Exposing resource capabilities to web applications

Abstract

The subject matter of this document can be implemented in, among other things, a method that includes executing a web application within a web browser of a computing device. The method also includes executing a resource server with an interface for receiving HTTP messages from the web application and an interface for communicating with a system resource of the computing device. The method further includes receiving, at the web application, an input to affect an operation of the system resource. The method also includes transmitting, from the web application to the resource server, an HTTP message to affect the operation of the system resource. The method further includes processing the HTTP message into a resource control message that includes information about the operation. The method also includes transmitting the resource control message from the resource server to the system resource to affect the operation by the system resource.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:
 execute a web application within a web browser of a computing device;   execute a web server having a first interface for receiving HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) messages from the web application and a second interface for communicating with a hardware component of the computing device;   receive, at the web application, an input to affect an operation of the hardware component;   transmit, from the web application to the web server, an HTTP message to affect the operation of the hardware component;   process, at the web server, the HTTP message into a hardware control message that includes information about the operation; and   transmit the hardware control message from the web server to the hardware component to affect the operation by the hardware component.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the operation comprises a request for a status of the hardware component. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 2 , further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to receive, at the web server, an indication of the status of the hardware component. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 2 , wherein the HTTP message comprises an HTTP GET message. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 4 , wherein the HTTP GET message is held open between the web application and the web server until the web server responds with an indication of an updated status of the hardware component or until the message expires after a period of time, whichever occurs first. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the operation comprises an action to be taken by the hardware component. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 6 , wherein the HTTP message comprises an HTTP POST message. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 7 , wherein the HTTP POST message comprises a command that corresponds to an application programming interface of the hardware component. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein processing the HTTP message into a hardware control message comprises mapping the command in the HTTP POST message to the application programming interface of the hardware component. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 executing a web application within a web browser of a computing device;   executing a resource server having a first interface for receiving HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) messages from the web application and a second interface for communicating with a system resource of the computing device;   receiving, at the web application, an input to affect an operation of the system resource;   transmitting, from the web application to the resource server, an HTTP message to affect the operation of the system resource;   processing, at the resource server, the HTTP message into a resource control message that includes information about the operation; and   transmitting the resource control message from the resource server to the system resource to affect the operation by the system resource.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the system resource comprises a hardware component of the computing device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the operation comprises a request for a status of the system resource. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving, at the resource server, an indication of the status of the system resource. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the HTTP message comprises an HTTP GET message. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the HTTP GET message is held open between the web application and the resource server until the resource server responds with an indication of an updated status of the system resource or until the message expires after a period of time, whichever occurs first. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the operation comprises an action to be taken by the system resource. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the HTTP message comprises an HTTP POST message. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the HTTP POST message comprises a command that corresponds to an application programming interface of the system resource. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein processing the HTTP message into a resource control message comprises mapping the command in the HTTP POST message to the application programming interface of the system resource. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a web application executable in a browser of a computing device;   a resource server configured to control a system resource of the computing device, the resource server having a first interface for receiving HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) messages from the web application and a second interface for communicating with the system resource; and   means for controlling the system resource using the web application via the resource server.