Split personal computer system

• US 20030078988A1
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles C. Freeny (Freeny)
• Original Assignee: Charles C. Freeny (Freeny)
• Inventors: Freeny, Charles C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,016,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• 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 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104

Abstract

A personal computer system split into a local portion and a remote portion. In one embodiment the remote portion of the split personal computer system is located in a remote location and normally maintained by a network service provider and has personal computer application programs stored thereon that are controlled by the individuals local portion. The remote portion provides one or more personal computer application programs as a service that can be selected by the individual and stores the individuals data after running the personal computer application program selected by the individual. Both the selected program and the individuals data can be accessed upon providing a valid password by the individual. The remote portion has a controller that can collect fees for the application program services provided each individual.

Claims

1. A split personal computer system for selectively processing video portions, input/output portions, computational portions and storage portions of personal computer application program tasks, comprising:

a remote portion adapted to selectively perform the computational portions and the storage portions of the personal computer application program tasks, the remote portion including a remote system controller and at least one remote computer unit for every individual authorized to access the remote portion, the remote system controller storing access codes for individuals authorized to use the remote computer units, the remote system controller being accessible by an internet network;

a plurality of local portions adapted to selectively perform the video portions and the input/output portions of the personal computer application program tasks; and

wherein the local portions output respective remote logon commands to the remote system controller of the remote portion via the internet network and the remote system controller checks the validity of the respective remote logon commands with the access codes and allows connection to at least one of the remote computer units if the remote logon command is valid and prohibits connection if the particular remote logon command is not valid whereby upon receipt of a valid remote logon command the respective local portion outputs data signals to the individuals remote computer unit of the remote portion, the remote computer unit processes the data signals with an application program selected by the individual and stores data associated with usage of the remote portion.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the local portion further comprises an accessory unit connectable to the Internet.

3. A system as defined in claim 2, wherein the accessory unit of the local portion of the split personal computer system comprises:

a local computer running an operating system that can send and receive Internet messages;

an interface in communication with the local computer; and

a signal separator interface means in communication with the local computer and the interface for receiving at least two types of signals from the Internet and for selectively transmitting the signals to one of the local computer and the interface based on an identifier included in the signals.

4. A system as defined in claim 2, wherein the accessory unit of the local portion of the split personal computer system is included in a cable television interface box which is selectively connectable to a cable television connection.

5. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the remote portion of the split personal computer system includes:

a plurality of remote computer units located remotely from the remote system controller; and

wherein the remote system controller networks and controls the remote computer units.

16. A system as defined in claim 2, wherein the accessory unit of the local portion of the split personal computer system comprises:

a local computer running an operating system that can send and receive Internet messages;

an interface in communication with the local computer; and

a signal separator interface means in communication with the local computer and the interface for receiving at least two types of signals from the Internet and for selectively transmitting the signals to one of the local computer and the interface based on an identifier in the signals.

7. A method for providing a split personal computer system for selectively processing video portions, input/output portions, computational portions and storage portions of personal computer tasks, comprising:

establishing a remote portion of the split personal computer system on an internet network, the remote portion being adapted to selectively perform the computational portions and the storage portions of the personal computer application program tasks, the remote portion including a remote system controller and at least one remote computer unit for each individual authorized to use the remote portion, the remote system controller storing access codes for individuals authorized to use the remote computer units, the remote system controller being accessible by the internet network;

receiving a remote logon command from a plurality of local portions of the split personal computer system;

checking the validity of the respective remote logon commands by the remote system controller;

allowing connection to the at least one of the remote computer units if the remote logon command is valid and prohibiting connection if the particular remote logon command is not valid whereby upon receipt of a valid remote logon command the remote portion receives data signals from the local portions and processes the data signals with an application program selected by the individual to perform personal computer tasks and stores data associated with usage of the remote portion.

6. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein the remote system controller is programmed with a billing program for charging for use of the remote computer units.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the steps of programming the remote system controller with a billing program and charging each individual with a valid authorization code for use of the at least one remote computer unit.

