COMPUTER SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE AND METHOD FOR MULTI-USER REAL-TIME APPLICATION

• US 20010039569A1
• Filed: 04/06/1998
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PKT Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: John Bretscher
• Inventors: BRETSCHER, JOHN
• Granted Patent: US 6,370,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1063 Application servers providing network services systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An architecture is disclosed for a computer system that runs applications serving multiple users. The computer system includes multiple processors, some of which run quick applications, i.e., requiring real time response, while others run applications with less stringent requirements. Each real time processor can be dedicated to running just one instance of an application. The processors can be of disparate types running disparate operating systems and optimized for disparate applications. The system is centrally controlled with the processors communicating among themselves over a shared LAN or via a communications switch. The system may also facilitate simultaneous voice and data communications among users. Users communicate with the system using any of a number of standard techniques: including dial-up telephone lines, ISDN, packet access services, ADSL, cable TV and the like.

Claims

1. A method for processing real-time applications, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a front-end server;

providing a plurality of dedicated processors coupled to the front-end server so that the front-end server can communicate with at least one of the plurality of dedicated processors;

selecting at least one of the plurality of dedicated processors to execute a selected application; and

coupling a plurality of users to the at least one of the selected dedicated processor so that the plurality of users can participate in the execution of the selected application.

2. A method according to

claim 1

further comprising a memory coupled to the front-end server for storing a plurality of applications wherein the front-end server downloads a selected application to at least one of the plurality of dedicated processors.

3. A method according to

claim 1

further comprising a memory for each of the plurality of dedicated processors for storing applications.

4. A method according to

claim 1

wherein the step of selecting at least one of the plurality of dedicated processors includes polling the plurality of dedicated processors by the front-end server to determine which one of the plurality of dedicated processors is available to execute the selected application before that application is downloaded to the selected dedicated processor.

5. A method according to

claim 1

wherein the step of selecting at least one of the plurality of dedicated processors includes the step of the plurality of dedicated processors communicating their status to the front-end server.

6. A method according to

claim 1

wherein the plurality of dedicated processors are heterogeneous.

7. A method for processing real-time applications which may be executed by a plurality of users, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a front-end server that has access to a plurality of applications;

providing a plurality of dedicated processors that communicate with the front-end server;

coupling a first user to the front-end server;

sending a message from the user to the front-end server that the user desires to have executed a particular application;

retrieving the particular application selected by the user;

downloading the particular application selected by the user to a memory in a selected dedicated processor;

coupling the user to the selected dedicated processor; and

executing the particular application selected by the user on the selected dedicated processor.

8. A method according to

claim 7

further comprising the step of polling the plurality of dedicated processors by the front-end server to determine which one of the plurality of dedicated processors is available to execute the particular application selected by the user before that application is downloaded to a dedicated processor.

9. A method according to

claim 7

further comprising the step of receiving voice communications from the user.

10. A method according to

claim 7

further comprising the step of coupling a second user to the selected dedicated processor so that the second user may participate in the execution of the particular application selected by the first user.

11. A method according to

claim 10

further comprising the step of coupling additional users to the selected dedicated processor.

12. A method according to

claim 7

further comprising the steps of:

providing a voice bridge coupled to the front-end server and dedicated processors; and

coupling the user to the voice bridge so that the user may send both data and voice to the front-end server and dedicated processor.

13. A computer system architecture for processing real-time applications, the architecture comprising:

a front-end server;

a plurality of dedicated processors coupled to the front-end server so that the front-end server can communicate with at least one of the plurality of dedicated processors;

means for selecting at least one of the plurality of dedicated processors to execute a selected application; and

means for coupling a plurality of users to the at least one of the selected dedicated processor so that the plurality of users can participate in the execution of the selected application.

14. An architecture according to

claim 13

further comprising a memory coupled to the front-end server for storing a plurality of applications wherein the front-end server downloads a selected application to at least one of the plurality of dedicated processors.

15. An architecture according to

claim 13

further comprising a memory for each of the plurality of dedicated processors for storing applications.

16. A computer system architecture for processing real-time applications, the architecture comprising:

a front-end server having access to a plurality of applications;

a plurality of dedicated processors coupled to the front-end server so that the plurality of dedicated processors can communicate with the front-end server;

means for coupling a first user to the front-end server;

means for sending a message from the user to the front-end server that the user desires to have executed a particular application;

means for retrieving the particular application selected by the user and loading the particular application in a memory of the front-end server;

means for downloading the particular application stored in the memory of the front-end server to a memory of a selected dedicated processor;

means for coupling the first user to the selected dedicated processor; and

means for executing the particular application selected by the first user on the dedicated processor.

17. A computer system architecture for processing real-time applications, the architecture comprising:

a front-end server having access to a plurality of applications;

a plurality of dedicated processors; and

a coupler communicating with the front-end server, the plurality of dedicated processors and at least one user wherein the user first communicates with the front-end server to select a desired application and the front-end server communicates with a selected dedicated processor and downloads the desired application to the selected dedicated processor which communicates with the user and executes the desired application.

18. A system according to

claim 17

wherein the coupler includes a switch coupled to a pool of modems that communicate with a plurality of users, the front-end server and the plurality of dedicated processors.

19. A system according to

claim 17

wherein the coupler includes a switch coupled to a pool of ISDN devices that communicate with a plurality of users.

20. A system according to

claim 18

wherein the plurality of dedicated processors are divided into groups where each group has its own LAN and each LAN is coupled to the switch.

21. A system according to

claim 17

wherein the coupler includes a LAN coupling the plurality of dedicated processors in parallel with the front-end server and a terminal server coupling the LAN to either a modem ISDN pool or packet access that communicates with a plurality of users.

22. A system according to

claim 17

further comprising a voice bridge coupled to a plurality of users, the front-end-server and the plurality of dedicated processors.

23. A method for running real-time applications, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a front-end server;

providing a plurality of dedicated processors;

providing means for interconnecting the front-end server with the plurality of dedicated processors so that they may communicate with one another; and

providing a dial-in service to access the means for interconnecting and couple a user who dials-in to the front-end server to at least one of the dedicated processors.