Server side macro method, apparatus and computer readable medium

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of managing computer macros is disclosed. The method includes storing code for a computer macro at an internet-accessible hosted computer system and associating the stored code with a user account on the hosted computer system. The method also includes automatically identifying with the hosted computer system, independent of whether a user associated with the user account is currently active on the hosted computer system, a triggering event that is defined as being directed to the macro. Furthermore, the method includes executing the macro using an application running on the hosted computer system to generate macro results, and storing the macro results on the hosted computer system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 storing a computer macro at an internet-accessible hosted computer system;   making the macro available to a plurality of different users registered with the hosted computer system;   receiving, from a browser operatively connected to the hosted computer system, an input command to run the macro;   executing the macro using an application running on the hosted computer system to generate a macro result, and storing the macro result on the hosted computer system;   translating the macro result generated by a first application running on the hosted computer system to a different format; and   providing the translated macro result to a plurality of user accounts registered with the hosted computer system.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing the translated macro result to a second application running on the hosted computer system.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , said executing step creating an instance having an object that represents a programmatic application program interface (API). 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , said executing step making a call to a server hosting an application to which the macro is directed and executing the object such that the macro interacts with the application. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , said interaction of the macro with the application also including receiving, at the application, user input. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , wherein the server hosting the application is a server external to the internet-accessible hosted computer system. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , said translating step translating the macro result generated by the application running on the hosted computer system to a different format compatible with the application hosted on the server. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an internet-accessible hosted computer system including one or more processing devices and one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices to:   store a computer macro at the internet-accessible hosted computer system;   make the macro available to a plurality of different users registered with the hosted computer system;   receive, from a browser operatively connected to the hosted computer system, an input command to run the macro;   execute the macro using an application running on the hosted computer system to generate a macro result, and storing the macro result on the hosted computer system;   translate the macro result generated by a first application running on the hosted computer system to a different format; and   provide the translated macro result to a plurality of user accounts registered with the hosted computer system.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising the one or more storage devices storing instructions, that when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices additionally to:
 provide the translated macro result to a second application running on the hosted computer system.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising the one or more storage devices storing instructions, that when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices additionally to: create an instance having an object that represents a programmatic application program interface (API). 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising the one or more storage devices storing instructions, that when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices additionally to: make a call to a server hosting an application to which the macro is directed and executing the object such that the macro interacts with the application. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , said interaction of the macro with the application also including receiving, at the application, user input. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the server hosting the application is a server external to the internet-accessible hosted computer system. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , said translating step translating the macro result generated by the application running on the hosted computer system to a different format compatible with the application hosted on the server. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for causing one or more processors and/or memory to perform the method according to  claim 1 .