Computer apparatus and method for providing a common user interface for software applications accessed via the world-wide web

• US 5,892,905 A
• Filed: 12/23/1996
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Olson, Diane Elaine, Dykes, Pernell James, Snyder, Devon Daniel, Brown, Kenneth Edgar, Selden, Jeffrey Edward, Lindberg, Erik Duane, Brandt, Marcia Lynn, Walts, James Orrin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hua, Ly
• Application Number:
  US08/780,015
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 395/186, 395/187.01, 395/200.32, 395/200.59
• US Class Current: 726/11
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

The present invention provides the capability to easily access many different application programs over the WWW via a common user interface. By providing standard procedures, routines, tools, and software "hooks" for accessing software applications over the WWW, software developers can concentrate on the functionality of the application program and easily use HTML to provide a GUI interface for the application program. HTML is a well-known language which can be used by almost any computer system on the market today. In addition, since HTML is a fairly well controlled and standardized language, new software application features can be added as they are developed and supported by HTML. In addition, since HTML is a widely adopted, non-proprietary technology, the present invention can provide open access to a large market for even very small software developers. Further, the present invention also allows software developers to adopt a standard access protocol, which allows them to provide support for any computer system which is capable of utilizing a HTML cognizant browser. Finally, by providing easy-to-implement, standardized solutions to the issues of user interface, authentication/security, and web transaction support, the common user interface of the present invention overcomes the limitations existing in previous solutions.

Claims

1. A computer system that provides a common user interface for communicating between a plurality of web browsers and a software application over the World-Wide Web, the computer system comprising:

at least one Central Processing Unit (CPU);

a memory coupled to the CPU; and

a transaction support mechanism, the transaction support mechanism residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one CPU, wherein the transaction support mechanism is capable of receiving and transmitting data to and from the plurality of web browsers via the common user interface, the transaction support mechanism using an identifier mechanism to identify and track the data.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a security mechanism, the security mechanism residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one CPU, the security mechanism coupled to and providing an interface between the software application and the plurality of web browsers, the security mechanism receiving user input from the plurality of web browsers, the security mechanism retrieving authentication parameters for the software application corresponding to the received input.

3. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising an interface mechanism, the interface mechanism comprising a gateway mechanism for handling at least one variable, the gateway mechanism residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one CPU, the gateway mechanism comprising a universal common gateway interface for communicating between the plurality of web browsers and the software application without requiring reprogramming for the software application.

4. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a disconnect mechanism, the disconnect mechanism residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one CPU, the disconnect mechanism storing state data and a conversation identifier relating to each conversation between one of the plurality of web browsers and a software application process when the software application process is suspended such that the data can be retrieved when the software application process is resumed.

5. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

a security mechanism, the security mechanism residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one CPU, the security mechanism coupled to and providing an interface between the software application and the plurality of web browsers, the security mechanism receiving user input from the plurality of web browsers, the security mechanism retrieving authentication parameters for the software application corresponding to the received input;

an interface mechanism, the interface mechanism comprising a gateway mechanism for handling at least one variable, the gateway mechanism residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one CPU, the gateway mechanism comprising a universal common gateway interface for communicating between the plurality of web browsers and the software application without requiring reprogramming for the software application; and

a disconnect mechanism, the disconnect mechanism residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one CPU, the disconnect mechanism storing state data and a conversation identifier relating to each conversation between one of the plurality of web browsers and a software application process when the software application process is suspended such that the data can be retrieved when the software application process is resumed.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the transaction support mechanism further comprises a mechanism for communicating with a native interface to the software application.

7. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the transaction support mechanism comprises:

an application gateway in communication with the web server application and the software application, the application gateway residing in the memory and being executed by at least one of the plurality of CPUs, the application gateway including the identifier mechanism, the identifier mechanism generating an identifier for each of the plurality of web browsers and routing data from the software application to the selected one of the plurality of web browsers that correspond to the identifier.

8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the application gateway processes data received from the plurality of web servers and processes data received from the application program.

9. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the software application is a process engineering software application.

10. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising at least one activity program interface (API) in communication with at least one activity program that executes under the direction of the software application, the at least one activity program interface communicating between the at least one activity program and the application gateway.

11. A computer system that provides a common user interface for communicating between a web browser and a software application over the World-Wide Web, the computer system comprising:

a plurality of Central Processing Units (CPUs);

a memory coupled to the plurality of CPUs;

each of the plurality of web browsers residing in the memory and being executed by at least one of the plurality of CPUs;

a web server application in communication with at least one of the plurality of web browsers, the web server application residing in the memory and being executed by at least one of the plurality of CPUs; and

the software application residing in the memory and being executed by at least one of the plurality of CPUs; and

an application gateway in communication with the web server application and a native interface to the software application, the application gateway residing in the memory and being executed by at least one of the plurality of CPUs, the application gateway including;

an identifier mechanism, the identifier mechanism generating an identifier for each of the plurality of web browsers and routing data from the software application to the selected one of the plurality of web browsers that correspond to the identifier.

12. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the application gateway processes data received from the web server application and the application program.

13. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the software application is a process engineering software application.

14. The computer system of claim 11 further comprising at least one activity program interface (API) in communication with at least one activity program that executes under the direction of the software application, the at least one activity program interface communicating between the at least one activity program and the application gateway.

15. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the web server application comprises:

an authenticator, the authenticator determining from authentication data passed from one of the plurality of web browsers whether the selected web browser is authorized to access the web server application; and

wherein the web server processes data received from the plurality of web browsers and data received from the application gateway.

16. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the web browser is executed on a client workstation by at least one of the plurality of CPUs.

17. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the web server application is executed on a web server computer by at least one of the plurality of CPUs.

18. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the application gateway is executed on the web server computer by at least one of the plurality of CPUs.

19. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the application gateway is executed on a first computer by at least one of the plurality of CPUs.

20. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the software application is executed on a second computer by at least one of the plurality of CPUs.

21. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the application gateway is executed on the second computer by at least one of the plurality of CPUs.

22. A program product for providing a common user interface for communicating between a plurality of web browsers and a software application, the program product comprising:

(1) an application gateway in communication with the plurality of web browsers and the software application, the application gateway comprising;

an identifier mechanism, the identifier mechanism generating an identifier for each of the plurality of web browsers and routing data from the software application to a selected one of the plurality of web browsers that correspond to the identifier via the common user interface; and

a mechanism for communicating with a native interface to the software application; and

(2) signal bearing media bearing the application gateway.

23. The program product of claim 22 wherein the signal bearing media comprises recordable media.

24. The program product of claim 22 wherein the signal bearing media comprises transmission media.

25. The program product of claim 22 wherein the software application is a process engineering software application.

26. The program product of claim 22 further comprising at least one activity program interface (API) in communication with at least one activity program that executes under the direction of the software application, the at least one activity program interface communicating between the at least one activity program and the application gateway.

27. A computer-implemented method for providing a common user interface for communicating between a web browser and a software application over the World-Wide Web, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of Central Processing Units (CPUs );

providing a memory coupled to the plurality of CPUs;

executing at least one of the plurality of web browsers residing in the memory by at least one of the plurality of CPUs;

providing a web server application residing in the memory and being executed by at least one of the plurality of CPUs;

providing a software application residing in the memory and being executed by at least one of the plurality of CPUs;

providing an application gateway residing in the memory and being executed by at least one of the plurality of CPUs;

a selected one of the plurality of web browsers initiating an access to the software application by sending authentication data and environment data to the web server application;

processing the environment data if the authentication data authorizes the selected web browser to access the web server application;

outputting the processed environment data to the application gateway;

generating an identifier corresponding to the selected web browser and a desired process to be executed by the software application;

providing a security mechanism, the security mechanism residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one CPU, the security mechanism receiving user input from the web browser, the security mechanism retrieving authentication parameters for the software application corresponding to the received input

providing an interface mechanism residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one CPU, wherein the interface mechanism receives and transmits variables and templates between the web browser and the software application; and

providing a disconnect mechanism residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one CPU, the disconnect mechanism storing state and a conversation identifier relating to a conversation between the web browser and the software application when the conversation is suspended such that the state data can be retrieved when the conversation is resumed executing the desired process by the software application;

returning the results of executing the desired process to the application gateway with the identifier;

determining which of the plurality of browsers should be sent the results based on the identifier;

sending the results from the application gateway to the web server application; and

sending the results from the web server to the selected one web browser corresponding to the identifier.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the software application is a process engineering software application.

29. A system for providing a common user interface for communicating between a web browser and a software application over the World-Wide Web, the system comprising:

a client workstation running the web browser;

a web server computer running a web server application;

a first computer running an application gateway;

a second computer running the software application;

a communication mechanism between the web browser and the web server application which allows data to be transmitted between the web browser and the web server application;

a communication mechanism between the web server application and the application gateway which allows data to be transmitted between the web server application and the application gateway;

a communication mechanism between the application gateway and the software application which allows data to be transmitted between the application gateway and the software application;

an interface mechanism wherein the interface mechanism receives and transmits variables and templates between the web browser and the software application;

a security mechanism coupled to and providing an interface between the web browser and the software application;

a disconnect mechanism wherein the disconnect mechanism stores state and a conversation identifier relating to a conversation between the web browser and the software application when the conversation is suspended such that the state data can be retrieved when the conversation is resumed executing the desired process by the software application; and

a plurality of application programming interfaces that allow the web browser to communicate with the software application over the World-Wide Web.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the software application is a process engineering software application.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the web server computer comprises the first computer.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein the first computer comprises the second computer.