System and method for extending a component-based application platform with custom services

• US 8,321,852 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2010
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Shenfield, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri, Anil
• Application Number:
  US12/907,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20110035742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 717162-164, 717168-174, 717121-122, 709/203
• US Class Current: 717/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44521 Dynamic linking or loading; Link editing at or after load time, e.g. Java class loading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/465 Distributed object oriented systems remote method invocation [RMI] G06F9/548
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/547 Remote procedure calls [RPC]; Web services

Abstract

A system and method for dynamically associating an application with an extension service to generate an extended, dynamically linked version of the application. The application is configurable for deployment on an electronic device and for subsequent interaction with the extension service during execution through communication messages defined in a structured definition language. The system and method include a parser module configured for analyzing a set of service metadata descriptors to identify a communication interface associated with the extension service, such that the service metadata descriptors describe the communication interface including structure and type of parameters expected by the extension service for use in manipulation of the communication messages. The system and method also include a linking module coupled to the parser module for using the communication interface and a reference to the extension service in the code of the application to build a runtime dynamic link between the extension service and the application to produce the executable application.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically generating an extended, dynamically linked version of an installed application on a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving, in a computer processor of the mobile device, a request for an extended service of the installed application, the extended service being described in a service document, the service document including service metadata descriptors to identify a communication interface associated with the extension service, the installed application interacting with the extension service through communication messages defined in a structured definition language, the service metadata descriptors describing the communication interface including structure and type of parameters expected by the extension service for use in manipulation of the communication messages, the service metadata descriptors further being distinct from an application metadata descriptor of the application;

searching the extension service for additional matches if the requested service is located remotely or there are additional extension service options;

automatically selecting a most applicable matched extension service option based on predefined selection settings;

installing the extension service; and

updating the service document with the service metadata descriptors,

wherein the extension service is selected from the group consisting of;

a local extension service configured for hosting on the mobile device, and a remote extension service configured for hosting on a network entity communicating with the mobile device via the network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extension service is installed directly if the requested extension service is local with no other optional services.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the additional extension service options on a user interface of the mobile device; and

selecting one of the additional extension service options.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the selecting is temporary or permanent depending upon a setting of the mobile device.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the displayed additional extension service options are selected from the group consisting of:

adding other service choices, selecting from the choices provided, replacing a built-in service with a selected extension service, and defaulting to installed services.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying a name and a respective URI of the extension service to be used in accessing the service metadata descriptors.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a runtime environment including an application container for the executable application such that the extension service is external to the application container.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising assembling the service document to include additional service metadata descriptors retrieved using the URI, the additional service metadata descriptors for use in communications between the installed application and the extension service using the communication messages, the communications facilitated through a messaging engine.

9. A mobile device executing an extended, dynamically linked version of an application the mobile device comprising:

a computer processor;

a service manager selecting an extension service from a plurality of extension services and dynamically loading the selected extension service, the service manager comprising;

an input module receiving a request for an extended service of the installed application, the extended service being described in a service document, the service document including service metadata descriptors to identify a communication interface associated with the extension service, the installed application interacting with the extension service through communication messages defined in a structured definition language, the service metadata descriptors describing the communication interface including structure and type of parameters expected by the extension service for use in manipulation of the communication messages, the service metadata descriptors further being distinct from an application metadata descriptor of the installed application;

a search module searching the extension service for additional matches if the requested service is located remotely or there are additional extension service options and automatically selecting a most applicable matched extension service option based on predefined selection settings; and

an install module installing the extension service, and updating the service document with the service metadata descriptors,

wherein the extension service is selected from the group consisting of;

a local extension service configured for hosting on the mobile device, and a remote extension service configured for hosting on a network entity communicating with the mobile device via the network.

10. The mobile device according to claim 9, wherein the extension service is installed directly if the requested extension service is local with no other optional services.

11. The mobile device according to claim 9, wherein the selection module displays the additional extension service options on a user interface of the mobile device for facilitating selection by a user of the mobile device.

12. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the displayed additional extension service options are selected from the group consisting of:

adding other service choices, selecting from the choices provided, replacing a built-in service with a selected extension service, and defaulting to installed services.

13. The mobile device according to claim 9, wherein the search module facilitates downloading of the extension service.

14. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the search module makes the downloaded extension service available to the selection module or the install module.

15. The mobile device according to claim 9, wherein the installed application is a component-based application having at least one of a message component, a data element, a presentation component, and a workflow component.

16. The mobile device according to claim 9, further comprising a communication module for sending and receiving communication messages directed to the remote extension service.

17. The mobile device according to claim 9, further comprising a converter module for converting a format of the communication messages between an application format and a service format, the application format and the service format included in the service metadata descriptors of the service document.

18. A computer readable storage medium coupled to a computer processor for providing instructions to the processor to execute a method comprising:

receiving a request for an extended service of the installed application, the extended service being described in a service document, the service document including service metadata descriptors to identify a communication interface associated with the extension service, the installed application interacting with the extension service through communication messages defined in a structured definition language, the service metadata descriptors describing the communication interface including structure and type of parameters expected by the extension service for use in manipulation of the communication messages, the service metadata descriptors further being distinct from an application metadata descriptor of the installed application;

searching the extension service for more matches if the requested service is located remotely or there are additional extension service options;

automatically selecting a most applicable matched extension service option based on predefined selection settings;

installing the extension service; and

updating the service document with the service metadata descriptors,

wherein the extension service is selected from the group consisting of;

a local extension service configured for hosting on the mobile device, and a remote extension service configured for hosting on a network entity communicating with the mobile device via the network.