System and Method for Facilitating Access to Content Information

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein presents systems and methods for facilitating access to content information. The method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises receiving a request for the content information, choosing a data service provider access object that is configured to access a data service provider associated with the request, and assigning the selected data service provider access object to the request.

1 . A method for facilitating access to content information, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for the content information;   associating a data service provider with the request; and   selecting a data service provider access object that is configured to access the data service provider associated with the request to facilitate retrieval of the content information.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising substituting the data service provider access object with an alternative data service provider access object. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising selecting either a local data or remote data service provider access object. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising requesting content information from the data service provider with the selected data service provider access object. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising authenticating the request by an authentication module associated with the data service provider. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising retrieving the content information from the data service provider with the selected data service provider access object. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising merging the content information with presentation information to form merged information configured to be rendered on a client device. 
   
   
       8 . A method for managing an access contract between a client and a data service provider, the method comprising:
 identifying the client; and   assigning use of a data service provider access object associated with the data service provider to the client for the duration of the access contract.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising notifying the client when the access contract is either expired or about to expire. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising canceling the assignment of the data service provider access object after the access contract expires. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising:
 identifying another client having an access contract with the data service provider; and   reassigning use of the data service provider access object to the another client for the duration of the access contract between the another client and the data service provider.   
   
   
       12 . A system for facilitating access to content information, the system comprising:
 a management module operative to receive a request for the content information; and   a data service provider access object that is operative to access a data service provider associated with the request;   means in the management module for selecting the data service provider access object from a group of one or more data service provider access objects and assigning the selected data service provider access object with the request.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the data service provider access object comprises a pluggable data service provider access object. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the data service provider access object is located remotely from the management module. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the selected data service provider access object is configured to access the data service provider associated with the request. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the request is authenticated by an authentication scheme at the data service provider. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the selected data service provider access object is configured to retrieve the content information from the data service provider. 
   
   
       18 . A system for managing an access contract between a client and a data service provider, the system comprising:
 a data service provider access object associated with the data service provider; and   a management module configured to identify the client and assign use of the data service provider access object to the client for the duration of the access contract.   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the management module is configured to notify the client when the access contract is either at expired or almost expired. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the management module is configured to cancel an assignment to the client after the access contract expires. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the management module is configured to identify another client having an access contract with the data service provider, and wherein the management module is adapted to reassign use of the data service provider access object to the another client for the duration of the access contract between the another client and the data service provider. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the data service provider access object is located remotely from the management module.