Abstract:
A computer-readable storage medium encodes computer executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, associate plural applications. That associating method includes receiving an application programming interface associated with each of the plural applications. The method also includes unifying the received application programming interface associated with each of the plural applications, and classifying the application programming interface associated with each of the plural applications. The plural applications are classified into one or more categories. Further, the method includes associating the application programming interfaces based upon the classifying and a pre-determined set of rules.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/063,357, filed Mar. 7, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,733,998, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of mobile applications. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a method and system for managing and associating a plurality of applications. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    With the advancements in technology over the last decade, a large quantity of users has resorted towards using a variety of communication devices. These communication devices include smart phone, tablets, laptop and the like. Also, these communication devices enable the users to access a number of mobile applications. The users fulfill their day to day needs by availing services provided by these applications. In addition, these applications are provided by various companies for promoting their products and services to the users. These companies run their business by generating revenue through these interactive applications. These companies offer a range of on demand service applications to the users. These on demand service applications accomplish the demands of the users by charging a pre-defined amount of money in real time. Moreover, each application belongs to a specific class or category of service provided by the application provider. These applications include taxi based service applications, food service based applications, housing services based applications and the like. In general, these mobile applications are developed through an application programming interface. Nowadays, many application developers or providers have started providing their application programming interfaces to other developers to some extent. The application developers allow other developers to utilize their application programming interface for running their business. For example, an application developer may utilize Google Maps API on their application for providing real time directions for users. Moreover, these are open source APIs which can be used by various application developers for building their application. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In an example, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium encodes computer executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, performs a method. The method associates a plurality of applications. The method may include a first step of reception of an application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications. In addition, the method may include a second step of unification of the received application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications. Moreover, the method may include a third step of classification of the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications. The plurality of applications is classified into a corresponding category of application of one or more categories of applications associated with the corresponding plurality of applications. Further, the method may include another step of association of the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications based on the classification and a pre-determined set of rules. The association is done by cross linking the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications. 
         [0005]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the computer readable storage medium of further includes instructions for determination of the corresponding category of application for the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications. Each of the plurality of applications is an on demand service application. 
         [0006]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, one or more application programming interfaces associated with a first category of application are cross linked with one or more application programming interfaces associated with a second category of applications. The first category of application is distinct from the second category class of application. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more application programming interfaces associated with the first category of application are cross linked with one or more application programming interfaces associated with a plurality of categories of applications. The first category of application is distinct from each of the plurality of categories of applications. Each category of application of the plurality of categories of applications is a distinct category of application. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pre-determined set of rules are defined based on a current location of a user accessing one or more applications of the plurality of applications, a current time of accessing the one or more applications of the plurality of applications, a gender of the user accessing the one or more applications of the plurality of applications and an age of the user accessing the one or more applications of the plurality of applications. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pre-determined set of rules is set by an administrator. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pre-determined set of rules is set by an application provider associated with each of the plurality of applications. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications is received from a corresponding application server of a plurality of application servers associated with the corresponding plurality of applications. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the computer readable storage medium further includes instructions for generation of a common application programming interface for each of one or more application programming interfaces classified into a corresponding similar category of application. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the computer readable storage medium further includes instructions for storage of the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications, each of the classified application programming interface, each of the unified application programming interfaces, each of the associated application programming interfaces and the pre-determined set of rules. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a general overview of a system for associating a plurality of applications, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of an application integrating system, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  illustrate a block diagram for showing an example of association of the plurality of applications, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3C  illustrates a portable communication device for showing the association of the plurality of applications, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates an additional component of an application integrating system, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart for the association of the plurality of applications, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates a block diagram of a computing device, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    There may be additional structures described in the description that are not depicted in the drawings, and the absence of such a drawing should not be considered as an omission of such design from the specification. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Before describing embodiments of the present disclosure in detail, it should be observed that the present embodiments of the present disclosure may utilize apparatus components and method steps related to wireless power charging. Accordingly, the apparatus components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing specific details that are pertinent for an understanding of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
         [0024]    Detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the claimed elements, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the disclosed concepts in an appropriate structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the subject matter. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates a general overview of a system  100  for associating a plurality of applications, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. The plurality of applications is associated with a corresponding category of application of one or more categories of applications. The system  100  includes a plurality of applications  102 , a plurality of application servers  104 , a communication network  106  and an application integrating system  108 . In addition, the application integrating system  108  performs the association of the plurality of applications associated with the corresponding category of the one or more categories. 
