Apparatus and methods for implementation of network software interfaces
US8201191B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 9, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/4431
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for improved software programming interface functionality in a network. In one exemplary embodiment, the network comprises an HFC cable network with CPE in which network-specific programming interfaces (e.g., APIs) may be downloaded to the CPE, registered, authenticated, stored and executed in a software protocol stack implementing OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP) or Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) standards. The host device software comprises a “manager” module that registers APIs identified by the OCAP Monitor Application, such that all applications launched thereafter on the device can use these communications APIs, provided they have the appropriate permission(s). This relieves individual applications from having to support details regarding network-specific protocols and APIs. In an alternate embodiment, class and data files associated with the API functionality are downloaded along with an application. The downloaded application registers the API using a modified version of the API using a description file (DF). The DF describes the class and data files provided with the application that are part of the registered API.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.