for causing the computer to automatically invoke the browser plug-in application and to allow the web browser plug-in application to display and provide interactive processing of a data and/or program object, referenced by the source locator parameter, within a plug-in-interface extension-controlled window of the graphical script language platform interface so that the set of script language platform widgets is extended to include the entire installed base of browser plug-in applications; and

program code for causing the computer to allow manipulation, under control of a script, of the browser plug-in application so that the web browser-plug in application can be manipulated as a widget native to the scripting language platform.