         [0026]    Going further, the plurality of applications  102  correspond to a plurality of mobile applications configured to run on a plurality of portable communication devices. Examples of the plurality of portable communication devices include a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop, a smart watch and the like. Moreover, each of the plurality of applications is associated with a corresponding operating system of a plurality of operating systems. The plurality of operating systems include but may not be limited to an Android operating system, iOS, Windows operating system, Bada operating system, Symbian operating system and the like. 
         [0027]    Each of the plurality of portable communication devices is connected to the internet in real time. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of portable communication devices is associated with a corresponding plurality of users who access one or more applications of the plurality of applications. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of applications  102  is installed on the corresponding plurality of portable communication devices. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a number of applications of the plurality of applications  102  are installed in a particular portable communication device of the plurality of portable communication devices. The number of applications is installed based on a choice of a user of the plurality of users. 
         [0028]    In addition, each of the plurality of applications  102  is an on demand service application. Further, the on demand service applications include one or more taxi service applications, one or more food based service applications and one or more travel planning based applications. Moreover, each of the plurality of applications  102  include one or more home service applications and other one or more applications known in the art employed in providing one or more services to the plurality of users. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of users access one or more applications of the plurality of applications  102  for utilizing one or more services based on their choice. 
         [0029]    Going further, each of the plurality of applications  102  is associated with an application server of the corresponding plurality of application servers  104 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an application of the plurality of applications  102  is stored in the corresponding application server of the plurality of application servers  104 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each application server of the plurality of application servers  104  is configured to run the corresponding application of the plurality of applications  102 . Also, each application server of the plurality of application servers  104  handles all application operations between the plurality of users and an organization&#39;s backend business applications. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of application servers  104  is remotely located from each other. 
         [0030]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of application servers  104  is operated or controlled by a corresponding application provider associated with each of the plurality of applications  102 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of application server  104  is controlled or monitored by a corresponding application administrator at a remote location. Moreover, the plurality of application servers  104  is associated with application programming interfaces  104   a . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each application programming interface of the application programming interfaces  104   a  is associated with the corresponding application of the plurality of applications  102 . Each application programming interface of the application programming interfaces  104   a  is stored in the corresponding application server of the plurality of application servers  104 . 
         [0031]    Further, each of the plurality of applications  102  are based on a specific application programming interface designed for a specific type or category of application. The application programming interface is a set of commands, functions and protocols used by a plurality of application providers. The plurality of application providers utilize the application programming interface for using one or more pre-defined functions for building one or more applications for a specific type of operating system. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the application programming interfaces  104   a  is an open application programming interface based on a pre-determined criterion (mentioned below in the patent application). 
         [0032]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of application providers enable the corresponding application programming interfaces  104   a  to be utilized by other application developers. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of application providers may allow an exclusive access of their application programming interfaces to other one or more application providers or developers. In addition, the exclusive access is provided based on exclusive dealing between the one or more application providers and the other one or more application providers (as described below in the detailed description of  FIG. 2A ). 
         [0033]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the application programming interfaces is associated with a specific key. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of application providers provides the specific key to other developers for gaining access to the application programming interfaces. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the specific key is an application programming interface key which is a code passed for identifying a calling program and the corresponding application developer. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application programming interface key is used for tracking and controlling how the application programming interface is used. 
         [0034]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the application programming interfaces  104   a  is identified using the application programming interface key. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application programming interface key for each of the application programming interfaces  104   a  is stored in the corresponding application server of the plurality of application servers  104 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application programming key is fetched from the application server of the corresponding plurality of application servers  104 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application programming key is fetched for gaining access to the application programming interface of the application programming interfaces  104   a.    
         [0035]    Going further, each of the plurality of application servers  104  is associated with the communication network  106 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each application of the plurality of applications  102  is associated with the corresponding application server of the plurality of application servers  104  through the communication network  106 . Moreover, the communication network  106  enables a medium for transfer of information between each of the plurality of applications  102  and each of the plurality of application servers  104 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication network  106  enables working of the each of the plurality of applications  102 . 
         [0036]    Further, the medium for communication may be infrared, microwave, radio frequency (RF) and the like. The communication network  106  includes but may not be limited to a local area network, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network and a virtual private network. The communication network  106  includes a global area network, a home area network or any other communication network presently known in the art. The communication network  106  is a structure of various nodes or communication devices connected to each other through a network topology method. Examples of the network topology include a bus topology, a star topology, a mesh topology and the like. 
