Method and system for allowing a user to create actions to be taken by a server
A method and system are provided for allowing a user to create actions to be taken by a server. One aspect of the present invention includes; in response to a user accessing the server from a client device, providing the user with an option to create an action item, wherein the action item represents an action that can be taken with respect to at least one data object accessible to the server; enabling the user to associate an executable software object with the action item; and in response to the server receiving an identification of the action item and an identification of at least one data object, invoking the executable software object associated with the identified action item for automatically performing the action selected by the user on the at least one data object.
1 . A method for allowing a user to create actions to be taken by a server, comprising:
in response to a user accessing the server from a client device, providing the user with an option to create an action item, wherein the action item represents an action that can be taken with respect to at least one data object accessible to the server;
enabling the user to associate an executable software object with the action item; and
in response to the server receiving an identification of the action item and an identification of the at least one data object, invoking the executable software object associated with the identified action item for automatically performing the action selected by the user on the at least one data object.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of associating an executable software object with the action item further includes: requiring that the user upload the executable software object to the server for storage, thereby creating a user-defined hosted action item.
3 . The method of claim 2 further including: specifying that the executable software object conforms to a published application program interface (API).
4 . The method of claim 3 further including: allowing the user to provide a descriptor that describes calling semantics of the executable software object.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of associating an executable software object with the action item further includes: requiring the user to specify a remote server that hosts the executable software object, thereby creating a remote action item.
6 . The method of claim 5 further including: receiving a URL specified by the user that identifies the remote server that will perform the action and calling semantics for the executable software object.
7 . The method of claim 6 further including: allowing the user to provide a WSDL definition to define the calling semantics.
8 . The method of claim 1 further including: allowing the user to create a recorded action item by recording a sequence of user actions with the server.
9 . The method of claim 1 further including: creating a record for the action item in an action items database with a reference to the executable software object.
10 . The method of claim 1 further including: allowing the user to name the action item.
11 . The method of claim 10 further including: automatically naming the action item by the server.
12 . The method of claim 8 further including: enabling access to the action item from the server for user selection so that the user can create an action list of action items that are to be automatically performed on data objects.
13 . The method of claim 12 further including: enabling the user to publish the action item for use by others.
14 . A method for allowing a user to create actions to be taken by a server, comprising:
in response to a user accessing the server from a client device, providing the user with an option to create an action item, wherein the action item represents an action that can be taken with respect to at least one data object accessible to the server;
allowing the user to create a recorded action item by recording a sequence of user actions with the server; and
in response to the server receiving an identification of the recorded action item and an identification of the at least one data object, performing the recorded sequence of user actions to automatically perform the actions selected by the user on the at least one data object.
15 . The method of claim 14 further including: allowing the user to indicate whether the recorded sequence of actions is to be executed in sequence or in an order determined by the server.
16 . The method of claim 15 further including: receiving IDs of the recorded sequence of actions.
17 . The method of claim 16 further including: recording the user actions by detecting a user's HTTP request to the server, and tracking the request and saving the action performed therein along with the corresponding action IDs and an order of the actions.
18 . The method of claim 17 further including: allowing the user to optionally select data objects to operate on prior to beginning a recording session.
19 . The method of claim 18 further including: in response to the user invoking a recording session, determining a task the user is performing for association with the created action item.
20 . The method of claim 19 further including: allowing the user to specify other tasks that the created action item is associated with and other compatible types.
21 . The method of claim 19 further including: automatically creating a list of other tasks that the created action item is associated with and other compatible types and allowing the user to restrict the list.
22 . The method of claim 14 further including: creating a record for the recorded action item in an action item database.
23 . The method of claim 22 further including: allowing the user to name the recorded action item.
24 . The method of claim 23 further including: automatically naming the recorded action item by the server.
25 . The method of claim 24 further including: enabling access to the recorded action item from the server for user selection so that the user can create an action list of action items that are to be automatically performed on data objects.
26 . The method of claim 25 further including: enabling the user to publish the recorded action item for use by others.
27 . A server-side system, comprising:
a client device including a web browser for accessing at least one data object;
a server in communication with the client device over a network for storing the at least one data object, the server further includes means for allowing a user to create actions to be taken by a server by,
in response to a user accessing the server from the client device, providing the user with an option to create an action item, wherein the action item represents an action that can be taken with respect to the at least one data object accessible to the server;
creating the action item by at least one of,
enabling the user to associate an executable software object with the action item, and
allowing the user to create a recorded action item by recording a sequence of user actions with the server; and
in response to the server receiving an identification of the action item and an identification of the at least one data object, invoking the executable software object associated with the identified action item for automatically performing the action selected by the user on the at least one data object.
28 . The system of claim 27 wherein the action item means include: an action Web application for controlling processing of action items, and an action router for invoking one or more executable software objects, and several databases.
29 . The system of claim 28 wherein the executable software objects are action handlers.
30 . The system of claim 29 wherein the databases include a user account database for storing user account information, a user data object database for storing data objects uploaded by the user, and an action item database for storing action items.
31 . The system of claim 30 wherein the web application further includes an action recorder module for recording interactions with the user to create a custom action item, user accounts that store the action preferences and settings of each user, and means for allowing to create action lists from the action items.
32 . The system of claim 31 wherein the server is provided by an online photo sharing/hosting service that offers configurable actions to registered users as a service.
33 . The system of claim 32 wherein at least a portion of the executable software objects are stored and processed on remote servers on the network.
34 . The system of claim 27 wherein the client device interacts with the server via the web browser and no preprocessing of the at least one data object is required in the client device in order to transmit the action ID's of the selected action items to the server.
35 . A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for allowing a user to create actions to be taken by a server, the program instructions for:
in response to a user accessing the server from a client device, providing the user with an option to create an action item, wherein the action item represents an action that can be taken with respect to at least one data object accessible to the server;
creating the action item by at least one of,
enabling the user to associate an executable software object with the action item, and
allowing the user to create a recorded action item by recording a sequence of user actions with the server; and
in response to the server receiving an identification of the action item and an identification of the at least one data object, invoking the executable software object associated with the identified action item for automatically performing the action selected by the user on the at least one data object.