Method and apparatus for facilitating communications for browser-based applications

Abstract

An approach is presented for facilitating communications for browser-based applications. A data communication platform determines to associate a communication identifier with a browser session. The browser session hosts, at least in part, a web application. The communication identifier facilitates addressing of the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof via a process that is not specific to the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on the following:
 at least one determination, by at least one processor, to assign a communication identifier to a browser session at a client side; 
 a processing of an application identifier associated with a web application, a browser identifier associated with the browser session, a user identifier, or a combination thereof to generate the communication identifier, 
 wherein the browser session hosts, at least in part, the web application, and 
 wherein the communication identifier addresses communications directly to the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof at the client side via a communication methodology that is not specific to browser session communications and web application communications; 
 at least one determination to cause, at least in part, creation of a channel for exchanging data between the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof and one or more other browser sessions, one or more other web applications, one or more devices, or a combination thereof, 
 wherein the creation of the channel is based, at least in part, on the communication identifier; 
 at least one determination to cause, at least in part, creation of a group of the browser session, the web application, the one or more other browser sessions, the one or more other web applications, the one or more devices, or a combination thereof; and 
 at least one designation of at least one master from among the group, 
 wherein the at least one master manages data exchanges among the group over the channel wherein the communication methodology causes the web application and one or more client-side native applications to initiate communications among the group. 
 
     
     
       2. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication methodology includes, at least in part, a message routing service, a peer-to-peer service, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 at least one determination to cause, at least in part, emulation of a client device to represent the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on a communication, 
 wherein the addressing of the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof is via the emulated client device. 
 
     
     
       4. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 at least one determination to authenticate access to the channel. 
 
     
     
       5. A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on the following:
 at least one determination, by at least one processor, to assign a communication identifier to a browser session at a client side; 
 a processing of an application identifier associated with a web application, a browser identifier associated with the browser session, a user identifier, or a combination thereof to generate the communication identifier, 
 wherein the browser session hosts, at least in part, the web application, and 
 wherein the communication identifier addresses communications directly to the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof at the client side via a communication methodology that is not specific to browser session communications and web application communications; 
 at least one determination to cause, at least in part, creation of a channel for exchanging data between the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof and one or more other browser sessions, one or more other web applications, one or more devices, or a combination thereof, 
 wherein the creation of the channel is based, at least in part, on the communication identifier; and 
 at least one determination to cause, at least in part, creation of a group of the browser session, the web application, the one or more other browser sessions, the one or more other web applications, the one or more devices, or a combination thereof, 
 wherein the data exchanged over the channel includes at least in part data private to a subset of the group, data public to the group, or a combination thereof wherein the communication methodology causes the web application and one or more client-side native applications to initiate communcations among the group. 
 
     
     
       6. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, 
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
 determine to assign a communication identifier to a browser session at a client side; 
 process and/or facilitate a processing of an application identifier associated with a web application, a browser identifier associated with the browser session, a user identifier, or a combination thereof to generate the communication identifier, 
 wherein the browser session hosts, at least in part, the web application, and 
 wherein the communication identifier addresses communications directly to the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof at the client side via a communication methodology that is not specific to browser session communications and web application communications; 
 determine to cause, at least in part, creation of a channel for exchanging data between the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof and one or more other browser sessions, one or more other web applications, one or more devices, or a combination thereof, 
 wherein the creation of the channel is based, at least in part, on the communication identifier; 
 determine to cause, at least in part, creation of a group of the browser session, the web application, the one or more other browser sessions, the one or more other web applications, the one or more devices, or a combination thereof; and 
 determine to designate at least one master from among the group, 
 wherein the at least one master manages data exchanges among the group over the channel wherein the communication methodology causes the web application and one more client-side native application to initiate communications among the group. 
 
 
     
     
       7. An apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the communication methodology includes, at least in part, a message routing service, a peer-to-peer service, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determine to cause, at least in part, emulation of a client device to represent the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on a communication, 
 wherein the addressing of the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof is via the emulated client device. 
 
     
     
       9. An apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determine to authenticate access to the channel. 
 
     
     
       10. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, 
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following, determine to assign a communication identifier to a browser session at a client side;
 process and/or facilitate a processing of an application identifier associated with a web application, a browser identifier associated with the browser session, a user identifier, or a combination thereof to generate the communication identifier, 
 wherein the browser session hosts, at least in part, the web application, and 
 wherein the communication identifier addresses communications directly to the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof at the client side via a communication methodology that is not specific to browser session communications and web application communications; 
 determine to cause, at least in part, creation of a channel for exchanging data between the browser session, the web application, or a combination thereof and one or more other browser sessions, one or more other web applications, one or more devices, or a combination thereof, 
 wherein the creation of the channel is based, at least in part, on the communication identifier; and 
 determine to cause, at least in part, creation of a group of the browser session, the web application, the one or more other browser sessions, the one or more other web applications, the one or more devices, or a combination thereof, 
 wherein the data exchanged over the channel includes at least in part data private to a subset of the group, data public to the group, or a combination thereof wherein the communication methodology causes the web application and one or more client-side native applications to initiate communications among the group.