         [0037]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of applications  102  is accessed by the plurality of users through the communication network  106 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of applications  102  is connected to the internet through the communication network  106 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of portable communication devices is connected to the internet through the communication network  106 . 
         [0038]    Moreover, each of the plurality of applications  102  is associated with the application integrating system  108 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of applications  102  is associated with the application integrating system  108  through the communication network  106 . In addition, each of the plurality of application servers  104  is associated with the application integrating system  108 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of application servers  104  is associated with the application integrating system  108  through the communication network  106 . 
         [0039]    Going further, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application integrating system  108  is linked with each of the plurality of application servers  104 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of application providers enable or allow the application integrating system  108  to fetch one or more information each of the plurality of application servers  104  (mentioned below in the patent application). Moreover, the application integrating system  108  performs the association of the plurality of applications associated with the corresponding category of the one or more categories of applications. 
         [0040]    In addition, the application integrating system  108  includes a central server for performing one or more operations. The one or more operations perform the association of the plurality of applications associated with the corresponding category of the one or more categories of applications. Further, the application integrating system  108  is configured to fetch the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  (described below in the patent application). Furthermore, the application integrating system  108  is configured to consolidate the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  (as mentioned below in the patent application). 
         [0041]    Moreover, the application integrating system  108  is configured to classify each of the application programming interfaces  104   a  into a corresponding category of applications of the one or more categories of applications. The classification is done based on a first pre-defined criterion (described below in the detailed description of  FIG. 2A ). In addition, the application integrating system  108  associates the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  based on a second pre-defined criteria (mentioned below in the detailed description of  FIG. 2A ). 
         [0042]    Further, the application integrating system  108  is configured to store a set of information associated with the one or more operations performed by each of one or more components of the application integrating system  108  (described below in the patent application). In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application integrating system  108  enables unification of the application programming interfaces  104   a  associated with the corresponding plurality of applications  102 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application integrating system  104  enables the application of the plurality of applications  102  to utilize one or more services or features of other one or more application of the plurality of applications  102  at the same time (as described in detail in the detailed description of  FIG. 2A ). 
         [0043]    It may be noted that in  FIG. 1 , the application of the plurality of applications  102  is associated with the application provider of the plurality of application providers; however those skilled in the art would appreciate that there are more number of applications associated with the application provider of the plurality of application providers. It may be noted that in  FIG. 1 , the application server of the plurality of application servers  104  is associated with the corresponding application of the plurality of applications  102 ; however those skilled in the art would appreciate that there more number of applications associated with a single application server. 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram  200  of the application integrating system  208 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. The block diagram  200  represents one or more modular components of the application integrating system  108 . The one or more components of the application integrating system  108  includes a receiving module  202 , a unification module  204 , a classification module  206 , a determination module  208 , a generating module  210 , an association engine  212  and a database  214 . It may be noted that to explain the system elements of  FIG. 2 , references will be made to the system elements of  FIG. 1 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more components of the application integrating system  108  enable the association of the plurality of applications  102 . 
         [0045]    Going further, each of the plurality of application servers  104  associated with the corresponding plurality of applications  102  is connected to the application integrating system  108  through the communication network  106 . In addition, each of the plurality of application servers  104  includes the application programming interface of the application programming interfaces  104   a  associated with the corresponding application of the plurality of applications  102 . Moreover, the receiving module  202  of the application integrating system  108  is configured to fetch the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  are fetched in real time. 
         [0046]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application programming interface is fetched from the corresponding application server of the plurality of application servers  104 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  are fetched through the communication network  106 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  is stored in a database associated with each of the plurality of application servers  104 . 
         [0047]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of application providers enable the receiving module  202  to fetch their corresponding application interface of the application programming interfaces  104   a . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the application programming interfaces  104   a  are open application programming interfaces for fetching the application programming interface. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the application programming interfaces  104   a  is fetched from a remote location based on a location of each of the plurality of application servers  104 . 
