Interactive computer network and method of operation

• US 5,594,910 A
• Filed: 11/26/1993
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Filepp, Robert, Young, Francis C., Meo, Sam, Wolf, Allan M., Tiemann, Duane, Appleman, Kenneth H., Bidwell, Alexander W., Gordon, Michael L., Lee, Florence M., Dalsass, Aldo R., Silfen, Michael J., Abrahams, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US08/158,026
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200, 395/800, 395/400, 395/425, 395/62, 395/155-162, 395/200.08, 370/16, 370/56, 370/94.1, 370/95.3
• US Class Current: 712/28
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/025 containing polyether sequences
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08L67/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• 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 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• 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: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A distributed processing, interactive computer network and method of operation is described. The network is designed to provide very large numbers of simultaneous users access to large numbers of applications which feature interactive text/graphic sessions. The network includes one or more host computers having application data stores; a plurality of concentrator computers, also including application data stores, the concentrator computers being connected in groups of one of more to each of the host computers; and a plurality of reception system computers connected in groups of one or more to each of the concentrator computers, the reception system computers being arranged so that respective users can request interactive applications at the reception system computers. In accordance with the design, the reception system computers also include application data stores. The method for operating the network includes steps for generating the interactive text/graphic sessions from objects that include data and/or program instructions. Additionally, the method features steps for distributing objects among the data stores of the network computers, and, thereafter, permitting the reception system computer at which an application is requested to selectively collect objects required for the application from the network and the respective reception system so that the requested application may be presented at the reception system based on the objects collected. This operation decreases processing demand on the higher-level network elements, permitting them to function primarily as data supply and maintenance resources, thereby reducing network complexity, cost and response time.

Claims

1. A method for operating a computer network so as to provide a multiplicity of users access to a multiplicity of applications, the applications each including data, the network having one or more host computers, a plurality of concentrator computers connected in groups of one or more to each of the host computers, and a plurality of reception system computers at which respective users may request applications, the reception system computers being connected in groups of one or more to each of the concentrator computers, the method comprising the steps of:

a. establishing data stores at the host computers, the concentrator computers and the reception system computers;

b. distributing application data in accordance with a predetermined plan to data stores maintained, respectively, at the host computers, the concentrator computers and the reception system computers, the predetermined plan being implemented, at least in part, by ascribing a storage control attribute to the application data, the control attribute dictating eligibility of the application data for storage;

wherein the predetermined plan for distributing application data includes providing the data at the respective data stores depending on the likelihood the application associated with the data will be requested, which at least in part depends upon the preferences of the user of the respective reception system computer; and

c. supplying application data to a respective reception system computer at which an application is requested so that the respective reception system computer can assemble the data which makes up the requested application by selectively collecting data from its own data store and the data stores of the respective host computer and concentrator computer to which it is connected, wherein the respective reception system determines if the requested application can be constituted from data stored at the respective reception system, and to the extent it is determined that required data is not stored at the respective reception system, requesting the required data from the network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein distributing data within the network depends in part upon user preferences determined from application requests of users.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein supplying data to the respective reception system computer at which and application request is made includes downloading data from the network to the respective reception system when it logs onto the network so as to maintain the store of data at the respective reception system computer current.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein data is stored in the network in accordance with a control attribute provided with the data that indicates currency.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the data is stored in accordance with an additional control attribute provided with the data that indicates data permanency.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein data is stored during user sessions according to the control attributes associated with the respective data.

7. A computer network for providing a multiplicity of users access to a multiplicity of applications, the applications each including data, the apparatus comprising:

a. one or more host computers, each including a data store containing data used in creating applications;

b. a plurality of concentrator computers connected in groups of one or more to each of the host computers, each of the concentrator computers including a data store containing data used in creating applications;

c. a plurality of reception system computers at which respective users can request applications, the reception system computers being connected in groups of one or more to each of the concentrator computers, the reception system computers each including a data store containing data used in creating applications;

d. the respective data stores of the host computers, the concentrator computers and the reception system computers being responsive to a control attribute ascribed to the application data for dictation, at least in part, storage of the application data at the respective data stores; and

e. data distribution means for distributing data in the network such that data required for an application requested at a respective reception system may be collected from the data store of the respective reception system and the data stores of the host computer and concentrator computer to which the respective reception system is connected and wherein the data distribution means includes means provided at the respective reception system, for determining whether the requested application can be constituted from data stored at the respective reception system, and to the extent it is determined that required data is not stored at the respective reception system, requesting the required data from the network, the data distribution means further includes means for maintaining data at the data stores of the network dependent upon the likelihood an application associated with the data will be requested so that data required for an application likely to be requested is likely to be located at the respective reception system and data required for applications least likely to be requested is not likely to be located at the respective reception computer and wherein the means for maintaining data at the network data stores retains data dependent in part upon preferences of the respective users of the requesting reception systems.

8. The computer network of claim 7 wherein the means for maintaining data at the network data stores retains data dependent in part upon user preferences determined from respective users previous application requests.

9. The computer network of claim 8 wherein the means for distributing data includes means for downloading data from the network to the respective reception systems when the respective reception systems log onto the network so as to maintain the store of data at the requesting reception systems current.

10. The computer network of claim 7, wherein the means for maintaining data retains data in accordance with a control attribute provided with the data that indicate currency.

11. The computer network of claim 10, wherein the means for maintaining data in the network retains data in accordance with an additional control attribute provided with the data that indicates data permanency.

12. The computer network of claim 11, wherein the means for maintaining data in the network retains data at the respective reception system during user sessions according to the control attributes associated with the respective data.