Feature Manager System for Facilitating Communication and Shared Functionality Among Components

1 - 26 . (canceled)

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 - 33 . (canceled)

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 - 62 . (canceled)

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 . (canceled)

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 - 74 . (canceled)

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 . (canceled)

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 - 83 . (canceled)

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 . (canceled)

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 - 89 . (canceled)