         [0048]    For example, an application A 1  associated with an application programming interface AP 1  is stored on an application server S 1 , an application A 2  associated with an application programming interface AP 2  is stored on an application server S 2 , an application A 3  associated with an application programming interface AP 3  is stored on an application server S 3 , an application A 4  associated with an application programming interface AP 4  is stored on an application server S 4 , an application A 5  associated with an application programming interface AP 5  is stored on an application server S 5  and an application A 6  associated with an application programming interface AP 6  is stored on an application server S 6 . Further, the application A 1  and the application A 2  is associated with a similar category of application C 1  (say, taxi service based application), the application A 3  and the application A 4  is associated with a similar category of application C 2  (say, a food service based application) and the application A 5  and the application A 6  is associated with a similar category of application C 3  (say, a home services based application). The receiving module  202  fetches the application programming interface AP 1  from the application server S 1 , the application programming interface AP 2  from the application server S 2 , the application programming interface AP 3  from the application server S 3 , the application programming interface AP 4  from the application server S 4 , the application programming interface AP 5  from the application server S 5  and the application programming interface AP 6  from the application server S 6 . 
         [0049]    Moreover, the unification engine  204  of the application integrating system  108  unifies the received application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the unification module  204  accumulates the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the consolidation is performed for allowing each of the application providers to integrate their application programming interface on the application integrating system  108 . 
         [0050]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each application programming interface of the application programming interfaces  104   a  is associated with a category of application of the one or more categories of applications. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the unification module  204  unifies the application programming interfaces associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  at a single place. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the unification module  204  selectively unifies the application programming interface based on the category of application associated with each application programming interface. 
         [0051]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the unification module  204  unifies the application programming interface if each of the plurality of applications  102  is the on demand service applications. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the unification module  204  does not unify if one or more applications of the plurality of applications  102  are not on demand service applications. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the unification is done at regular intervals of time. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the consolidation is done as soon as the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  are fetched from each of the plurality of application servers  104 . 
         [0052]    Going further, the classification engine  206  classifies the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  into the corresponding category of application of the one or more categories of applications. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the classification engine  206  classifies the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  based on a specific category of application. Moreover, the specific category of application corresponds to a specific category of on demand service applications. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the classification is performed based on a pre-defined list of categories of applications pre-stored in the application integrating system  108 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the classification engine  206  matches the category of application against the pre-defined list of categories of applications. Accordingly, the classification engine  206  categorizes the application programming interface based on the matching. 
         [0053]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, information associated with the category of application is fetched along with the application programming interface. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application programming interface associated with a same category of application are stored separately from other application programming interface associated with another same category of application. Further, the classification engine  206  includes the determination module  208  configured to determine the corresponding category of application for the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the categorization of the application programming interface is performed after the determination of the category of application associated with each of the plurality of applications  102 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the category of application is determined by using the pre-defined list of categories of applications stored in the application integrating system  108 . 
         [0054]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more categories of applications are provided by the corresponding plurality of application servers  104 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more categories of applications are defined by the application provider associated with each of the plurality of applications  102 . In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more categories of applications are defined by an administrator associated with the application integrating system  108 . 
         [0055]    Continuing the above stated example, the unification module  204  consolidates the application programming interface AP 1 , the application programming interface AP 2 , the application programming interface AP 3 , the application programming interface AP 4 , the application programming interface AP 5  and the application programming interface AP 6 . Moreover, the classification engine  206  categorizes the application programming interface AP 1  and the application programming interface AP 2  into the category of application C 1 , categorizes the application programming interface AP 3  and the application programming interface AP 4  into the category of application C 2  (food service based application) and categorizes the application programming interface AP 5  and the application programming interface AP 6  into the category of application C 3  (home services based application). 
         [0056]    Going further, the generating module  210  generates a common application programming interface for each of the one or more application programming interfaces categorized into the corresponding distinct category of application. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more application programming interfaces associated with the similar category of application are unified. Accordingly, a single application programming interface is generated. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the generation of the common application programming interface enables cross relationship between a first category of application and a second category of application. 
         [0057]    Moreover, the association engine  212  associates the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  based on the categorization and a pre-determined set of rules. In addition, the association is done by cross linking the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the association engine  212  enables unification of the one or more application programming interfaces. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more application programming interfaces associated with a first category of application are cross linked with the one or more application programming interfaces associated with a second category of applications. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the first category of application is distinct from the second category of application. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a selective number of the one or more application programming interfaces are cross linked with a selective number of the other one or more application programming interfaces. 
         [0058]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more application programming interfaces associated with the first category of application are cross linked with the one or more application programming interfaces associated with a plurality of categories of applications. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the first category of application is distinct from each of the plurality of categories of applications. In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, each category of application of the plurality of categories of applications is a distinct category of application. 
         [0059]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more application programming interfaces associated with the first category of application are cross linked with each of the one or more applications associated with the plurality of categories of applications based on the pre-defined set of rules. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more application programming interfaces associated with the first category of application are cross linked with the one or more application programming interfaces associated with the second category of application and the one or more application programming interfaces associated with a third category of application. In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a selective number of the one or more application programming interfaces associated with the first category of application are cross linked with a selective number of the one or more application programming interfaces associated with the second category of applications and a selective number of the one or more application programming interfaces associated with the third category of applications based on the pre-defined set of rules. 
         [0060]    Further, the pre-defined set of rules is defined based on a current location of a user accessing the one or more applications of the plurality of applications  102 . In addition, the pre-defined set of rules is defined based on current time of accessing the one or more applications of the plurality of applications  102 . Moreover, the pre-defined set of rules is defined based on a gender of the user accessing the one or more applications of the plurality of applications  102 . Furthermore, the pre-defined set of rules is defined based on an age of the user accessing the one or more applications of the plurality of applications  102 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pre-defined set of rules is set by an administrator associated with the application integrating system  108 . In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the pre-defined set of rules is set by the application provider associated each of the plurality of applications  108 . 
         [0061]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the location based rule is defined for checking availability of service each of the plurality of applications  102  in a particular area where each of the plurality of applications is accessed. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the time based rule is defined checking availability of services associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  on a current time of accessing the plurality of applications  102 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the gender based rules and the age based rule is defined for users belonging to a specific gender and age group who have accessed the plurality of applications  102 . 
         [0062]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application provider provides the pre-defined set of rules to the administrator of the application integrating system  108 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pre-defined set of rules set by both the administrator of the application integrating system  108  and the application provider are taken into account for performing the association. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the association engine  212  takes a decision for associating the one or more application programming interfaces associated with a particular common category of applications with the one or more application programming interfaces associated with another particular common category of applications in real time. 
         [0063]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the association is performed for enabling each application provider to utilize services of other application providers through their application programming interfaces in order to enable the plurality of users to access services of various applications on a single application. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the number of applications currently providing service through the single application is based on the pre-defined set of rules. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application integrating system  108  enables each application provider to deal with another application provider through the application programming interfaces  104   a.    
         [0064]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each application provider may deal with a plurality of application providers through the application integrating system  108 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application provider may deal with a selected number of application providers based on their choice. 
         [0065]    Extending the above stated example, the association engine  212  enables cross linking of the application programming interface AP 1  associated with the category of application C 1  with the application programming interface AP 3  and the application programming interface AP 4  associated with the category of application C 2 . Moreover, the association engine  212  links the application programming interface AP 1  associated with the category of application C 1  with the application programming interface AP 5  and the application programming interface AP 6  associated with the category of application C 3 . In addition, the association engine  212  links the application programming interface AP 1  associated with the category of application C 1  with the application programming interface AP 3  and the application programming interface AP 4  associated with the category of application C 2  and with the application programming interface AP 5  and the application programming interface AP 6  associated with the category of application C 3 . Further, the association engine  212  links the application programming interface AP 1  associated with the category of application C 1  with the application programming interface AP 3  associated with the category of application C 2  and the application programming interface AP 5  associated with the category of application C 3  only based on the pre-defined set of rules. 
         [0066]    Going further, the database  214  stores the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  and each of the classified application programming interfaces. In addition, the database  214  stores each of the unified application programming interfaces and each of the associated application programming interfaces and the pre-determined set of rules. 
         [0067]    It may be noted that in  FIG. 2 , various modules of the application integrating system  108  are shown that illustrates the working of the application integrating system  108 ; however those skilled in the art would appreciate that the application integrating system  108  may have more number of modules that could illustrate overall functioning of the application integrating system  108 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a block diagram  300  for showing an example of the cross linking of the one or more applications associated with the corresponding category of the one or more categories of applications, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. It may be noted that to explain the system elements of  FIG. 3A , references will be made to the system elements of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The block diagram  200  includes an application  302 , an application  304 , an application  306 , an application  308 , an application  310 , an application  312  and an application integrating system  108 . In addition, the block diagram  300  shows the cross linking between two different categories of applications. 
