Providing web-based imaging services within a client-based application

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to a computer-implemented system and method for providing web-based features in a client-based digital imaging application. A location on a client is provided for storing a number of possible, future web-based features. The location has the capacity to accept a number of name-value pairs that define a web-based imaging feature. When a web-based feature is to be added, the name-value pairs that define the web-based imaging feature are added to the location. After a feature has been added, it is displayed for selection by a user. Upon selection of the web-based imaging feature, image data about a selected one or more images is recorded in a known location. The web-based service that is providing the web-based imaging feature is granted access to the image data in the known location. The image data in the known location is then deleted when the web-based imaging feature is closed.

1 . One or more computer storage media storing computer-useable instructions that, when used by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform a method for providing server-based imaging features in a client-based digital imaging application, the instructions comprising:
 identifying a location on a client having one or more name-value pair sets that define one or more server-based imaging features, each server-based imaging feature comprising functionality provided by one or more servers to the client-based digital imaging application;   updating the location on the client by adding one or more new name-value pair sets defining one or more new server-based imaging features; and   upon launching the client-based digital imaging application, determining available server-based imaging features defined at the location on the client and making available all defined server-based imaging features for selection by a user.   
     
     
         2 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 1 , the instructions further comprising: upon selection of a server-based imaging feature, determining configuration parameters for the selected server-based imaging feature from a name-value pair set defining the selected server-based imaging feature. 
     
     
         3 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 2 , wherein the configuration parameters include a feature title, one or more feature instructions, and a desired image format. 
     
     
         4 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 2 , the instructions further comprising: receiving, from the user, a list of images on which the selected server-based imaging feature is to perform an operation. 
     
     
         5 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 4 , the instructions further comprising: creating an item container on the client and populating the item container with information about each image in the list of images. 
     
     
         6 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 5 , the instructions further comprising: granting access to the information in the item container on the client to the selected server-based imaging feature. 
     
     
         7 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 6 , the instructions further comprising: deleting the information from the item container when the selected server-based imaging feature is closed. 
     
     
         8 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 7 , wherein the information populated to the item container includes, for each image in the list of images, a digital image file, a thumbnail image for the digital image file, and textual information about the digital image and the thumbnail pointer. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method for providing server-based imaging features to a client-based digital imaging application, the method comprising:
 providing to a client one or more name-value pair sets that define one or more server-based imaging features including configuration parameters for each server-based imaging feature, wherein each server-based imaging feature comprises functionality provided by a server to the client-based digital imaging application, and wherein the client stores the one or more name-value pair sets at a location on the client, and further wherein when the client-based digital imaging application is launched, the one or more server-based imaging features are added to a current list of server-based imaging features available to a user.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , the method further comprising: receiving, from the client, a list of images on which a provided server-based imaging feature is to perform an operation. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , the method further comprising: accessing information on the client about each image in the list of images. 
     
     
         12 . One or more computer storage media storing computer-useable instructions that, when used by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform a method for providing a server-based imaging feature in a client-based imaging application, the instructions comprising:
 launching the server-based imaging feature in the client-based imaging application on a client;   storing image data in a storage folder on the client;   providing access to the image data in the storage folder to the server-based imaging feature; and   displaying a user interface for the server-based imaging feature generated based on at least a portion of the image data in the storage folder.   
     
     
         13 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 12 , wherein the storage folder is not available to other applications. 
     
     
         14 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 12 , wherein the storage folder is hidden from a user of the client device. 
     
     
         15 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 12 , the instructions further comprising: deleting the image data when the server-based imaging feature is closed. 
     
     
         16 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 12 , wherein only the server-based imaging feature is granted access to the storage folder. 
     
     
         17 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 12 , wherein access to the storage folder is granted and managed by a control 
     
     
         18 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 12 , wherein the image data stored in the storage folder comprises images saved in a file format specified for the server-based imaging feature, a thumbnail image for each of the images, and a text file that contains information about each of the images and thumbnail images. 
     
     
         19 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 18 , wherein the user interface is provided by a web service for the server-based imaging feature and generated by providing access to the text file in the storage folder to the web service for the server-based imaging feature, and wherein the user interface includes at least a portion of the thumbnail images from the storage folder in the user interface. 
     
     
         20 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 19 , the instructions further comprising:
 receiving a user selection of a first thumbnail from the user interface;   identifying a first image in the storage folder corresponding to the first thumbnail; and   uploading the first image from the storage folder on the client device to the web service for the server-based imaging feature.