System and method for deploying and implementing software applications over a distributed network

• US 20020129129A1
• Filed: 02/20/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DataCloud Technologies, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Jargon Software, Inc
• Inventors: Dietsche, Thomas L., Rubenstein, Richard D., Bloch, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system for deploying applications over a distributed network to web-enabled devices uses a server, with stored text files containing application logic, and an application assembler. The application assembler downloads and installs on each web-enabled device. Then, the application assembler downloads one or more text files from the server, retrieves program logic from each of the downloaded text files, and assembles the retrieved program logic into a functioning application. In some instances, a plugin that is downloaded and installed on each web-enabled device is activated by web pages on the server to launch the application assembler.

Claims

1. A system for deploying applications over a distributed network to web-enabled devices for interacting with a server, the server being in communication with the distributed network and having text files containing application logic, the system comprising:

an application assembler for storing on each web-enabled device, the application assembler for downloading one or more text files from the server, retrieving program logic from each of the downloaded text files, and assembling the retrieved program logic into a functioning application; and

a plugin for installation on each web-enabled device for launching the application assembler from a web page.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the application assembler is operating system dependent.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the application logic is operating system independent.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the functioning application provides a graphical user interface for receiving and interpreting user inputs to the web-enabled device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the functioning application processes the user inputs and interacts with a remote database for performing user instructions.

6. The system of claim 1, the application assembler comprising:

a parser for extracting program logic from text files stored on the server;

a script engine for interpreting scripts contained in the extracted program logic, and for providing methods to invoke script functions; and

component handlers for rendering visual components and for processing operations specific to the visual components.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the application assembler further comprises:

a layout handler for analyzing positioning properties of a group of components and translating them into component dimensions and coordinates for display on each web enabled device.

8. A system for deploying an application over a network to Internet-enabled devices, the network having a server containing one or more application logic files, the application logic files containing embedded application logic relating to a computer program, the system comprising:

a program assembler for storing on each Internet-enabled device, the program assembler for downloading application logic files, retrieving embedded application logic from the application logic files, and building the computer program from the retrieved embedded application logic.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a plugin for installation in a web-browser for running the program assembler according to instructions embedded in an Internet web page.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the program assembler is operating system dependent, the program assembler for assembling multiple computer programs based on the embedded application logic.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the program assembler is operating system dependent, and wherein at least two different program assemblers for at least two different operating systems on two different web-enabled devices use the embedded application logic from the text files for building a computer program having the same functionality on both web-enabled devices.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the embedded application logic is operating system independent.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer program provides a graphical user interface for receiving and interpreting user inputs to the web-enabled device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the web-enabled devices are selected from a group consisting of computers, workstations, personal digital assistants, wireless personal digital assistants, and web-enabled phones.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the application logic files are compressed.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of hosting comprises:

storing a compressed file in a standard compression format on a server in communication with a network, the compressed file for automatic download and installation on the client device through a web browser.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of launching the installed software module comprises:

embedding a launch instruction in a starter web page on the network.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of providing text files comprises:

storing text files on a server in communication with a network, the text files containing embedded program logic.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the text files are compressed.

16. A method for deploying a computer program over a network, the method comprising:

hosting a web page containing a software module and a plugin on for installation on a client device of a user;

launching the installed software module using the installed plugin based on instructions embedded within the web page;

providing text files containing embedded application program logic for the software module, the text files containing embedded program logic for the computer program to the installed software module upon request; and

interacting with the computer program on the client device assembled from the embedded program logic.