System and method for providing additional functionality to existing software in an integrated manner

Abstract

An improved system and method are disclosed for improving functionality in software applications. In one example, the method includes a mobile device having a network interface, a processor, and a memory configured to store a plurality of instructions. The instructions include instructions for a superblock application having instructions for a function block included therein. The function block is configured to provide functions that are accessible to the superblock application via an application programming interface (API). The functions are provided within the superblock application itself and are accessible within the superblock application without switching context to another application on the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mobile device comprising:
 a network interface; 
 a processor coupled to the network interface; and 
 a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store a plurality of instructions executable by the processor, the instructions including instructions for:
 receiving, by a function block stored in the memory of the mobile device, a request for a communication service from a superblock application stored in the memory of the mobile device, wherein the superblock application is configured to access the function block for functionality that is lacking in the superblock application; 
 determining, by the function block, that providing the communication service to the superblock application requires access to an external device; 
 establishing, by the function block, a connection with the external device via the network interface to support the communication service, wherein the establishing is not supported by the superblock application; and 
 providing, by the function block, the communication service to the superblock application, wherein the steps of receiving, determining, establishing, and providing are performed without switching context from the superblock application to another application on the mobile device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein providing the communication service includes operating, by the function block, as a bridge between the superblock application and the external device. 
     
     
       3. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the request is an application programming interface (API) call from the superblock application to the function block. 
     
     
       4. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the communication service is a collaboration session. 
     
     
       5. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the communication service is a whiteboard session. 
     
     
       6. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the communication service is an instant messaging session. 
     
     
       7. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the communication service is an audio session. 
     
     
       8. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the communication service is an audio/video (A/V) session. 
     
     
       9. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the instructions further include determining, by the function block, whether the function block has a capability to provide the communication service. 
     
     
       10. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the instructions further include determining, by the function block, whether the function block has a capability to perform any rendering needed by the communication service. 
     
     
       11. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the instructions further include determining, by the function block, whether the superblock has a capability to perform any rendering needed by the communication service. 
     
     
       12. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the instructions further include initializing the function block, by the superblock application, when the superblock application is loaded into the memory and executed. 
     
     
       13. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the instructions further include determining, by the function block, that the superblock application is authorized to access functionality provided by the function block for the communication service. 
     
     
       14. The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the instructions further include providing at least one configuration parameter for the function block, wherein the configuration parameter enables the function block to be configured after the function block is distributed as part of the superblock application. 
     
     
       15. A mobile device comprising:
 a network interface; 
 a processor coupled to the network interface; and 
 a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store a plurality of instructions executable by the processor, the instructions including instructions for:
 receiving, by a function block stored in the memory of the mobile device, a request from an external device for a communication session with a superblock application that is stored in the memory of the mobile device and is currently being displayed within a display window of the superblock application on a display screen of the mobile device, wherein the function block is configured to provide functionality for the communication service to the superblock application; 
 notifying, by the function block, the superblock application that the communication session is being requested by the external device, wherein the notification occurs within the display window of the superb lock application; 
 establishing, by the function block, a connection with the external device via the network interface to support the communication session only after receiving an approval from the superblock application to establish the communication session, wherein the establishing is not supported by the superblock application; and 
 providing, by the function block, the communication session to the superb lock application, wherein the steps of receiving, notifying, establishing, and providing are performed without switching context from the superblock application to another application on the mobile device. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The mobile device of  claim 15  wherein the instructions further include determining, by the function block, whether the function block has a capability to perform any rendering needed by the communication session. 
     
     
       17. The mobile device of  claim 15  wherein the instructions further include determining, by the function block, whether the superblock has a capability to perform any rendering needed by the communication session. 
     
     
       18. The mobile device of  claim 15  wherein the instructions further include determining, by the function block, that the superblock application is authorized to access functionality provided by the function block for the communication session. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15  wherein the function block and the superblock application communicate via an application programming interface (API) provided by the function block. 
     
     
       20. A method comprising:
 receiving, by a function block stored in a memory of a mobile device, a request for a communication service from a superblock application stored in the memory of the mobile device, wherein the superblock application is configured to access the function block for functionality that is lacking in the superblock application; 
 determining, by the function block, that providing the communication service to the superblock application requires access to an external device; 
 establishing, by the function block, a connection with the external device to support the communication service via a network interface of the mobile device, wherein the establishing is not supported by the superblock application; and 
 providing, by the function block, the communication service to the superblock application, wherein the steps of receiving, determining, establishing, and providing are performed without switching context from the superblock application to another application on the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20  wherein providing the communication service includes operating, by the function block, as a bridge between the superblock application and the external device. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20  wherein the request is an application programming interface (API) call from the superblock application to the function block. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20  further comprising determining, by the function block, whether the function block has a capability to provide the communication service. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 20  further comprising determining, by the function block, whether the function block has a capability to perform any rendering needed by the communication service. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 20  further comprising determining, by the function block, whether the superblock has a capability to perform any rendering needed by the communication service. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 20  further comprising initializing the function block, by the superblock application, when the superblock application is loaded into the memory and executed. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 20  further comprising determining, by the function block, that the superblock application is authorized to access functionality provided by the function block for the communication service. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 20  further comprising providing at least one configuration parameter for the function block, wherein the configuration parameter enables the function block to be configured after the function block is distributed as part of the superblock application.