9. A method for providing a split personal computer system for selectively processing video portions, input/output portions, computational portions and storage portions of personal computer tasks, comprising:

establishing a first remote portion of the split personal computer system on an internet network, the first remote portion being adapted to selectively perform the computational portions and the storage portions of an individuals first personal computer application program tasks, the first remote portion including a remote system controller and at least one remote computer unit, the remote system controller of the first remote portion storing access codes for individuals authorized to use the remote computer unit of the first remote portion, the remote system controller of the first remote portion being accessible by the internet network;

establishing a second remote portion of the split personal computer system on an internet network, the second remote portion being adapted to selectively perform the computational portions and the storage portions of an individuals second personal computer application program tasks, the second remote portion including a remote system controller and at least one remote computer unit, the remote system controller of the second remote portion storing access codes for individuals authorized to use the remote computer unit of the second remote portion, the remote system controller of the second remote portion being accessible by the internet network;

receiving, by the remote system controllers of the respective first and second remote portions, remote logon commands from a plurality of local portions of the split personal computer system;

checking the validity of the respective remote logon commands by the remote system controllers of the respective first and second remote portions;

allowing connection to the at least one of the remote computer units of the respective first and second remote portions if the remote logon command is valid and prohibiting connection if the particular remote logon command is not valid whereby upon receipt of a valid remote logon command the respective first and second remote portions receive data signals from the local portions and process the data signals with the respective first and second personal computer application programs and store data associated with usage of the first and second personal computer application programs.

10. A split personal computer system for selectively processing video portions, input/output portions, computational portions and storage portions of personal computer tasks, comprising:

a first remote portion established on an internet network, the first remote portion being adapted to selectively perform the computational portions and the storage portions of an individuals first personal computer application program tasks, the first remote portion including a remote system controller and at least one remote computer unit, the remote system controller of the first remote portion storing access codes for individuals authorized to use the remote computer unit of the first remote portion, the remote system controller of the first remote portion being accessible by the internet network;

a second remote portion established on an internet network, the second remote portion being adapted to selectively perform the computational portions and the storage portions of an individuals second personal computer application program tasks, the second remote portion including a remote system controller and at least one remote computer unit, the remote system controller of the second remote portion storing access codes for individuals authorized to use the remote computer unit of the second remote portion, the remote system controller of the second remote portion being accessible by the internet network;

a plurality of local portions outputting remote logon commands to the remote system controllers of the respective first and second remote portions whereby the remote system controllers of the respective first and second remote portions check the validity of the respective remote logon commands and allow connection to the at least one of the remote computer units of the respective first and second remote portions if the remote logon command is valid and prohibit connection if the particular remote logon command is not valid.

11. A remote portion of a split personal computer system for receiving input data signals from a plurality of local portions and selectively processing computational portions and storage portions of personal computer tasks, comprising:

a plurality of remote computer units, at least one of the remote computer units having access to a first personal computer application program, and at least another one of the remote computer units having access to a second personal computer application program, remote computer units performing the computational portions and the storage portions of personal computer tasks;

a remote system controller communicating on an internet network, the remote system controller storing access codes for individuals authorized to use at least one of the remote computer units, the remote system controller checking the validity of a remote logon command and allowing connection to the at least one of the remote computer units if the remote logon command is valid and prohibiting connection if the particular remote logon command is not valid.

12. The remote portion of claim 11, wherein the remote system controller permits input data signals to be transmitted to the respective remote computer units, the input data signals being processable by the respective first and second personal computer application programs to generate output signals.

13. The remote portion of claim 11, wherein at least one of the input data signals includes a file.

14. A cable television interface box for interconnecting a television display unit to a cable television connection, the cable television interface box comprising:

a television accessory unit in communication with the television display unit and the cable television connection, the television accessory unit interfacing with a remote portion of a split personal computer system and outputting input data signals to the remote portion for performing input portions of personal computer tasks, and receiving video signals from the remote portion indicative of video and output portions of personal computer tasks.

15. The cable television interface box of claim 14, further comprising a portable housing containing the television accessory unit.