Method for distributed program execution with web-based file-type association

• US 20030069924A1
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Original Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Inventors: Peart, Franklyn, Richtberg, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,330,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/547 Remote procedure calls [RPC]; Web services

Abstract

In one aspect the invention relates to a method for enabling distributed program execution in a network that includes a client system and a plurality of server systems. The method includes the step of presenting a graphical depiction of a data file that is stored on a web server. A request to execute a first executable program, that includes information concerning a second executable program associated with the data file is reviewed. The second program can execute with on the client system or one of a plurality of server systems. Application output data from the second executable program is reviewed and formatted by the first executable program and received application output data is presented to the user.

Claims

1. In a network including a client system and a plurality of server systems, a method for enabling distributed program execution, the method comprising the steps:

(a) presenting a graphical depiction of a data file stored on a web server;

(b) receiving a request to execute a first executable program, said request including information concerning a second executable program associated with the data file, the second program executing on one of the client system and one of a plurality of server systems;

(c) receiving application output data from the second executable program; and

(d) formatting, by the first executable program, received application output data for presentation.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step:

receiving the first executable program.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step:

receiving a rule for determining whether an identified executable program is to be executed on the client system or one of the plurality of server systems.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step:

receiving a rule for determining whether an identified executable program is to be executed on the client system or one of the plurality of server systems that specifies the determination between the client system and one of the plurality of server systems as a function of at least one of the load on the client system, the load on one of the plurality of server systems, the load on the plurality of server systems, and the speed of the connection between the client system and the plurality of server systems.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step:

(e) sending a request to execute the second executable program associated with the selected data file.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein step (e) comprises the steps:

(e-a) evaluating a rule to determine whether the second executable program is to be executed on the client system or one of the plurality of server systems; and

(e-b) sending a request to execute the second executable program on one of the plurality of server systems based on the evaluation in step (e-a).

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step:

receiving application output data from the second executable program.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step:

displaying the application output data using the first executable program.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step:

receiving data associated with the data file.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step:

providing the received data to the computer executing the second executable program.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step:

receiving a pointer to the data file.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step:

requesting data associated with the data file utilizing the received pointer.

13. In a network including a client system and a plurality of server systems, a method for enabling distributed program execution, the method comprising the steps:

(a) transmitting a graphical depiction of a data file; and

(b) providing a request to execute a first executable program for receiving application output data on a client system, said request including information concerning a second executable program for execution on one of the client system and one of a plurality of server systems.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step:

providing the first executable program.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step:

providing a pointer to the data file.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step:

servicing requests for data associated with the data file utilizing the provided pointer.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step:

providing the contents of the data file.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step:

providing a rule for determining whether the second executable program is to be executed on the client system or one of the plurality of server systems.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step:

providing a rule for determining whether the second executable program is to be executed on the client system or one of the plurality of server systems that specifies the determination between the client system and one of the plurality of server systems as a function of at least one of the load on the client system, the load on one of the plurality of server systems, the load on the plurality of server systems, and the speed of the connection between the client system and the plurality of server systems.

20. In a network including a client system and a plurality of server systems, a method for enabling distributed program execution, the method comprising the steps:

(a) transmitting, by a web system, a graphical depiction of a data file stored on a web server;

(b) providing, to the client system, a request to execute a first executable program for receiving application output data on a client system, said request including information concerning a second executable program for execution on one of the client system and one of a plurality of server systems; and

(c) executing, by the client system, the first executable program on the client system.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step:

providing, to the client system, the first executable program.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step:

receiving, at the client system, a rule for determining whether the second executable program is to be executed on the client system or one of the plurality of server systems.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step:

receiving, at the client system, a rule for determining whether the second executable program is to be executed on the client system or one of the plurality of server systems that specifies the determination between the client system and one of the plurality of server systems as a function of at least one of the load on the client system, the load on one of the plurality of server systems, the load on the plurality of server systems, and the speed of the connection between the client system and the plurality of server systems.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step:

(d) providing, to one of a plurality of server systems, a request to execute the second executable program associated with the selected data file.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein step (d) comprises the steps:

(d-a) evaluating, by the client system, a rule to determine whether the second executable program is to be executed on the client system or one of the plurality of server systems; and

(d-b) sending, by the client system, a request to execute the second executable program on one of the plurality of server systems based on the evaluation in step (d-a).

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step:

receiving, by the client system, application output data from the second executable program.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step:

displaying, by the client system, the application output data using the first executable program.

28. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step:

providing, by the web server, data associated with the selected data file.

29. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step:

providing, by the web server, a pointer to the selected data file.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step:

requesting, by the client system, data associated with the selected data file utilizing the provided pointer.