         [0069]    Further, the application  302  is associated with an application programming interface  302   a , the application  304  is associated with an application programming interface  304   a , the application  306  is associated with an application programming interface  306   a , the application  308  is associated with an application programming interface  308   a , the application  310  is associated with an application programming interface  310   a  and the application  312  is associated with an application programming interface  312   a . Moreover, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application programming interface  302   a , the application programming interface  304   a  and the application programming interface  306   a  are associated with the first category of application. 
         [0070]    Further, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application programming interface  308   a , the application programming interface  310   a  and the application programming interface  312   a  are associated with the second category of application. The application integrating system  108  fetches the application programming interface  302   a , the application programming interface  304   a , the application programming interface  306   a , the application programming interface  308   a , the application programming interface  310   a  and the application programming interface  312   a . In addition, the application programming interface  108  consolidates the application programming interface  302   a , the application programming interface  304   a , the application programming interface  306   a , the application programming interface  308   a , the application programming interface  310   a  and the application programming interface  312   a.    
         [0071]    Moreover, the application integrating system  108  categorizes the application programming interface  302   a , the application programming interface  304   a  and the application programming interface  306   a  into the first category of application and categorizes the application programming interface  308   a , the application programming interface  310   a  and the application programming interface  312   a  into the second category of application. Further, the application integrating system  108  links the application programming interface  302   a , the application programming interface  304   a  and the application programming interface  306   a  associated with the first category of application with the application programming interface  308   a , the application programming interface  310   a  and the application programming interface  312   a.    
         [0072]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application integrating system  108  links the application programming interface  302   a  with the application programming interface  308   a , the application programming interface  310   a  and the application programming interface  312  based on the pre-defined set of rules. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the application integrating system  108  links the application programming interface  302   a  with the application programming interface  308   a  and the application programming interface  310   a  based on the pre-defined set of rules. In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the application integrating system  108  links the application programming interface  302   a  with the application programming interface  308   a  and the application programming interface  312   a  based on the pre-defined set of rules. 
         [0073]    In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the application integrating system  108  links the application programming interface  302   a  with the application programming interface  310   a  and the application programming interface  312   a  based on the pre-defined set of rules. 
         [0074]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a block diagram  200  for showing cross linking of the plurality of applications, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. It may be noted that to explain the system elements of  FIG. 3B , references will be made to the system elements of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3A . In addition, the block diagram  200  shows the cross linking of a single application (the application  302 ) associated with the first category of application with the one or more applications (the application  308 , the application  310  and the application  312 ) associated with the second category of applications. 
         [0075]    Going further, the application integrating system  108  links the application programming interface  302   a  associated with the application  302  with the application programming interface  308   a  associated with the application  308 , the application programming interface  310   a  associated with the application  310  and the application programming interface  312   a  associated with the application  312 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application integrating system  108  enables the application provider associated with the application  302  to utilize services and functions of the application  308 , the application  310  and the application  312  through the corresponding application programming interface  308   a , the corresponding application programming interface  310   a  and the corresponding application programming interface  312   a.    
         [0076]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application integrating system  108  may link the application programming interface  302   a  with a selective number of application programming interfaces of the application programming interface  308   a , the application programming interface  310   a  and the application programming interface  312   a  based on the pre-defined set of rules. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application provider associated with the application  302  may or may not display service from each of the applications  308 - 312  based on a choice of the application provider. For example, a user A accesses an application X integrated with an application Y through an application programming interface Y 1  and an application Z through an application programming interface Z 1 . The application integrating system  108  checks the current location of the user A and finds that the services of the application Y are not available in the current location. The application integrating system  108  displays or enables services of the application Z only on the application X based on the current location. 
         [0077]    In another example, the application integrating system  108  checks the current time (say, 9.30 pm) at which the user A accesses the application X and determines that the application Z does not provide service at the current time. The application integrating system  108  displays or enables services of the application Y only on the application X based on the current time. 
         [0078]      FIG. 3C  illustrates a portable communication device  314  for showing the cross linking of the plurality of applications, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. It may be noted that to explain the system elements of  FIG. 3C , references will be made to the system elements of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B . The portable communication device  314  includes the application  302  installed on the portable communication device  314 . In addition, the portable communication device  314  includes a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop and the like. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the portable communication device  314  is associated with a specific type of operating system. 
