Abstract: A system that controls access to program assets, such as software programs or modules, is described. During operation, this system associates a first license code with a first group of program assets and associates a first master code with the first license code, where the first group of program assets includes one or more program assets associated with a first provider, and the first license code identifies the first master code. Then, the system provides the first license code, the first master code, and a pre-defined function to the first provider, and hosts the first group of program assets on a website. Note that the first master code and the pre-defined function allow the first provider to generate a first validation code for a customer. Moreover, the first validation code and the first license code, at least in part, allow the customer to access the first group of program assets hosted on the website, thereby facilitating independent marketing of the first group of program assets by the first provider.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for directing data access in a local system. The method includes steps of obtaining sharing metadata from the local system by a remote application, wherein the sharing metadata comprises local access path information for accessing a shared data resource associated with the local system, generating, by the remote application, a local access path for the shared data resource from the local access path information, requesting, by the remote application, that a data access application on the local system perform a data operation on the shared data resource, wherein the remote application provides the local access path to the data access application, and receiving the result of the data operation from the data access application, wherein the data access application performs the data operation on the shared data resource using the local access path.