Method for Preventing Use of Multiple Application Instances

• US 20090248783A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Amano, Tomio
• Granted Patent: US 7,895,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for managing activation of one or more application instances in a client machine in communication with a server across a network. The client machine is configured with a manager local to the client machine to manage the application instances. Data associated with the application instance(s) is maintained on the client machine. Prior to sending a communication to the server for an application, the manager ensures that an application instance is not present and activated local to the client machine for the same application. Accordingly, management of the application instances is maintained local to the client machine.

Claims

1. A method for managing application instances in a computing environment, comprising:

prior to sending a request from a client machine to a server to select a first application from said server to operate in a first application instance on said client machine, determining local to said client machine whether said first application is active in a second application instance of said client machine;

said client machine sending said request to said server in response to said determination that said first application instance is inactive in said second application instance of said client machine; and

said client machine withholding sending said request to said server in response to said determination that said first application instance is active in said second application instance of said client machine.

2. The method of claim 1, further storing information of activation status of said first application instance local to said client machine.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said application activation status information is stored in a cookie.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising configuring said activation status information with expiration data identifying an initial specified time duration for said first application instance to remain active.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising restoring said active status information of said first application instance while said first application instance continues to be active after said initial specified time duration has expired.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising said client machine sending said request to said server to select said first application from said server to operate in a second application instance on said client machine after expiration of said specified time duration for said first application instance to remain active.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising clearing active status information of said first application instance when said first application instance is closed.

8. A computer system comprising:

a server machine having a processor in communication with memory and storage media;

a client machine having a processor in communication with memory, said client machine in communication with said server across a network;

a client manager local to said client machine to determine whether a first application is active in a first application instance prior to a send of a request from said client machine to said server for selection of a first application to operate in a second application instance on said client machine;

said client manager to communicate a request to said server for selection of said first application in response to said determination that said first application is inactive in said first application instance of said local display; and

said client manager to withhold communication of said request to said server in response to said determination that said first application is active in said first application instance of said local display.

9. The system of claim 8, first comprising local storage associated with said first application instance to store activation status information of said first application.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said local storage is a cookie.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising expiration data associated with said activation status information to identify an initial time duration for said first application instance to remain active.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a status tool to restore said active status information of said first application instance while said first application instance continues to be active after said initial time duration has expired.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising said client manager to send a request to said server to select said first application from said server to operate in a second application instance on said client machine after said initial time duration has expired.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising said client manager to clear active status information of said first application instance when said first application instance is closed.

15. An article comprising:

a computer readable carrier including computer program instructions configured to manage application instances in a computer environment, comprising;

instructions local to a client machine in communication with a server to determine whether a first application is active in a first application instance of said client machine prior to sending a request from said client machine to said server to select said first application from said server to operate in a second application instance on said client machine,;

instructions to send said request to said server in response to said determination that said first application is inactive in said first application instance of said client machine; and

instructions to withhold sending said request to said server in response to said determination that said first application is active in said first application instance of said client machine.

16. The article of claim 15, further comprising instructions to store information of activate status of said first application on said first application instance local to said client machine.

17. The article of claim 16, further comprising instructions to configure said active status information with expiration data to identify an initial specified time duration for said first application instance to remain active.

18. The article of claim 17, further comprising instructions to restore said active status information of said first application instance while said first application instance continues to be displayed after said initial specified time duration has expired.

19. The article of claim 18, further comprising instructions for said client machine to send said request to said server to select said first application from said server to operate in said second application instance on said client machine after expiration of a specified time duration for said first application instance to remain active.

20. The article of claim 16, further comprising instructions to clear active status information of said first application instance when said first child window is closed.