Mechanism for downloading software components from a remote source for use by a local software application
First Claim
1. A method of downloading software components from a remote source to a software application for providing updates or additions to application and document functionality, comprising the steps of:
- attaching a schema to a document defining permissible data content, data type and data structure for the document;
structuring the document to associate the document with the schema;
associating a solution with the document structure;
assembling a plurality of software components comprising the solution at a location remote from the document;
enabling the document to call the solution to obtain functionality provided by the plurality of software components upon initiating of editing the document within a schema element associated with a particular solution, whereby the step of enabling the document to call the solution to obtain functionality provided by the plurality of software components includes;
attaching a solution property to the document for pointing thedocument to the solution, whereby the step of attaching a solution property to the document further comprises attaching a plurality of solution properties to the document to associate a plurality of subsets of the solution with particular portions of the document; and
attaching a solution location to the document for enabling thedocument to locate the solution at the remote location;
listing the solution and the plurality of software components in a manifest of software components; and
storing the manifest in a remote library of software components on a remote server accessible by the document;
attaching a schema to the manifest for defining permissible data content, data type and data structure of the manifest and for associating the solution with the document;
determining whether the plurality of software components for providing the solution is present in a local library of software components;
if the plurality of software components is not present in the local library of software components, calling the manifest at the remote library of software components for obtaining the solution; and
downloading the plurality of software components to the application for provision of the functionality to the document.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system are provided for downloading software components from a remote source to a software application for providing updates or additions to the application'"'"'s functionality. All components and files that may be utilized to update or add to functionality available to the application are identified and are assembled on a manifest that may be located on a remote web server accessible by the application. If components of the application should be updated, or corrections or improvements to existing components are available, or new functionality is available that will transform the user'"'"'s existing application and document into a “smart” application and “smart” document, the application may connect to the web server to download the required components.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of downloading software components from a remote source to a software application for providing updates or additions to application and document functionality, comprising the steps of:
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attaching a schema to a document defining permissible data content, data type and data structure for the document; structuring the document to associate the document with the schema; associating a solution with the document structure; assembling a plurality of software components comprising the solution at a location remote from the document; enabling the document to call the solution to obtain functionality provided by the plurality of software components upon initiating of editing the document within a schema element associated with a particular solution, whereby the step of enabling the document to call the solution to obtain functionality provided by the plurality of software components includes; attaching a solution property to the document for pointing the document to the solution, whereby the step of attaching a solution property to the document further comprises attaching a plurality of solution properties to the document to associate a plurality of subsets of the solution with particular portions of the document; and attaching a solution location to the document for enabling the document to locate the solution at the remote location; listing the solution and the plurality of software components in a manifest of software components; and storing the manifest in a remote library of software components on a remote server accessible by the document; attaching a schema to the manifest for defining permissible data content, data type and data structure of the manifest and for associating the solution with the document; determining whether the plurality of software components for providing the solution is present in a local library of software components; if the plurality of software components is not present in the local library of software components, calling the manifest at the remote library of software components for obtaining the solution; and downloading the plurality of software components to the application for provision of the functionality to the document. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of downloading software components from a remote source to a software application for providing updates or additions to application and document functionality, comprising the steps of:
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attaching an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema to the document defining permissible data content, data types and data structures for the document; annotating particular portions of the document with XML structure associated with the permissible data content, the permissible data types, and permissible data structures for the particular portions of the document as defined by the schema; associating a solution with XML elements comprising the XML structure; assembling a plurality of software components comprising the solution at a location remote from the document; enabling the document to call the solution to obtain functionality provided by the plurality of software components, whereby enabling the document to call the solution to obtain functionality provided by the plurality of software components includes enabling the document to call the plurality of software components upon initiation of editing the document within an XML element associated with a particular solution, attaching a solution property to the document for pointing the document to the solution, and attaching a solution location to the document for enabling the document to locate the solution at the remote location; listing the solution and the plurality of software components in a manifest of software components; storing the manifest in a remote library of software components on a remote server accessible by the document; and downloading the plurality of software components to the application for provision of the functionality to the document, whereby the solution provides help content and document actions to the document via the application. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:
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attaching an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema to the document defining permissible data content, data types and data structures for the document; annotating particular portions of the document with XML structure associated with the permissible data content, the permissible data types, and permissible data structures for the particular portions of the document as defined by the schema; associating a solution with XML elements comprising the XML structure; assembling a plurality of software components comprising the solution at a location remote from the document; enabling the document to call the solution to obtain functionality provided by the plurality of software components, whereby enabling the document to call the solution to obtain functionality provided by the plurality of software components includes enabling the document to call the plurality of software components upon initiation of editing the document within an XML element associated with a particular solution, attaching a solution property to the document for pointing the document to the solution, and attaching a solution location to the document for enabling the document to locate the solution at the remote location; listing the solution and the plurality of software components in a manifest of software components; storing the manifest in a remote library of software components on a remote server accessible by the document; downloading the plurality of software components to the application for provision of the functionality to the document, whereby the solution provides help content and document actions to the document via the application. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification