Abstract: A system for automated acquisition of content from an application includes a link extraction controller that receives an identification of a target state of the application directly reachable from an intermediate state and a specification of a user interface element of the intermediate state actuated by a user to arrive at the target state. After navigating to the intermediate state in an executing instance of the application and extracting a tree of user interface widgets, the link extraction controller identifies widget sub-trees that have at least a threshold level of commonality with a reference widget sub-tree that includes the specified user interface element. The link extraction controller adds states, including the target state, reachable by user actuation of the identified widget sub-trees to a state list. A scraper module extracts text and metadata from each of the states in the state list for storage in a data store.

Abstract: A system for automated acquisition of content from an application includes a static analysis module. Using static analysis (analyzing code of the application independent of executing the code), the static analysis module identifies application state templates of the application and identifies user interface elements that, when actuated by a user, transition between states instantiated from different ones of the identified state templates. A graph creation module creates a graph data structure including nodes corresponding to the identified state templates and edges connecting the nodes. The edges are transitions corresponding to the identified user interface elements. A link extractor module executes the application and determines and records paths to states within the executing application according to the graph data structure. A scraper module, within an executing instance of the application, extracts text and metadata from states corresponding to endpoints of the recorded paths.

Abstract: A mobile application development system includes a developer portal configured to receive a copy of a first application from a first developer and provide a routing library to the first developer for incorporation into the first application before distribution. An offline analysis system uses a static analyzer to identify a set of view controllers implemented in the first application and uses a dynamic analyzer to execute the first application and, during execution, monitor messages invoking the set of view controllers and extract selector parameters used to invoke the set of view controllers. The routing library includes instructions that receive a link from an operating system and, based on a view controller name in the link, allocate memory for a view controller object indicated by the link. The instructions further initialize the view controller object based on selector parameters indicated by the link and using the allocated memory.

Abstract: A mobile application development system includes a developer portal configured to receive a copy of a first application from a first developer and provide a routing library to the first developer for incorporation into the first application before distribution. An offline analysis system uses a static analyzer to identify a set of view controllers implemented in the first application and uses a dynamic analyzer to execute the first application and, during execution, monitor messages invoking the set of view controllers and extract selector parameters used to invoke the set of view controllers. The routing library includes instructions that receive a link from an operating system and, based on a view controller name in the link, allocate memory for a view controller object indicated by the link. The instructions further initialize the view controller object based on selector parameters indicated by the link and using the allocated memory.

Abstract: A system for automated acquisition of content from an application includes a static analysis module. Using static analysis (analyzing code of the application independent of executing the code), the static analysis module identifies application state templates of the application and identifies user interface elements that, when actuated by a user, transition between states instantiated from different ones of the identified state templates. A graph creation module creates a graph data structure including nodes corresponding to the identified state templates and edges connecting the nodes. The edges are transitions corresponding to the identified user interface elements. A link extractor module executes the application and determines and records paths to states within the executing application according to the graph data structure. A scraper module, within an executing instance of the application, extracts text and metadata from states corresponding to endpoints of the recorded paths.

Abstract: A system for automated acquisition of content from an application includes a link extraction controller that receives an identification of a target state of the application directly reachable from an intermediate state and a specification of a user interface element of the intermediate state actuated by a user to arrive at the target state. After navigating to the intermediate state in an executing instance of the application and extracting a tree of user interface widgets, the link extraction controller identifies widget sub-trees that have at least a threshold level of commonality with a reference widget sub-tree that includes the specified user interface element. The link extraction controller adds states, including the target state, reachable by user actuation of the identified widget sub-trees to a state list. A scraper module extracts text and metadata from each of the states in the state list for storage in a data store.

Abstract: Some aspects of the disclosure provide a method comprising configuring an application into a first application state, the configuring performed using a first state access instruction associated with the first application state and resulting in a first output interface provided by the application, selecting a first UI element from the first output interface, the first UI element indicating first content, determining that the first UI element is of a first UI element type, selecting first UI content instructions corresponding the first UI element type, the first UI content instructions including a first set of actions to retrieve content indicated by UI elements of the first UI element type, and executing the first set of actions to retrieve the first content indicated by the first UI element.

Abstract: An approach is provided for controlling a user device native function via a web-based application at a user device (e.g., a mobile terminal). The mobile terminal executes a web-based application and a shell application, wherein the shell application provides communication between the web-based application and a native function of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal registers the web-based application with the shell application for the communication. The mobile terminal invokes the native function of the mobile terminal via the communication based upon a communication protocol that specifies a command of a native function associated with a set top box.

Abstract: An approach for enabling wireless communication devices to mount and/or unmount one or more storage devices to facilitate data sharing is described. A processor of a user device generates a request message according to a storage access protocol that is operating system agnostic. The processor then initiates transmission of the request message over a wireless link of an ad-hoc network to a system that includes one or more storage devices, wherein the request message requests storage device information relating to the one or more storage devices.

Abstract: An approach is provided for controlling a set top box on an ad hoc basis. A wireless device detects a mobile terminal that is configured to control one or more set top boxes via a wireless local area network. The wireless device controls, over an adhoc connection, the one or more set top boxes directly or via the mobile terminal based on the detection of the mobile terminal.

Abstract: An approach is provided for controlling a set-top box based on sensor triggered events on a user device. A set-top box receives a control message from a user device, wherein the control message specifies an event corresponding to one or more sensors of the user device. The set-top box maps the event to an activity associated with an application that is executed by the set-top box. Also, the set-top box presents media content provided by the application according to the mapped activity.

Abstract: An approach for enabling wireless communication devices to mount and/or unmount one or more storage devices to facilitate data sharing is described. A processor of a user device generates a request message according to a storage access protocol that is operating system agnostic. The processor then initiates transmission of the request message over a wireless link of an ad-hoc network to a system that includes one or more storage devices, wherein the request message requests storage device information relating to the one or more storage devices.

Abstract: An approach is provided for controlling a user device native function via a web-based application at a user device (e.g., a mobile terminal). The mobile terminal executes a web-based application and a shell application, wherein the shell application provides communication between the web-based application and a native function of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal registers the web-based application with the shell application for the communication. The mobile terminal invokes the native function of the mobile terminal via the communication based upon a communication protocol that specifies a command of a native function associated with a set top box.

Abstract: An approach is provided for controlling a set top box on an ad hoc basis. A wireless device detects a mobile terminal that is configured to control one or more set top boxes via a wireless local area network. The wireless device controls, over an adhoc connection, the one or more set top boxes directly or via the mobile terminal based on the detection of the mobile terminal.

Abstract: An approach is provided for controlling a set-top box based on sensor triggered events on a user device. A set-top box receives a control message from a user device, wherein the control message specifies an event corresponding to one or more sensors of the user device. The set-top box maps the event to an activity associated with an application that is executed by the set-top box. Also, the set-top box presents media content provided by the application according to the mapped activity.