METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC DELIVERY OF BEADS
A method and system for providing target code to various computer systems. The target code is provided by a service. The service provides a mechanism for third-party developers to submit initial or base code for distribution to end-user computers as target code. The service converts the initial code to target code that is suitable for execution on the end-user computers. When the service receives the request for target code that matches certain requester-specified characteristics, it selects the intermediate code that best matches the requester-specified characteristics. The service then sends the target code to the requester.
1 . A computer-implemented method for providing code to computer systems, comprising:
receiving base code and developer-specified characteristics of the base code from a developer;
translating the received base code into an intermediate code;
evaluating the intermediate code to determine whether the received base code satisfies the developer-specified characteristics;
notifying the developer whether the received base code satisfies the developer-specified characteristics;
receiving a request for target code from a requester, the request including requester-specified characteristics that the target code should satisfy;
selecting intermediate code that matches the requester-specified characteristics;
transforming the selected intermediate code to target code in accordance with the requester-specified characteristics; and
sending the target code to the requester.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the base code is source code and the target code is executable code.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the evaluating includes determining whether the developer is authorized to submit base code.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the developer-specified characteristics identify a functional category for the code.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the functional categories include networking, communications, client-server, user interface, Internet browsing, electronic mail, audio, video, telephony, television, compression, encryption, logging, feature manager, hardware interface, or miscellaneous.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the transforming includes optimizing the intermediate code in accordance with the requester-specified characteristics.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the transforming includes compiling the intermediate code to produce executable target code in accordance with the requester-specified characteristics.
8 . The method of claim 1 including billing for providing the target code to the requester.
9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the billing includes compensating the developer for the sending of target code that is based on base code provided by the developer.
10 . The method of claim 8 wherein the billing is based on per use receiving of target code by the requester.
11 . The method of claim 8 wherein the billing includes differential billing based on the requester-specified characteristics.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the transforming of the intermediate code uses beads of a Strings-based operating environment.
13 . A computer-implemented method for processing developer-provided code to be distributed to requesters when requested, comprising:
receiving base code and developer-specified characteristics of the base code from a developer;
evaluating the base code to determine whether it satisfies the developer-specified characteristics;
notifying the developer whether the received base code satisfies the developer-specified characteristics; and
when target code that derives from the received base code is distributed to a requester, compensating the developer.
14 . The method of claim 13 including:
receiving a request for target code from a requester, the request including requester-specified characteristics that the target code should satisfy;
selecting intermediate code that matches the requester-specified characteristics;
transforming the selected intermediate code to target code in accordance with the requester-specified characteristics; and
sending the target code to the requester.
15 . A computer-based method for providing code for computer systems, comprising:
providing a collection of intermediate code;
receiving a request for target code from a requester, the request including requester-specified characteristics that the target code should satisfy;
selecting intermediate code that matches the requester-specified characteristics;
transforming the selected intermediate code to target code in accordance with the requester-specified characteristics; and
sending the target code to the requester.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the selecting uses a least-squares analysis based various characteristics of the intermediate code.
17 . The method of claim 15 wherein the selecting is based on processor speed requirements, processor type, or memory requirements.