Cross-platform framework-independent synchronization abstraction layer

• US 6,701,383 B1
• Filed: 06/22/1999
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MediaPlatform, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Interactive Voice Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Wason, Andrew, Mills, Michael, O'Brien, Chris, Wallace, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAO, DIEM K
• Application Number:
  US09/338,188
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 709/321, 709/104.1, 709/328, 345/900, 717/100, 717/120, 717/121
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4437 Implementing a Virtual Machine [VM] virtual machines in general G06F9/45533
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/52 Systems for transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals, e.g. an audio signal or a synchronizing signal assembling of a multiplex stream by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, assembling of a packetised elementary stream at server side H04N21/236; disassembling of a multiplex stream, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, extraction or processing of Service Information, disassembling of packetised elementary stream at client side H04N21/434

Abstract

A method and system for extending an extensible framework is provided. An extension module for an extensible framework is coupled with an abstraction layer overlaying the extensible framework. The abstraction layer includes a uniform cross-platform interface between the extension module and the extensible framework.

Claims

1. A method for extending an extensible framework that interacts with an operating system, comprising the steps of:

providing the extensible framework;

wherein the extensible framework comprises a separate layer from the operating system;

providing an extension module for the extensible framework; and

providing an abstraction layer overlaying the extensible framework, the abstraction layer including a uniform cross-platform interface between the extension module and the extensible framework,

wherein the abstraction layer is compatible with a different type of extensible framework;

wherein the uniform cross-platform interface is framework-independent.

2. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework, wherein the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework interacts with an operating system, comprising the steps of:

providing the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework, wherein the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework comprises a separate layer from the operating system layer;

providing an extension module for the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework;

providing an abstraction layer overlaying the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework, the abstraction layer including a uniform cross-platform interface between the extension module and the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework, wherein the abstraction layer is compatible with a different type of extensible framework and the uniform cross-platform interface is framework-independent; and

synchronizing the abstraction layer to data flow in the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework.

3. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 2, wherein data of the data flow is arranged in time progression.

4. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 3, wherein the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework is a multimedia presentation application, the method further comprising the step of rendering data-types included in the data.

5. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 3, wherein said synchronizing step includes the step of the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework calling the extension module with current time.

6. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 3, wherein said synchronizing step includes the step of the extension module calling the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework with current time.

7. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 2, wherein data of the data flow is ordered in multiple dimensions.

8. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 2, further including the step of the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework calling the extension module with current position of data.

9. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 2, further including the step of the extension module calling the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework with current position of data.

10. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 2, further including the step of the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework calling the extension module with current rate of flow of data.

11. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 2, further including the step of the extension module calling the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework with current rate of flow of data.

12. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 2, further including the step of the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework calling the extension module with current direction of flow of data.

13. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 2, further including the step of the extension module calling the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework with current direction of flow of data.

14. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 2, wherein data of the data flow represents discrete states.

15. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to any one of claims 2-14, wherein the abstraction layer includes a mechanism for executing platform-independent code.

16. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to any one of claims 2, 4, 5, or 6, wherein data of the data flow is packetized and transported to the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework over a network, and the abstraction layer includes a mechanism for executing platform-independent code.

17. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to any one of claims 3, or 7-14, wherein the data of the data flow is packetized and transported to the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework over a network, and the abstraction layer includes a mechanism for executing platform-independent code.

18. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to any one of claims 2-14, wherein the abstraction layer includes a Java Virtual Machine.

19. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to any one of claims 2, 4, 5, or 6, wherein data of the data flow is packetized and transported to the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework over a network, and the abstraction layer includes a Java Virtual Machine.

20. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to any one of claims 3, or 7-14, wherein the data of the data flow is packetized and transported to the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework from a server storing the data over a network, and the abstraction layer includes a Java Virtual Machine.

21. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to claim 20, wherein the first extensible ordered data flow-based framework is a RealPlayer.

22. A method for extending a first extensible ordered data flow-based framework according to any one of claims 2-14, wherein the abstraction layer is compatible with a second extensible ordered data flow-based framework and the uniform cross-platform interface is framework-independent.

23. A method for extending an extensible ordered data flow-based framework that interacts with an operating system, comprising the steps of:

providing the extensible ordered data flow-based framework;

wherein the extensible ordered data flow-based framework comprises a separate layer from the operating system;

providing an extension module for the extensible ordered data flow-based framework;

providing an abstraction layer overlaying the extensible ordered data flow-based framework, the abstraction layer including means for providing a uniform cross-platform framework-independent interconnection between the extension module and the extensible ordered data flow-based framework; and

step for synchronizing the abstraction layer to data flow in the extensible ordered data flow-based framework;

wherein the abstraction layer is compatible with a different type of extensible ordered data flow-based framework.

24. Apparatus for using an ordered file through applications including an extensible ordered data flow-based framework, an extension module, and an abstraction layer having a uniform cross-platform interface between the extensible ordered data flow-based framework and the extension module, the apparatus comprising:

a computing machine running the extensible ordered data flow-based framework, the extension module, and the abstraction layer, wherein the extensible ordered data flow-based framework comprises a separate layer from an operating system operating on the computing machine;

means for synchronizing the extension module and the extensible ordered data flow-based framework;

means for providing content of the ordered file to the extensible ordered data flow-based framework;

wherein the abstraction layer is compatible with a different type of extensible ordered data flow-based framework.

25. Apparatus for using an ordered file according to claim 24, further including means for rendering data-types included in the ordered file.

26. Apparatus for using an ordered file according to claim 24, wherein the means for providing content includes a network connection and a first server storing the ordered file.

27. A computer-implemented extension module for use with an extensible framework, comprising:

a cross-platform, framework-independent file container;

a data structure for handling data associated with the cross-platform, framework-independent file container;

an interface that provides access to the data stored in the data structure;

wherein the extension module is a cross-platform, framework-independent module through its interaction with a cross-platform, framework-independent abstraction layer;

wherein the extension module'"'"'s data is provided to the cross-platform, framework-independent abstraction layer through the interface.

28. An extension module according to claim 27, wherein the data associated with the cross-platform, framework-independent file container comprises audio data.

29. An extension module according to claim 27, wherein the data associated with the cross-platform, framework-independent file container comprises image data.

30. An extension module according to claim 27, wherein the data associated with the cross-platform, framework-independent file container comprises video data.

31. An extension module according to claim 30, wherein the video data is encoded in RealPlayer format.

32. An extension module according to claim 30, wherein the video data is encoded in Windows Media format.

33. An extension module according to claim 30, wherein the video data is encoded in Macromedia Director format.

34. An extension module according to claim 30, wherein the video data is encoded in QuickTime format.

35. An extension module according to claim 30, wherein the video data is encoded in Java Media format.

36. An extension module according to claim 27, wherein the data associated with the cross-platform, framework-independent file container comprises at least two data types selected from the group consisting of image data, audio data, and video data.

37. An extension module according to claim 27, wherein the data structure for handling data associated with the cross-platform, framework-independent file container is a file.

38. An extension module according to claim 37, wherein the file is a flat file.

39. An extension module according to claim 37, wherein the flat file is a text file.

40. An extension module according to claim 37, wherein the file is a binary file.

41. An extension module according to claim 37, wherein the data structure for handling data associated with the cross-platform, framework-independent file container is an object of the type associated with object-oriented programming.