Launching computer program upon download of data created by program

• US 5,564,043 A
• Filed: 03/24/1994
• Issued: 10/08/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Global Network Services LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siefert, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Loomis, John C.
• Application Number:
  US08/217,422
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.03, 395/200.09, 395/600
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/50 Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

The invention concerns a system for managing resources, which can take the form of (a) computer-compatible information, such as data files and programs, and (b) non-computer-compatible information, such as data contained on microfiche, and (c) physical objects. The resources are located at geographically diverse sites. The invention contains a descriptive profiles, profile for each resource, and allows any user to search all profiles, and to search the profiles according to "fields" (a database term), such as by location of the resources, or by category of the resources. The user can order delivery of a selected resource, and the system causes delivery of the resource to be executed, irrespective of the form (e.g., physical object) of the resource. The invention allows a provider of a new resource to limit access to the resource, by identifying users who are authorized to obtain access to the resource. Non-authorized users cannot obtain access to the profiles of these resources.

Claims

1. A method of managing computer data, comprising the following steps:

a) storing data in SERVERs located at multiple sites;

b) downloading data from a sending SERVER to a receiving SERVER;

c) upon downloading, causing the receiving SERVER to examine the downloaded data for indicia of a generating program; and

d) if said indicia are found, searching for the generating program, without user intervention.

2. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising the step of launching the generating program, if found.

3. A method of managing a collection of RESOURCEs, which comprise two types, namely, downloadable data and physical objects, comprising the following steps:

a) storing RESOURCEs at multiple geographic sites, such that downloadable data is stored in SERVERs;

b) in the SERVERs, maintaining PROFILEs which contain data which is descriptive of both types of RESOURCE;

c) allowing a user of a SERVER to view PROFILEs stored in other SERVERs;

d) allowing a user of a SERVER to retrieve downloadable data from other SERVERs;

e) upon retrieval, causing the retrieving SERVER to examine the data for indicia of a generating program; and

f) if said indicia are found, searching for the generating program, and launching it, if found.

4. A system for storing information, comprising:

a) one or more SERVERs, each

i) serving one or more PCs;

ii) storing RESOURCEs; and

b) means for

i) allowing a user of a PC to retrieve a RESOURCE from any SERVER; and

ii) ascertaining whether the retrieved RESOURCE was generated by a computer program and, if so, either

A) launching the program, and loading the RESOURCE into the program, or

B) informing the user that the program is not available.

5. A system for managing a collection of RESOURCEs, which include (A) graphics files which contain graphical images, and (B) text files which contain text, and which RESOURCEs are distributed over multiple geographic sites, comprising:

a) SERVERs, located at some, or all, of the sites;

b) means for allowing a user of a SERVER to download, from other SERVERs, graphics files and text files; and

c) means for detecting downloading of the RESOURCE and, in response, launching a program which displays

i) graphical images if the downloaded file is a graphics file, and

i) text, if the downloaded file is a text file.

6. A system according to claim 5, in which the RESOURCEs comprise both downloadable data and physical objects.

7. A system for managing a collection of RESOURCEs distributed over multiple geographic sites, comprising:

a) SERVERs, located at some, or all, of the sites;

b) PROFILEs, stored in SERVERs, which contain data which is descriptive of RESOURCEs;

c) means for allowing a user of a SERVER to download RESOURCEs from other SERVERs; and

d) means for

i) identifying the program which generated the downloaded RESOURCE;

ii) searching for the identified program, in more than one SERVER if the identified program is not found in a first SERVER searched; and

iii) launching the identified program, if found, and loading the downloaded RESOURCE into the launched program.