Providing content from multiple services

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a network based operating system for mobile clients is disclosed. Services may be developed that can be used to support different client devices with different capabilities. The services provide output with multiple variations based on different devices, and an intermediary selects the variation best suited for the requesting device. An online software development system is provided to allow services to create, edit, test, and deploy applications at an intermediary using only a browser at the client end. Services may also be provided that can be accessed and referred to by other services, thereby facilitating the combining of different services. Services may also store and access data at an intermediary using variables and a mapping of the stored data to the variables. Data stored at the intermediary may be used to allow an end user to return to a previously accessed service.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for combining content from different services, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: 
 in response to a request received at an intermediary from a client for first content from a first service, retrieving the first content from said first service;    locating within the first content a reference to second content from a second service;    retrieving, based on said reference, the second content from said second service;    generating combined content at the intermediary based on the first content from said first service and the second content from said second service; and    providing the combined content from the intermediary to the client in response to said request.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said reference includes one or more parameters, and wherein said second content is generated by said second service based on said one or more parameters.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the computer-implemented step of: 
 storing at the intermediary a record that indicates that the second content from said second service was combined with the first content from said first service.    
     
     
         4 . A method for allowing clients to access multiple services, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: 
 in response to a first request received at an intermediary from a client for first content from a first service, retrieving the first content from said first service;    locating within the first content a reference to a second service;    generating a first reply at the intermediary based on the first content from said first service, wherein said first reply includes, based on said reference, an object associated with said second service;    providing said first reply from the intermediary to said client in response to said first request;    retrieving, in response to a selection of said object by said client, second content from said second service; and    providing a second reply, based on the second content, from said intermediary to said client in response to said selection of said object by said client.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said reference includes one or more parameters that are incorporated into said object, and wherein said second content is generated by said second service based on said one or more parameters.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the computer-implemented steps of: 
 storing at the intermediary a record that indicates that the second content from said second service was retrieved in response to said selection of said object included in said first reply provided in response to said request for the first content from said first service.    
     
     
         7 . A method for providing content from a previously accessed service, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: 
 receiving, at an intermediary from an end user, a first request for first content from a first service;    providing to said end user, in response to said first request, a first electronic document from said first service;    receiving, at said intermediary from said end user, a second request for second content from a second service;    storing, at said intermediary, a record that indicates that said end user requested said first content from said first service;    providing to said end user, in response to said second request, a second electronic document from said second service;    receiving, at said intermediary from said end user, a third request for content from a service from which content was requested by said end user before said second electronic document was provided from said second service to said end user;    reading said record to determine that said first service is said service from which content was requested by said end user before said second electronic document was provided from said second service to said end user; and    providing to said end user, in response to said third request, a third electronic document from said first service.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said second request is received in response to said end user selecting an object included in said first electronic document, wherein said object is associated with said second service.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said third request is received in response to said end user selecting an object included in said second electronic document, wherein said object is not associated with said first service.  
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for combining content from different services, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: 
 in response to a request received at an intermediary from a client for first content from a first service, retrieving the first content from said first service;    locating within the first content a reference to second content from a second service;    retrieving, based on said reference, the second content from said second service;    generating combined content at the intermediary based on the first content from said first service and the second content from said second service; and    providing the combined content from the intermediary to the client in response to said request.    
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein said reference includes one or more parameters, and wherein said second content is generated by said second service based on said one or more parameters.  
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the step of: 
 storing at the intermediary a record that indicates that the second content from said second service was combined with the first content from said first service.    
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for allowing clients to access multiple services, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: 
 in response to a first request received at an intermediary from a client for first content from a first service, retrieving the first content from said first service;    locating within the first content a reference to a second service;    generating a first reply at the intermediary based on the first content from said first service, wherein said first reply includes, based on said reference, an object associated with said second service;    providing said first reply from the intermediary to said client in response to said first request;    retrieving, in response to a selection of said object by said client, second content from said second service; and    providing a second reply, based on the second content, from said intermediary to said client in response to said selection of said object by said client.    
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein said reference includes one or more parameters that are incorporated into said object, and wherein said second content is generated by said second service based on said one or more parameters.  
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the step of: 
 storing at the intermediary a record that indicates that the second content from said second service was retrieved in response to said selection of said object included in said first reply provided in response to said request for the first content from said first service.    
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for providing content from a previously accessed service, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: 
 receiving, at an intermediary from an end user, a first request for first content from a first service;    providing to said end user, in response to said first request, a first electronic document from said first service;    receiving, at said intermediary from said end user, a second request for second content from a second service;    storing, at said intermediary, a record that indicates that said end user requested said first content from said first service;    providing to said end user, in response to said second request, a second electronic document from said second service;    receiving, at said intermediary from said end user, a third request for content from a service from which content was requested by said end user before said second electronic document was provided from said second service to said end user;    reading said record to determine that said first service is said service from which content was requested by said end user before said second electronic document was provided from said second service to said end user; and    providing to said end user, in response to said third request, a third electronic document from said first service.    
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein said second request is received in response to said end user selecting an object included in said first electronic document, wherein said object is associated with said second service.  
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein said third request is received in response to said end user selecting an object included in said second electronic document, wherein said object is not associated with said first service.