Customizing applications in a discovery interface

Abstract

A system provides customized user interface data to a media application, such as a media discovery interface, or to any application for that matter, thereby extending the original application. Via a network connection, elements of the user interface can be downloaded to the application in a package of markup data and resources, including images, text, and links. A user interface framework of the media application processes the markup from the downloaded package and utilizes packaged resources, local code components, and externally-obtained (e.g., Web resources) to render a customized application page for the media application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of presenting a customized application page in an application, the method comprising:
 receiving an application package from a communications network, the application package containing markup data and one or more resources defining the customized application page; and   responsive to the receiving,
 identifying the markup data of the application package according to a target page identifier selected via the application after the receiving, 
 processing the markup data to identify at least one of the one or more resources of the application package referenced in the markup data, and 
 rendering the customized application page defined by the markup data on a display to include the at least one resource. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the received application package replaces a previously received application package referenced by the same target page identifier. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the target page identifier is received via a user selection of an offering tile rendered on the display by the application. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the offering tile displays a graphic image defined by an image resource of the application package. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the offering tile provides access to the customized application page defined by the markup data of the application package. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the markup data of the received application package references at least one user interface class of the application. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 setting in the customized application page a reference back parameter identifying a calling application page rendered prior to the customized application page. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 setting in the customized application page a reference back parameter identifying a user interface element of a calling application page rendered prior to the customized application page, the user interface element previously being used by a user to invoke the customized application page. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the receiving operation comprises:
 periodically receiving additional application packages from a media information system server to replace the received application package, each received application package sharing a common target page identifier used by the application to reference customized application pages. 
 
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process that presents a customized application page in an application, the computer process comprising:
 receiving an application package from a communications network, the application package containing markup data and one or more resources defining the customized application page; and   responsive to the receiving,
 identifying the markup data of the application package according to a target page identifier selected via the application after the receiving, 
 rendering the customized application page defined by the markup data on a display to include at least one resource included in the application package. 
   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10  wherein the received application package replaces a previously received application package referenced by the same target page identifier. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10  wherein the target page identifier is received via a user selection of an offering tile rendered on the display by the application. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12  wherein the offering tile displays a graphic image defined by an image resource of the application package. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12  wherein the offering tile provides access to the customized application page defined by the markup data of the application package. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10  wherein the markup data of the received application package references at least one user interface class of the application. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10  wherein the computer process further comprises:
 setting in the customized application page a reference back parameter identifying a calling application page rendered prior to the customized application page. 
 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10  wherein the computer process further comprises:
 setting in the customized application page a reference back parameter identifying a user interface element of a calling application page rendered prior to the customized application page, the user interface element previously being used by a user to invoke the customized application page. 
 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10  wherein the receiving operation comprises:
 periodically receiving additional application packages from a media information system server to replace the received application package, each received application package sharing a common target page identifier used by the application to reference customized application pages. 
 
     
     
         19 . A system that presents a customized application page in an application, the system comprising:
 an network adapter that receives an application package from a communications network, the application package containing markup data and one or more resources defining the customized application page; and   a processor that executes a shell module communicatively coupled to the network adapter, the shell identifying the markup data of the application package according to a target page identifier selected via the application after the downloading, the processor further executing a user interface framework coupled to the shell module that renders the customized application page defined by the markup data on a display to include at least one resource included in the application package.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the network adapter further periodically receives additional application packages from a media information system server to replace the received application package, each received application package sharing a common target page identifier used by the application to reference customized application pages.