         [0079]    Going further, the application programming interface  302   a  associated with the application  302  is linked with the application programming interface  308   a , the application programming interface  310   a  and the application programming interface  312   a . In addition, the application  302  is accessed by the user of a plurality of users presently in any location and on a specified time for requesting any service. The application integrating system  108  checks the current location and the current time of the access of the application  302  and determines that the services of each the application  308 , the application  310  and the application  312  is available in the present location and the present time. 
         [0080]    The application integrating system  108  displays the services of each of the application  308 , the application  310  and the application  312  on the application  302  on a screen of the portable communication device  314 . The user may choose services from any application based on his/her choice. 
         [0081]      FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram  400  for showing an additional component of the application integrating system  108 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. The additional component of the application integrating system  108  includes a rules based engine  402 . In addition, the rules based engine  402  is configured to define the pre-defined set of rules for enabling the cross linking of the plurality of applications  102 . 
         [0082]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the administrator associated with the application integrating system  108  sets the pre-defined set of rules though the rules based engine  402 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pre-defined set of rules is updated through the rules based engine  402 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pre-defined set of rules is stored in the rules based engine  402 . In addition, the rules based engine  402  includes a rules repository  402   a  and a rules library  402   b . Moreover, the rules repository  402   a  stores the pre-defined set of rules and the rules library  402   b  is used for setting the pre-defined set of rules. 
         [0083]      FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart  500  for the association of the plurality of applications  102 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. It may be noted that to explain the process steps of the flowchart  500 , references will be made to the system elements of the  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The flowchart  500  initiates at step  502 . At step  504 , the receiving module  204   a  receives the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102 . At step  506 , the unification module  204   b  unifies the received application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102 . At step  508 , the classification engine  204   c  classifies the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  into the corresponding category of application of the one or more categories of applications. At step  510 , the association engine  204   e  associates the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102  based on the classification and the pre-determined set of rules. Furthermore, the association is done by cross linking the application programming interface associated with each of the plurality of applications  102 . The flowchart  500  terminates at step  512 . 
         [0084]    It may be noted that the flowchart  500  is explained to have above stated process steps; however, those skilled in the art would appreciate that the flowchart  300  may have more/less number of process steps which may enable all the above stated embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         [0085]      FIG. 6  illustrates a block diagram of a computing device  600 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. The computing device  600  includes a bus  602  that directly or indirectly couples the following devices: memory  604 , one or more processors  606 , one or more presentation components  608 , one or more input/output (I/O) ports  610 , one or more input/output components  612 , and an illustrative power supply  614 . The bus  602  represents what may be one or more busses (such as an address bus, data bus, or combination thereof). Although the various blocks of  FIG. 6  are shown with lines for the sake of clarity, in reality, delineating various components is not so clear, and metaphorically, the lines would more accurately be grey and fuzzy. For example, one may consider a presentation component such as a display device to be an I/O component. Also, processors have memory. The inventors recognize that such is the nature of the art, and reiterate that the diagram of  FIG. 6  is merely illustrative of an exemplary computing device  600  that can be used in connection with one or more embodiments of the present invention. Distinction is not made between such categories as “workstation,” “server,” “laptop,” “hand-held device,” etc., as all are contemplated within the scope of  FIG. 6  and reference to “computing device.” The computing device  600  typically includes a variety of computer-readable media. The computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the computing device  600  and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, the computer-readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. The computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. The computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computing device  600 . The communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. 
         [0086]    Memory  604  includes computer-storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory. The memory  604  may be removable, non-removable, or a combination thereof. Exemplary hardware devices include solid-state memory, hard drives, optical-disc drives, etc. The computing device  600  includes one or more processors that read data from various entities such as memory  604  or I/O components  612 . The one or more presentation components  608  present data indications to a user or other device. Exemplary presentation components include a display device, speaker, printing component, vibrating component, etc. The one or more I/O ports  610  allow the computing device  600  to be logically coupled to other devices including the one or more I/O components  612 , some of which may be built in. Illustrative components include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, printer, wireless device, etc. 
         [0087]    It is believed that the disclosure set forth herein encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. Each example defines an embodiment disclosed in the foregoing disclosure, but any one example does not necessarily encompass all features or combinations that may be eventually claimed. Where the description recites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such description includes one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Further, ordinal indicators, such as first, second or third, for identified elements are used to distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate a required or limited number of such elements, and do not indicate a particular position or order of such elements unless otherwise specifically stated.