OA17095A - Method, apparatus and computer storage medium for plug-in management and control. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer storage medium for plug-in management and control are described, for solving technical problems in the related art that plug-ins integrated in a system or application are managed and controlled independently and the management process is over-fussy, complicated and inefficient, and it is unable to manage and control general attributes of the plug-ins uniformly. The present disclosure performs deep and complete control on the plugins in the system or application software by utilizing a plug-in list module and a plug-in function controlling module, and the control includes on and off of the plug-ins, ways of reminding, types of receivable messages and so on. In the present disclosure, the continuously increasing plug-ins can be managed in a uniform and standardized way in a program. Thus, the present disclosure can improve the efficiency of the control and management of plug-ins and enhance the simplicity and manipulation of software.

Description

The présent application daims priorîty from Chinese Patent Application No. 201210071067.5, filed March 16, 2012, entitled Method, apparatus and computer storage medium for plug-in management and control, the disdosure of which is hereby Incorporated by reference In Its entirety. Field ofthe invention

The présent disclosure relates to software and Internet technologies, and more particularly to a method, apparatus and computer storage medium for plug-ln management and control.

Background art

In many software based on Personal computers or mobile Intelligent terminais, the plug-ln technology Is used. A plug-ln Is a program written out following a certain standard application program interface. Each plug-ln Is usually used to perform a certain spedfic function. For example, common plug-ins in a browser indude a Flash plug-ln, a RealPlayer plug-ln, an ActiveX, etc. after a related plug-ln is installed In the browser, a WEB browser can directly call the plug-in program to complété a certain spedfic function.

In software development for mobile Internet, many plug-ins are usually Integrated In application software of a mobile user terminal or a mobile terminal. However, for management of these plug-ins, there is not an effedive and unified management contre! method in the related art. Usually, each plug-ln provides its own setting Interface for controliing Interface displaying manner, message prompt manner (such as sound, vibration, mark), loading manner (such as whether to automaticaily load), system data utilizatlon (such as whether géographie information provided by a system can be used), etc. of the individual plug-ln. Such an Independent fragmented management control method has a lower effidency, and cannot make a completely effective control for one plug-in with no management Interface or an Imperfect management interface. For example, the above method can only control some functions of one plug-ln, and cannot control features such as opening, dosing, hiding the plug-ln.

Summarv

In view of this, a main object of one embodiment of the présent disdosure is to provide a method, apparatus and computer storage medium for plug-ln management and control, which can solve technical problème in the related art that plug-ins Integrated In a system or application are managed and controlled Independently and the management process is over-fussy, complicated and Inefficient, and It Is unable to manage and control general attributes of the plug-ins uniformly.

One embodiment of the présent disdosure provides a method for plug-ln management and i

control, which includes:

retrieving registered plug-ins, and organizing and managing the registered plug-ins In a centralized way by utilizing a plug-in list module;

providing a corresponding plug-in fonction controlling sub-module for each of the plug-ins, calling the plug-ln fonction controlling sub-module corresponding to each of the plug-ins by the plug-in list module, managing and controlling fonctions of each of the plug-ins through the plug-in function controlling sub-module corresponding to each of the plug-ins;

extracting general attributes of multiple plug-ins, and managing and controlling the general attributes uniformly through a general attribute controlling sub-module.

One embodiment of the présent disclosure also provides an apparatus for plug-in management and control, which indudes:

a plug-in list module configured to retrieve registered plug-ins, and organize and manage the registered plug-ins In a centralized way;

a plug-in fonction controlling module configured to provide a container for a general attribute controlling sub-module and a plug-in function controlling sub-module of each of the piug-ins;

the plug-in fonction controlling sub-module configured to manage and controi fonctions of each of the plug-ins; ' the general attribute controlling sub-module configured to manage and controi general attributes of multiple plug-ins uniformly.

One embodiment of the présent disdosure also provides a computer storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for implementing the method for plug-in management and control of one embodiment of the présent disdosure.

