Feature manager system for facilitating communication and shared functionality among components

1 . A method of deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

searching locally for the code for the feature;

requesting the code for the feature from a server component in the network;

receiving the code for the feature from the server component; and

activating the feature.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising establishing a need for the code for the feature.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein establishing a need for the code for the feature is based on a request for the feature.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feature comprises at least one sub-feature.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the sub-feature may be used with other features.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the code received from the server component for the feature is an upgrade to an existing feature.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising upgrading other existing features based on the code received from the server component for the feature.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein activating the feature comprises activating all resources associated with the feature.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the code for the feature received from the server component is a mapping.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein requesting the code for the feature from a server component in the network includes at least one restriction on the feature.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one restriction on the feature is set by a user.

12 . A method of deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

searching locally for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features; and

requesting the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component within the network.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

requesting the code for the feature from the sever component within the network; and

receiving information from the server component within the network about the sub-features.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving code for the at least one sub-feature requested from the server component within the network.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving a mapping for the at least one sub-feature requested from the server component within the network.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving a mapping for the at least one sub-feature requested from the server component within the network.

17 . A method of deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

receiving a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network;

searching locally for the code for the feature; and

requesting the code for the feature from a second component in the network.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising receiving the code for the feature from the second component within the network.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising determining whether the first component has capability to process the code for the feature.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein capability to process the code for the feature is based on a type of processor on the first component.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein capability to process the code for the feature is based on memory space on the first component.

22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein capability to process the code for the feature is based on an operating system on the first component.

23 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising transferring the code for the feature to the first component within the network.

24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising encrypting the code for the feature before transferring the code for the feature to the first component within the network.

25 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising digitally signing the code for the feature before transferring the code for the feature to the first component within the network.

26 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising storing locally the code for the feature.

27 . A method of deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

receiving a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network;

searching locally for the code for the feature; and

transferring the code for the feature to the component within the network.

28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the code for the feature transferred to the component within the network is a mapping.

29 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the feature comprises separate versions.

30 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising determining a version of the code for the feature to transfer to the component within the network.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein determining a version of the code for the feature to transfer to the component within the network is based on a restriction.

32 . A method of deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

searching locally for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

requesting the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component in the network;

receiving code for at least one sub-feature from the server component; and activating the at least one sub-feature received from the server component.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein at least one sub-feature received from the server component is a mapping.

34 . A method of deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

receiving a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network, wherein the feature comprises at least one sub-feature;

searching locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

determining whether the component has capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature.

35 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising transferring the code for the at least one sub-feature to the component within the network.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the code for the at least one sub-feature transferred to the component within the network is a mapping.

37 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising transferring some of the code for sub-features of the feature to the component within the network.

38 . The method of claim 37 , further comprising transferring code for a mapping to the component within the network.

39 . The method of claim 34 , wherein capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature is based on a type of processor on the component.

40 . The method of claim 34 , wherein capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature is based on memory space on the component.

41 . The method of claim 34 , wherein capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature is based on an operating system on the component.

42 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the request for the code for the feature includes at least one restriction on the feature.

43 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the at least one sub-feature comprises separate versions.

44 . The method of claim 43 , further comprising:

determining a version of the code for the at least one sub-feature to transfer to the component within the network; and

transferring the version of the code for the at least one sub-feature to the component within the network.

45 . A method of deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

receiving code for a feature;

determining whether a client needs the feature; and

transferring the code for the feature to at least one client.

46 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the feature is an upgrade to an old feature.

47 . The method of claim 45 , further comprising transferring code for a mapping to the at least one client.

48 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the code transferred is a mapping.

49 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the feature is a sub-feature.

50 . A method of deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

receiving a request for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

searching locally for the code for the feature;

requesting the code for the feature from a server component within the network;

receiving information from the server component within the network about the sub-features;

searching locally for the code for the sub-features;

requesting the code for at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network;

receiving the code for the at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network; and

activating the at least one sub-feature.

51 . A method of deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

receiving a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

sending information to the first component about the sub-features;

receiving a request for the code for at least one sub-feature from the first component within the network;

searching locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

requesting the code for the at least one sub-feature from a second component in the network.

52 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for searching locally for the code for the feature;

means for requesting the code for the feature from a server component in the network;

means for receiving the code for the feature from the server component; and

means for activating the feature.

53 . The system of claim 52 , wherein the feature comprises at least one sub-feature.

54 . The system of claim 53 , wherein the sub-feature may be used with other features.

55 . The system of claim 52 , wherein the code received from the server component for the feature is an upgrade to an existing feature.

56 . The system of claim 55 , further comprising means for upgrading other existing features based on the code received from the server component for the feature.

57 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the means for requesting the code for the feature from a server component in the network includes at least one restriction on the feature.

58 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for searching locally for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features; and

means for requesting the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component within the network.

59 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for receiving a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network;

means for searching locally for the code for the feature; and

means for requesting the code for the feature from a second component in the network.

