Architectures for and methods of providing network-based software extensions

• US 6,874,143 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2000
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fisher, Oliver G., Raman, Suryanarayanan V., Erickson, Paul R., Murray, Michael C., Hopcroft, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen, Wei Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nahar, Qamrun
• Application Number:
  US09/599,812
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 717/173, 717/169, 717/168, 717/170, 717/171, 719/328, 709/328
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons

Abstract

Methods and systems for network-based or Internet-based software delivery are described. In one embodiment, an application program or software platform resides on a client. The program or platform is configured so that it is extensible based on software extensions that are deliverable over a network such as the Internet. Various extensions can be developed by third party developers for incorporation into the program or platform. In the described embodiment, extension files that comprise a software extension are hosted on an Internet server. Additional files are also hosted on the Internet server and describe aspects of the software extension. These additional files include files that describe a logical attachment of the extension to the program of platform, as well as files that describe the location of the extension files. Extensions are incorporated on a client by navigating to a particular Internet site through which the extensions can be accessed. The files describing the extension files are downloaded on the client. These files tell the client where the particular extension is to be plugged in, as well as where to find the appropriate extension files and how to download them. The extension files are then downloaded and incorporated into the program or platform.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium embodying computer executable code that implements a software architecture, the architecture comprising:

a hub structure configured to;

receive multiple different files that describe extensions that can be added to a software platform;

combine the multiple different files into a single exposable list; and

expose the single exposable list to a filter structure comprising one or more attachment points configured to filter the list, each attachment point including logic for filtering.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the hub structure receives multiple different XML files and exposes a list of XML nodes.

3. A computer system including the computer-readable medium of claim 1 and implementing the software architecture.

4. A computer-readable medium embodying computer executable code that implements a software architecture, the architecture comprising multiple different attachment points each of which includes logic making the attachment point operable to:

receive XML data that pertains to one or more software extensions that can be added to a software platform;

process the XML data to provide a list of XML nodes; and

expose the list of XML nodes.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 4 wherein the list of XML nodes is exposed to another attachment point.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the list of XML nodes can pertain to multiple different feature types that can be added by the one or more software extensions.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the list of XML nodes can pertain to multiple different features of particular feature types that can be added by the one or more software extensions.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the list of XML nodes can pertain to one or more of:

multiple different feature types that can be added by the one or more software extensions; and

multiple different features of particular feature types that can be added by the one or more software extensions.

9. A computer system including the computer-readable medium of claim 4 and implementing the software architecture.

10. A computer-readable medium embodying computer executable code that implements a software architecture, the architecture comprising:

a hub structure configured to;

receive multiple different files that describe software extensions that can be added to a software platform;

combine the multiple different files into a single exposable list; and

expose the single exposable list to a filter structure that is configured to filter the list,

the filter structure comprising multiple attachment points collectively arranged to filter data associated with the list exposed by the hub structure, each attachment point including logic for filtering data; and

multiple extension managers associated with the multiple attachment points and with respective feature types that can be added to a software platform by software extensions, the extension managers being configured to receive data from the multiple attachment points that pertains only to the feature type with which the extension manager is associated.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the hub structure receives multiple different XML files and exposes a list of XML nodes.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the list contains root node tags for all of the XML files.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the XML files logically describe where a particular extension fits on the software platform.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the attachment points are defined as predicate chains.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein an extension manager is notified whenever an extension comprising a feature type with which it is associated is added or removed from the software platform.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein each feature type is associated with a particular XML tag.

17. The computer system including the computer-readable medium of claim 10 and implementing the software architecture.

18. A method of providing a software extension comprising:

exposing an XML list that contains one or more nodes;

processing the XML list with a structure including multiple attachment points to identify specific nodes that correspond to various feature types that can be added to a software platform, at least one of the attachment points including processing logic; and

notifying an extension manager that is associated with at least one feature type if a node that corresponds to that feature type is identified in the XML list.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said processing is accomplished by filtering the XML list using multiple attachment points that are defined as predicate chains.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the individual attachment points receive XML data as an input and expose a list of XML nodes.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said processing is accomplished by filtering on specific nodes.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said processing is accomplished by exposing various nodes.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said processing is accomplished by filtering on specific nodes and exposing various nodes.

24. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the method of claim 18.

25. A method of providing a software extension comprising:

receiving XML data that pertains to a software extension that is to be added to a software platform;

processing the XML data using one or more attachment points to identify XML nodes, at least one of the attachment points including logic; and

exposing an XML list that contains one or more nodes that are identified by said processing.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said receiving comprises receiving multiple XML files that pertain to different software extensions.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said processing comprises combining the multiple XML files into a single exposable list.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the XML list is exposed to one or more attachment points that are defined as predicate chains that filter the XML data.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the attachment points exposes a node.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the attachment points filters on a node.

31. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the method of claim 25.

32. A method of providing a software extension comprising:

receiving multiple different files, each of which being associated with a different software extension and logically describing its associated software extension;

combining the multiple different files in a single list;

exposing portions of the list;

processing exposed portions of the list using one or more attachment points to identify one or more feature types that are to be added to a software platform, at least one of the attachment points performing a logical operation; and

notifying an extension manager that is associated with a particular feature type.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the multiple different files comprise XML files.

34. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the method of claim 32.

35. A computer-readable medium embodying computer executable code that implements a software architecture, the architecture comprising:

a collection of attachment points, each attachment point including logic that allows the attachment point to filter data from a list of software extension description files; and

one or more extension managers, each extension manager being associated with a feature types that can be added to a software platform by a software extension, each extension manager being configured to receive only data from the list of software extension description files that pertains to the feature type associated with the extension manager.

36. A computer-readable medium embodying computer executable code that implements a software architecture, the architecture comprising:

a hub structure configured to;

combine into a single exposable list multiple different files, each file describing an extension that can be added to a software platform; and

filter the single exposable list using a filter structure comprised of multiple objects, each object including logic that allows the object to filter data from the list.

37. A method of providing a software extension comprising:

processing an XML list including one or more nodes using a collection of attachment points, each attachment point including logic that allows the attachment point to identify a specific node that correspond to various feature types that can be added to a software platform; and

notifying an extension manager that is associated with at least one feature type if a node that corresponds to that feature type is identified in the XML list.