One embodiment of the présent disdosure performs deep and complété control on piug-ins in a system or application software by utilizing a plug-in list module and a plug-ln function controlling module, and the control includes on and off of the plug-ins, ways of remlnding, types of receivable messages and so on. In one embodiment of the présent disdosure, continuously Increasing plug-ins can be managed in a uniform and standardized way in a program. Thus, the effidency of the control and management of plug-ins can be Improved and the simplidty and manipulation of software can be enhanced.

Brlef description of the drawings

Fig. 1 ls an Implémentation step flowchart of a method for plug-in management and control provided in one embodiment of the présent disdosure;

Fig. 2 Is a plug-in management interface of a plug-in list module of a social application provided In one embodiment of the présent disclosure;

Fig. 3 is an Interface of a plug-in function controlling sub-module of an email reminder plug-in provided in one embodiment of the présent disclosure;

Fig. 4 is an interface of a piug-in function controlling sub-module of a microblogging private message plug-ln provided ln one embodiment ofthe présentdisclosure;

Fig. 5 is an interface of a plug-in function controlling sub-module of an offline message plug-in provided in one embodiment of the présent disclosure;

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for plug-in management and control provided ln 10 one embodiment of the présent disclosure.

Detailed description ln order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the présent disclosure more dear, various embodiments of the présent disclosure will be described In detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 Is an Implémentation step flowchart of a method for plug-in management and control provided ln one embodiment of the présent disclosure, and the method indudes:

Step 101: retrieving registered plug-ins, and organizing and managing the registered plug-ins ln a centralized way by utilizing a plug-in list module.

For a System or application software, the présent disdosure provides an entry module, I.e., the plug-in iist module, for managing and controlling the registered plug-ins of the System or application software in a centralized way. The plug-in list module organizes and manages the registered piug-ins by utilizing data structure such as queue, linked list, object array, etc., and displays basic information of the registered plug-ins in the form of a list, an icon or other display form. An example that the plug-in list module displays the basic information of the plug-ins is shown ln Fig. 2. The basic

Information of each of the plug-ins at ieast indudes a name of each of the plug-ins, and can further Include state of each of the piug-ins, for example, a plug-ln is now ln an enabied state or a non-enabled state.

A user can call a piug-in function conlrolling sub-module conesponding to each of the plug-ins through the plug-ln iist module. For example, each list item in a plug-in list can include a 30 corresponding piug-in function controlling sub-module handle; when the user dicks on a corresponding item, a conesponding piug-in function controlling sub-module Is called by an event response function.

Further, the piug-in list module can also provide fonctions of opening a plug-in or closing the plug-in. For example, opening or closing fonctions can be provided for a corresponding piug-in in manner of a menu or a switch button, without the need for calling a plug-in fonction controlling sub-module.

Preferably, in one embodiment of the présent disclosure, in order to provide for the user a chance of chooslng whether to install a corresponding plug-in according to the user’s wish, an Issued plug-in can first be displayed In a group which ls not instalied or enabled of the plug-in list module, and the user can choose to enable or not enable one piug-in according to the user’s wish. In case that a corresponding plug-in is not instalied, when enabling the plug-in, the System can 10 prompt the user whether to install; if the user agréés, the corresponding plug-in is downloaded and instalied in the local, and then the plug-in is enabled.

In one embodiment of the présent disclosure, the registration refers to register in a operating System or a plug-in publishing piatform; only reglstered plug-ins can be displayed and managed in the plug-in list module.

Preferably, the plug-in list module can also provide fonctions of Installing or uninstall plug-ins.

for example, the fonctions of adding and deleting plug-ins can be provided in manner of a menu.

Step 102: providing a corresponding plug-ln function controlling sub-module for each of the plug-ins, calling the plug-in function controlling sub-module corresponding to each of the plug-ins by the plug-in list module, managing and controlling fonctions of the plug-ins through the plug-in 20 function controlling sub-module corresponding to each of the plug-ins.

