Schema-based link processing

• US 9,128,751 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tokashiki, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): DYER, ANDREW R
• Application Number:
  US13/108,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20110296289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 715/205, 715/237
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/542 Intercept
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

An apparatus includes a processing unit configured to determine, using a control application, a type of schema of a selected link. When the schema is of a first type, the control application causes processing associated with the selected link to be performed by a content display module. When the schema is of a second type, the control application causes processing associated with the selected link to be performed by a module different from the content display module. The processing unit can be configured to run an operating system, a control application, and a content display module, such that the control application is interposed between the operating system and the content display module. The control application can determine a type of schema of a selected link.

Claims

1. A method of performing processing based on a selected link, the method comprising:

determining, using processor running a control application, whether the selected link is of a first type or of a second type;

processing, using a processor, the selected link;

when the selected link is of the first type, the selected link is configured for providing content using a markup language, and the control application causes processing associated with the selected link to be performed by a browser, wherein the control application is separate from the browser; and

when the selected link is of the second type, the selected link is configured for at least one of transmitting content, reproducing content, and reading a content list, and the control application causes processing associated with the selected link to be performed by a module different from the browser,

wherein the browser is executed by the control application and the control application is executed by an operating system,

wherein, when the selected link is of the second type, the control application causes a functional link region to be displayed,

wherein the functional link region comprises a plurality of visual elements that are selectable by a user,

wherein the method further comprises receiving information identifying a selected visual element and performing processing associated with the selected link at least partially based on the selected visual element, and

wherein the plurality of visual elements include a first visual element identifying a first display apparatus that is selectable by the user for display of content associated with the selected link, and wherein the processing comprises causing the content associated with the selected link to be transmitted to the first display apparatus in response to the user'"'"'s selection of the first visual element of the functional link region, wherein the first display apparatus is selectable by the user by dragging an icon to the first visual element.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to run a browser, a control application and an operating system, the processor configured to determine, using the control application, whether a selected link is of a first type or of a second type, wherein the processor is further configured to process the selected link, wherein,

when the selected link is of the first type, the selected link is configured for providing content using a markup language, and the control application causes processing associated with the selected link to be performed by the browser, wherein the control application is separate from the browser,

when the selected link is of the second type, the selected link is configured for at least one of transmitting content, reproducing content, and reading a content list, and the control application causes processing associated with the selected link to be performed by a module different from the browser, and

wherein the browser is executed by the control application and the control application is executed by the operating system,

wherein, when the selected link is of the second type, the control application causes a functional link region to be displayed,

wherein the functional link region comprises a plurality of visual elements that are selectable by a user,

wherein the apparatus is configured to receive information identifying a selected visual element and to perform processing associated with the selected link at least partially based on the selected visual element, and

wherein the plurality of visual elements include a first visual element identifying a first display apparatus that is selectable by the user for display of content associated with the selected link, and wherein the processing comprises causing the content associated with the selected link to be transmitted to the first display apparatus in response to the user'"'"'s selection of the first visual element of the functional link region, wherein the first display apparatus is selectable by the user by dragging an icon to the first visual element.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, when the selected link is of the second type, the control application causes processing associated with the link to be performed by the operating system.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control application hooks the selected link.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to run an operating system, a control application, and a browser,

wherein the control application is separate from the operating system and the browser,

wherein the control application determines whether a selected link is of a first type or of a second type,

wherein the processor is further configured to process the selected link,

wherein the processor selects which of the browser, control application, or operating system is to perform processing associated with the selected link based on whether the selected link is of the first type or of the second type, and

wherein,

when the selected link is of the first type, the selected link is configured for providing content using a markup language, and the control application causes processing associated with the selected link to be performed by the browser,

when the selected link is of the second type, the selected link is configured for at least one of transmitting content, reproducing content, and reading a content list, and the control application causes processing associated with the selected link to be performed by a module different from the browser,

wherein the browser is executed by the control application and the control application is executed by the operating system,

wherein, when the selected link is of the second type, the control application causes a functional link region to be displayed,

wherein the functional link region comprises a plurality of visual elements that are selectable by a user,

wherein the apparatus is configured to receive information identifying a selected visual element and to perform processing associated with the selected link at least partially based on the selected visual element, and

wherein the plurality of visual elements include a first visual element identifying a first display apparatus that is selectable by the user for display of content associated with the selected link, and wherein the processing comprises causing the content associated with the selected link to be transmitted to the first display apparatus in response to the user'"'"'s selection of the first visual element of the functional link region, wherein the first display apparatus is selectable by the user by dragging an icon to the first visual element.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage device having stored thereon instructions, which, when executed, perform a method of processing based on a link, the method comprising:

configuring and displaying a user interface;

receiving content using a markup language from a content server over a network;

rendering the content using the markup language;

determining, using a processor running a control application, whether a link in the content using the markup language is selected;

in response to determining that the link is selected, determining, using a control application executed by the processor, whether a protocol schema of the selected link is an independent protocol schema defined for an operation of the control application;

in response to determining that the protocol schema of the selected link is the independent protocol schema defined for operation of the control application, processing the selected link using the control application executed by the processor;

in response to determining that the protocol schema of the selected link is not the independent protocol schema defined for the operation of the control application, determining, using the control application executed by the processor, whether the protocol schema of the selected link is a protocol schema processable by a browser, wherein the control application is separate from the browser;

in response to determining that the protocol schema of the selected link is the protocol schema processable by the browser, processing the selected link using the browser executed by the processor; and

in response to determining that the protocol schema of the selected link is not the protocol schema processable by the browser, processing the selected link using an operating system executed by the processor,

wherein the browser is executed by the control application and the control application is executed by the operating system,

wherein, when the protocol schema of the selected link is not the protocol schema processable by the browser, the control application causes a functional link region to be displayed,

wherein the functional link region comprises a plurality of visual elements that are selectable by a user,

wherein the method further comprises receiving information identifying a selected visual element and performing processing associated with the selected link at least partially based on the selected visual element, and

wherein the plurality of visual elements include a first visual element identifying a first display apparatus that is selectable by the user for display of content associated with the selected link, and wherein the processing comprises causing the content associated with the selected link to be transmitted to the first display apparatus in response to the user'"'"'s selection of the first visual element of the functional link region, wherein the first display apparatus is selectable by the user by dragging an icon to the first visual element.