60 . The system of claim 59 , further comprising means for receiving the code for the feature from the second component within the network.

61 . The system of claim 60 , further comprising means for determining whether the first component has capability to process the code for the feature.

62 . The system of claim 60 , further comprising means for transferring the code for the feature to the first component within the network.

63 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for receiving a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network;

means for searching locally for the code for the feature; and

means for transferring the code for the feature to the component within the network.

64 . The system of claim 63 , wherein the feature comprises separate versions.

65 . The system of claim 64 , further comprising means for determining a version of the code for the feature to transfer to the component within the network.

66 . The system of claim 65 , wherein the means for determining a version of the code for the feature to transfer to the component within the network is based on a restriction.

67 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for searching locally for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

means for requesting the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component in the network;

means for receiving code for at least one sub-feature from the server component; and

means for activating the at least one sub-feature received from the server component.

68 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for receiving a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network, wherein the feature comprises at least one sub-feature;

means for searching locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

means for determining whether the component has capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature.

69 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for receiving code for a feature;

means for determining whether a client needs the feature; and

means for transferring the code for the feature to at least one client.

70 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for receiving a request for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

means for searching locally for the code for the feature;

means for requesting the code for the feature from a server component within the network;

means for receiving information from the server component within the network about the sub-features;

means for searching locally for the code for the sub-features;

means for requesting the code for at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network;

means for receiving the code for the at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network; and

means for activating the at least one sub-feature.

71 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for receiving a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

means for sending information to the first component about the sub-features;

means for receiving a request for the code for at least one sub-feature from the first component within the network;

means for searching locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

means for requesting the code for the at least one sub-feature from a second component in the network.

72 . An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the feature;

means for causing the computer to request the code for the feature from a server component in the network;

means for causing the computer to receive the code for the feature from the server component; and

means for causing the computer to activate the feature.

73 . An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features; and

means for causing the computer to request the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component within the network.

74 . An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to receive a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network;

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the feature; and

means for causing the computer to request the code for the feature from a second component in the network.

75 . An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to receive a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network;

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the feature; and

means for causing the computer to transfer the code for the feature to the component within the network.

76 . An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

means for causing the computer to request the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component in the network;

means for causing the computer to receive code for at least one sub-feature from the server component; and

means for causing the computer to activate the at least one sub-feature received from the server component.

77 . An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to receive a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network, wherein the feature comprises at least one sub-feature;

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

means for causing the computer to determine whether the component has capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature.

78 . An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to receive code for a feature;

means for causing the computer to determine whether a client needs the feature; and

means for causing the computer to transfer the code for the feature to at least one client.

79 . An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to receive a request for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the feature;

means for causing the computer to request the code for the feature from a server component within the network;

means for causing the computer to receive information from the server component within the network about the sub-features;

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the sub-features;

means for causing the computer to request the code for at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network;

means for causing the computer to receive the code for the at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network; and

means for causing the computer to activate the at least one sub-feature.

80 . An article of manufacture for causing a computer to deploy computer code for a feature within a network, comprising:

means for causing the computer to receive a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

means for causing the computer to send information to the first component about the sub-features;

means for causing the computer to receive a request for the code for at least one sub-feature from the first component within the network;

means for causing the computer to search locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

means for causing the computer to request the code for the at least one sub-feature from a second component in the network.

81 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to:

search locally for the code for the feature;

request the code for the feature from a server component in the network;

receive the code for the feature from the server component; and

activate the feature.

82 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to:

search locally for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features; and

request the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component within the network.

83 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to:

receive a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network;

search locally for the code for the feature; and

request the code for the feature from a second component in the network.

84 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to:

receive a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network;

search locally for the code for the feature; and

transfer the code for the feature to the component within the network.

85 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to:

search locally for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

request the code for at least one sub-feature from a server component in the network;

receive code for at least one sub-feature from the server component; and

activate the at least one sub-feature received from the server component.

86 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to:

receive a request for the code for the feature from a component within the network, wherein the feature comprises at least one sub-feature;

search locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

determine whether the component has capability to process code for any sub-features of the feature.

87 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to:

receive code for a feature;

determine whether a client needs the feature; and

transfer the code for the feature to at least one client.

88 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to:

receive a request for the code for the feature, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

search locally for the code for the feature;

request the code for the feature from a server component within the network;

receive information from the server component within the network about the sub-features;

search locally for the code for the sub-features;

request the code for at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network;

receive the code for the at least one sub-feature from the server component within the network; and

activate the at least one sub-feature.

89 . A system for deploying computer code for a feature within a network, the system comprising:

a storage device storing a program;

a processor in communication with the storage device, the processor operative with the program to:

receive a request for the code for the feature from a first component within the network, wherein the feature comprises a plurality of sub-features;

send information to the first component about the sub-features;

receive a request for the code for at least one sub-feature from the first component within the network;

search locally for the code for the at least one sub-feature; and

request the code for the at least one sub-feature from a second component in the network.