Apparatus and methods for implementation of network software interfaces

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A method of operating a consumer electronics device having a software environment and a plurality of applications, each of said plurality of applications being precluded from accessing files or instantiated objects of other ones of said plurality of applications, comprising:
downloading an entity configured to manage at least one session, said entity further configured to be utilized with respect to multiple ones of said plurality of applications; registering said entity in a content delivery network; running at least two of said plurality of applications on said consumer electronics device; based at least in part on said registration, accessing said entity with said at least two applications; and upon detection that said consumer electronic device has moved to a network other than said content delivery network, unregistering and removing said registered entity from said consumer electronics device; wherein a plurality of network-specific data is shared by said at least two applications, said plurality of network-specific data being made accessible to said at least two applications by an application programming interface (API), said shared plurality of network-specific data enabling said at least two applications to communicate with a network entity of said content delivery network via a protocol of said shared plurality of network-specific data.