In one embodiment of the présent disclosure, a plug-in function controlling module is taken as a container to provide a load space for a general attribute controlling sub-module and a plug-in fonction controlling sub-module of each plug-in. Installing or uninstalling of each sub-module are processed by the plug-in function controlling module, and the plug-ln fonction controlling module 25 malntains and manages each plug-in function controlling sub-module.

in one embodiment of the présent disclosure, a corresponding plug-in function controlling sub-module is provided for each plug-ln. The plug-in fonction controlling sub-module of each plug-ln can perform deep and complété management and control on fonctions of each piug-in, for example, providing one or more of following fonctions of management and control:

(1 ) opening or closing a plug-ln;

Here, the opening or closing fonctions are provided by a plug-in fonction controlling sub-module for an Individual plug-in, and are different from the centraiized management control mode provided by the plug-ln list module. Closing one piug-in is équivalent to setting a state of the plug-in to be an inactive state In the plug-in function controlling module; when the System or software is started up, the plug-in which Is in the inactive state will not be loaded in a memory. When enabling one plug-in, the corresponding plug-in is accordingly activated in the plug-in function controlling module.

(2) managing displaying positions and modes of plug-ins;

For example, whether to display a plug-in In a main interface or an address book can be controlled; font size, color, etc. of plug-in displaying can be controlled.

(3) capable of controlling a plug-in to send a message to a server or receive a message sent from the server;

For exampie, for an email reminder plug-in, as shown in Fig. 3, whether to receive an email remlnder sent from the server can be controlled. For a microblogglng private message plug-in, as shown in Fig. 4, whether to receive and send a microblogging private message and/or a microblogglng private notification. For an offline message plug-ln, as shown in Fig. 5, whether to receive an offline message, etc. sent from the server can be controlled.

(4) capable of viewing and managing spedfic information related to a plug-in through the plug-in function controlling module. For exampie, for the microblogging private message plug-in, as shown in Fig. 4, a microblogging friend list can be viewed through the plug-ln function controlling module corresponding to the plug-in. For the emaii reminder plug-ln, as shown in Fig. 3, an email can be viewed through the plug-in function controlling module corresponding to the plug-in. For the 20 offline message plug-in, as shown in Fig. 5, an offline message can be viewed through the piug-ln function controlling module corresponding to the plug-in.

Step 103: extracting general attributes of multiple plug-ins and storing them into a general attribute controlling module to manage and control the general attributes unîformly.

In one embodiment of the présent disdosure, the general attributes of multiple piug-lns are 25 extracted, and these general attributes are managed and controlled uniformly, so as to avoid separate control of same functions of each plug-ln, reduce redundant complicated operations and Improve efficiency of management and control. The general attributes indude but not limited to, scene mode, message prompt manner, etc. For example, many plug-ins need to receive a message pushed by the server or some prompt messages generated by themselves. In one 30 embodiment of the présent disdosure, the general attribute controlling module provides a scene mode and/or message prompt manner setting function, to control in what way to remind a user when a plug-ln receives a message pushed by the server or when the plug-in itself generates a prompt message. For example, the prompt manner can include any one or more of following: sound, vibration and displaying prompt mark. Preferably, setting fonctions such as choosing alert tone can also be provided. *

Implémentation of the management of the general attributes can include: assigning different priorities to settings made for different modules, assigning higher priorities to general attribute control parameters set by the general attribute controlling module, assigning lower priorities to general attribute control parameters set by the plug-ln fonction controlling sub-module, and giving priority to a high-priority setting.

The technical solution of the présent disclosure Is explained hereinafter by taking a social application as an example. The social application Is mobile communication software which can integrate a plurality of plug-ins, support sending a voice message, video, Images and text, realize multi-user group chat, and is matnly used in a mobile Intelligent terminal such as a mobile phone, iPad, etc. Plug-ins registered or integrated in the social application include but not limited to: an email reminder plug-ln, a microblogging private message plug-in, an offline message plug-ln of an instant messaging system, a microblogging sending picture assistant plug-in, a find friend plug-in based on geographical positions, a friend recommend plug-ln, a voice note, etc.

