PERVASIVE, DISTRIBUTED PROVISION OF SERVICES SUCH AS PRODUCT BROKERAGE
First Claim
1. A method of providing an information handling capability to a client computer system in a networked computer system comprising client and server computer systems, comprising the following steps performed at a server computer system:
- identifying factors relevant to provision of an information handling function by said client computer,selecting one of at least a first and a second service to be uploaded to said client computer based upon said factors, said first and second services comprising different executable code for providing said information handling function such that said first and second services are capable of performing the same information handling function with differing levels of functionality, anddelivering said selected service to said client computer system, so that said information handling function may be realized by said client computer upon execution of code within said selected service at said client computer system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A client-server computing system suited particularly for clients of varying functional capabilities. Information handling capabilities are provided at the client and server on a customized, as-needed basis. When a service is needed by a client, the server determines a number of factors that may be relevant to the manner in which the service is to be provided. Then, the server selects from between two or more services having different executable code, and uploads the selected service to the client. Thus, the code may be tailored to the client'"'"'s capabilities, or other aspects of its function. Services are not permanently retained by a client; rather, the client performs an analysis to determine whether services should be retained or purged. Also, state information is not permanently retained by a client; the server retains the information and uploads that information to the client. The server also manages its resources by loading service components on an as-needed basis.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of providing an information handling capability to a client computer system in a networked computer system comprising client and server computer systems, comprising the following steps performed at a server computer system:
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identifying factors relevant to provision of an information handling function by said client computer, selecting one of at least a first and a second service to be uploaded to said client computer based upon said factors, said first and second services comprising different executable code for providing said information handling function such that said first and second services are capable of performing the same information handling function with differing levels of functionality, and delivering said selected service to said client computer system, so that said information handling function may be realized by said client computer upon execution of code within said selected service at said client computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A server in a networked computer system comprising client and server computer systems, said server comprising:
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a processor, a communications interface for connecting to a client computer system, and storage for executable code, said processor executing said executable code to provide an information handling capability to a client computer system by the steps of identifying factors relevant to provision of an information handling function by said client computer, selecting one of at least a first and a second service to be uploaded to said client computer based upon said factors, said first and second services comprising different executable code for providing said information handling function such that said first and second services are capable of performing the same information handling function with differing levels of functionality, and delivering said selected service to said client computer system, so that said information handling capability may be realized by said client computer upon execution of code within said selected service at said client computer system.
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12. A method of providing an information handling capability to a client computer system in a networked computer system comprising client and server computer systems, comprising the following steps executed at a client computer system:
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interacting with a server computer system such that state information relating to the interaction with the server computer system is generated, after said interaction, receiving from a server computer system, executable code for providing said information handling capability, receiving from a server computer system, said state information generated from said interaction of said client computer system and server computer system, utilizing said state information while executing said executable code at said client to provide said information handling capability.
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13. A client computer system for providing an information handling capability in a networked computer system comprising client and server computer systems, comprising:
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a processor, a communications interface for connecting to a server computer system, and storage for executable code, said processor executing said executable code to provide said information handling capability, and to receive from a server computer system, state information relating to a prior interaction of said client computer system and server computer system, and to use said state information while executing said executable code to provide said information handling capability, wherein said processor is further configured to interact with a server computer system during said prior interaction such that said state information is generated from said prior interaction.
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14. A method of providing an information handling capability to a client computer system in a networked computer system comprising client and server computer systems, comprising the following steps executed at a server computer system:
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selecting, in response to a request to provide an information handling function by a client computer system, a service to be executed by said server computer system, from at least first and second services available to said server computer system for providing said information handling function such that said first and second services are capable of performing the same information handling function with differing levels of functionality, and executing said executable code in said selected service to provide said information handling function. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A server providing an information handling capability to a client computer system in a networked computer system comprising client and server computer systems, comprising:
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a processor, a communications interface for connecting to a client computer system, and storage for executable code, said processor executing said executable code to select, in response to a request to provide an information handling function by a client computer system, a service to be executed by said server computer system, from at least first and second services available to said server computer system for providing said information handling function such that said first and second services are capable of performing the same information handling function with differing levels of functionality, and then executing executable code in the selected service.
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Specification