Method and system for a uniform resource identifier (uri) broker

Abstract

A system provides the ability for developers to create and embed a URI in HTML, a document, or an application to invoke another application or functionality according to a URI scheme name. The invoked application does not natively react to URI selections. Rather, a URI Broker can redirect the URI selection to the desired application and conduct any pre-processing to allow the URI to invoke any application, even those that do not include URI capability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for enabling a URI, the method comprising:
 providing a URI Broker executed by a processor of a developer computer system;   generating, with the URI Broker, a URI scheme for a URI;   storing the URI scheme;   embedding the URI into content; and   publishing the content for a user, wherein the URI is configured to launch functionality when selected by the user, wherein the functionality does not natively execute based on the URI.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the content is one of a webpage, a document, and a first application, and wherein the functionality is one of a web service, an application programming interface (API), and a second application. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the URI is embedded in the content as metadata. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a first preference for the functionality to launch with the URI; and   storing the URI scheme with the first preference in a data store associated with a server in communication with the developer computer system via a network, wherein the URI is configured to launch the functionality based on the first preference.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein user preference data overrides the first preference. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the URI is associated with visual indicia in the content. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein launching the functionality comprises intercepting a selection of the URI. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a processor of a developer computer system; and   a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions comprising:
 providing a URI Broker; 
 generating, with the URI Broker, a URI scheme for a URI; 
 storing the URI scheme; 
 embedding the URI into content; and 
 publishing the content for a user, wherein the URI is configured to launch functionality when selected by the user, wherein the functionality does not natively execute based on the URI. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the content is one of a webpage, a document, and a first application, and wherein the functionality is one of a web service, an application programming interface (API), and a second application. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the URI is embedded in the content as metadata. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 8 , the functions further comprising:
 creating a first preference for the functionality to launch with the URI; and   storing the URI scheme with the first preference in a data store associated with a server in communication with the developer computer system via a network, wherein the URI is configured to launch the functionality based on the first preference.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein user preference data overrides the first preference. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the URI is associated with visual indicia in the content. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein launching the functionality comprises intercepting a selection of the URI. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code configured when executed by a processor of a developer computer system to perform functions comprising:
 providing a URI Broker; 
 generating, with the URI Broker, a URI scheme for a URI; 
 storing the URI scheme; 
 embedding the URI into content; and 
 publishing the content for a user, wherein the URI is configured to launch functionality when selected by the user, wherein the functionality does not natively execute based on the URI. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product according to  claim 15 , wherein the content is one of a webpage, a document, and a first application, and wherein the functionality is one of a web service, an application programming interface (API), and a second application. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product according to  claim 15 , wherein the URI is embedded in the content as metadata. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product according to  claim 15 , the functions further comprising:
 creating a first preference for the functionality to launch with the URI; and   storing the URI scheme with the first preference in a data store associated with a server in communication with the developer computer system via a network, wherein the URI is configured to launch the functionality based on the first preference.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product according to  claim 18 , wherein user preference data overrides the first preference. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product according to  claim 15 , wherein the URI is associated with visual indicia in the content.