Fig. 2 is a plug-ln management interface of a plug-ln list module of the social application. It can be seen from the Interface, plug-ins registered ln the social application can be displayed ln a tabular form. A plug-in queue can be managed in the plug-in list module. The plug-ln queue can flexibly increase or decrease, open or close plug-ins. When a new plug-in Is registered, the new plug-in can be directly inserted Into the queue. When it Is needed to uninstall a plug-in, the plug-in can be directly deleted from the queue. Thus, the plug-in queue has very good extensibility. A corresponding relationship between the plug-ln list and the plug-ln queue can facilitate realization of opening and closing operation of a specified plug-in.

Fig. 3 is an interface of a plug-ln function controlling sub-module of an email reminder plug-in. The email reminder plug-ln can be used to achieve docklng with an email system, so that the user can timely know whether an email is received. The plug-in fonction controlling sub-module can perform deep and complote control on fonctions of the email reminder plug-in, the control fonctions Include but not limited to: whether to receive an email reminder, receiving an email reminder from which of email accounts, view an email and an email box, whether to display the plug-in in an address book, etc.

Fig. 4 is an Interface of a plug-in fonction controlling sub-module of a microblogging private message plug-ίη. The microblogging private message plug-in can be used to achieve docking with a microblogging system, so that the user can timely know whether there is a private microblogging message sent to the user from a microblogging friend. The plug-in fonction controlling sub-module can perform deep and complété control on fonctions of the mlcroblogging private message plug-ln, the control fonctions Include but not limited to: whether to receive and send a microblogging private message, whether to receive a microblogging private notification, view mlcroblogging friends, whether to display the plug-ln In an address book, etc.

Fig. 5 is an interface of a plug-in fonction controlling sub-module of an offline message plug-in.

The offline message plug-ln can be used to achieve docking with an Instant messaging System, so that the user can timely know whether there Is an offline message sent to the user from an Instant messaging friend. The plug-ln function controlling sub-module can perform deep and complété control on fonctions of the offline message plug-ln, the control fonctions include but not limited to: 10 whether to receive an offline message pushed by a server, view an offline message, whether to display the plug-in In an address book, etc.

Fig. 6 Is a schematic diagram of function modules of an apparatus for plug-in management and control based on the method for plug-in management and control provided In one embodiment of the présent disdosure. The apparatus 600 Indudes:

a plug-in list module 610 configured to retrieve régistered plug-ins, and organlze and manage the registered plug-ins in a centralized way;

a plug-ln fondion controlling module 620 configured to provlde a container for a general attribute controlling sub-module and a plug-ln fondion controlling sub-module of each plug-ln;

at least one plug-in fundion controlling sub-module 1~n, configured to manage and control 20 fonctions of each plug-in; the iug-ln fonction controlling sub-modules being corresponding to the piug-lns in a one-to-one manner;

the general attribute controlling sub-module configured to manage and control general attributes of multiple plug-ins unlformly.

The organlzation and management of the registered plug-ins in a centralized way performed 25 by the plug-ln list module 610 indude one or more of following: opening plug-in, dosing plug-in, adding plug-ln, deleting plug-in.

The management and control of fonctions of the piug-lns performed by the plug-ln fonction controlling sub-modules indude one or more of the following:

(1) opening or dosing a plug-ln;

(2) managing displaying positions and modes of plug-ins;

(3) controlling a plug-in to send a message to a server or receive a message sent from the server;

(4) viewing and managing spécifie information related to a plug-in;

(5) the general attributes at least contain scene mode and/or message prompt manner.

Each plug-in function controlling sub-module can provide different management control fonctions according to different fonctions of each plug-in. the above fonctions are only examples, and spedfic situations can be determined according to requirements.

Preferably, the plug-ins can contain one or more of an email reminder plug-in, a microbiogging private message plug-in, an offlîne message piug-ln of an Instant messaging system, a microbiogging sending picture assistant plug-ln, a find friend plug-ln based on geographical positions, a friend recommend plug-ln, etc.

If the modules described In embodiments of the present disclosure are impiemented in the form of software fonction modules and sold or used as an Independent product, they can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

Based on this, the essential part of the technical solution of one embodiment of the present disdosure or the part contributed to the prior art can be In the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and indudes a plurality of instructions to make a computer apparatus (such as a personal computer, a server, a network equipment, etc.) to execute ail or parts of the method described in each of the embodiments of the present disdosure. The aforementioned storage medium includes U disk, mobile hard disk, Read-Oniy Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), Disk or CD or other medium which can store program codes. Thus, one embodiment of the present disdosure is not limited to any spedfic combination of hardware and software.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disdosure also provides a computer storage medium which stores computer programs for Implementing the method for adding friends in the above embodiments of the present disdosure.

The foregoing are only preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not used to limit the present disdosure.

Claims (11)

1. Claims

   1. A method for plug-ln management and control comprising:

   retrieving registered plug-ins, and organizing and managing the registered plug-ins In a centralized way by utilizing a plug-in list module;

   providing a corresponding plug-in function controlling sub-module for each of the plug-ins, calling the plug-ln function controlling sub-module corresponding to each of the plug-ins by the plug-ln list module, managing and controlling fonctions of each of the plug-ins through the plug-ln function controlling sub-module corresponding to each of the plug-ins; and extracting general attributes of multiple plug-ins, and managing and controlling the general attributes uniformly through a general attribute controlling sub-module.
2. 2. The method of daim 1, wherein the managing the registered plug-ins In a centralized way comprises content containing one or more of opening plug-in, closing plug-in, adding plug-ln, deleting plug-in.
3. 3. The method of daim 1, wherein the managing and controlling fonctions of each of the plug-ins through the plug-ln fonction controlling sub-module corresponding to each of the plug-ins comprises one or more of:

   opening or dosing each of the plug-ins;

   managing displaying positions and modes of each of the plug-ins;

   controlling each of the plug-ins to send a message to a server or receive a message sent from the server;

   viewing and managing spécifie information related to each of the plug-ins.
4. 4. The method of daim 1, wherein the general attributes at least contain scene mode and/or message prompt manner.
5. 5. The method of any one of daims from 1 to 4, wherein the plug-ins comprise one or more of an email reminder plug-ln, a microblogging private message plug-in, an offline message plug-in of an instant messaging system, a microblogging sending picture assistant plug-in, a find friend plug-ίπ based on geographical positions, a friend recommend plug-in and a voice note.
6. 6. An apparatus for plug-ln management and control comprising:

   a plug-ln list module configured to retrieve registered piug-lns, and organize and manage the registered plug-ins in a centralized way;

   a plug-ln fonction controlling module configured to provide a container for a general attribute controlling sub-module and a plug-in function controlling sub-modula of each of the plug-ins;

   the plug-in fonction controlling sub-module configured to manage and controi fonctions of each of the plug-ins;

   the general attributs controlling sub-module configured to manage and control general attributes of multiple plug-ins uniformly.
7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein organizing and managing the registered plug-ins in a centralized way performed by the plug-in list moduie comprises one or more of opening plug-in, dosing piug-in, adding plug-ln, deleting plug-ln.

   6. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lug-ln function controlling sub-modules are corresponding to the plug-ins In a one-to-one manner.
8. 9. The apparatus of daim 6, wherein managing and contrdling fonctions of each of the plug-ins performed by the plug-ln fonction controlling sub-module comprises one or more of:

   opening or dosing each of the plug-ins;

   managing displaying positions and modes of each of the plug-ins;

   controlling each of the plug-ins to send a message to a server or receive a message sent from the server;

   viewing and managing spécifie Information related to each of the plug-ins.
9. 10. The apparatus of daim 6, wherein the general attributes at least contain scene mode and/or message prompt manner.
10. 11. The apparatus of any one of daims from 6 to 10, wherein the plug-ins comprise one or more of an email remlnder plug-ln, a mlcroblogging private message plug-ln, an offline message plug-in of an instant messaglng System, a mlcroblogging sending picture assistant plug-ln, a find friend plug-ln based on geographical positions, a friend recommend plug-ln and a voice note.
11. 12. A computer storage medium storing computer-executabie Instructions for Implementing the method of any one of daims from 1 to 5.

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