Server to dynamically generate graphics for the world wide web

• US 6,098,092 A
• Filed: 11/08/1996
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Silicon Graphics Incorporated (Graphics Properties Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Padzensky, David Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Asta, Framk J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THONG H
• Application Number:
  US08/745,378
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.33, 395/157, 395/155, 395/800, 395/712, 395/182.06, 395/806, 395/615, 395/326, 345/428, 345/440, 345/355, 345/419, 128/660.01, 709/203, 709/221, 707/203, 434/118
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

A method and arrangement for dynamically generating computer displayable graphics for the World Wide Web is provided. Upon receiving a request from an end user over the web, a server executes a program stored in its memory to retrieve data from a selected data source such as a continuously updated data base. Next, the server executes a second program stored in its memory using the data retrieved as input to generate computer graphics. The second program is written in a flexible and easy to use general purpose graphics generating programming language. The server sends the computer graphics generated over the World Wide Web to the end user who requests it.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically generating graphical images using a graphics program on a server in a client-server computer network, the method comprising the following steps:

allowing an original version of the graphics program to be accessed from a client computer via the client-server computer network;

allowing the original version of the graphics program to be revised from the client computer using a syntax of a general purpose computer graphics language;

receiving a revised version of the graphics program from the client computer via the client-server computer network;

receiving a request for a graphical image from the client computer via the client-server computer network;

in response to the request, executing the revised version of the graphics program in place of the original version of the graphics program;

interpreting the syntax used by the revised version of the graphics program;

generating the graphical image based on the interpreting step; and

transmitting the graphical image to the client computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of dynamically accessing one or more graphical parameters from a data source in response to the request, and wherein the step of interpreting further comprises interpreting the graphical parameters.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes an arc-center command for drawing an arc of a specified angle, with a specified center point.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes an init command for initializing an area where the graphical image is created.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a circle-center command for drawing a circle of a specified radius around a given centerpoint.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a color command for specifying a drawing color.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a draw-text command for drawing text.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a fill command for applying color to a specified region in an area where the graphical image is created.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a horizontal line command for drawing a horizontal line.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a vertical line command for drawing a vertical line.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a define origin command for specifying a point having coordinates (0,0).

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a plot-point command for plotting a point.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a plot-line command for drawing a vector between two points.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of interpreting is performed using a common gateway interface program ("CGI").

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the client-server computer network supports hypertext transfer protocol ("http").

16. A system for dynamically generating graphical images using a graphics program on a server in a client-server computer network, the system comprising:

a client computer adapted to access the original version of the graphics program and to process revisions to the original version of the graphics program using a syntax of a general purpose computer graphics language; and

a server communicatively coupled to the client computer via the client-server computer network, the server adapted to receive a revised version of the graphics program, receive a request for a graphical image, execute the revised version of the graphics program in place of the original version of the graphics program, interpret the syntax used by the revised version of the graphics program, generate the graphical image, and transmit the graphical image to the client computer.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes an arc-center command for drawing an arc of a specified angle, with a specified center point.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes an init command for initializing an area where the graphical image is created.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a circle-center command for drawing a circle of a specified radius around a given centerpoint.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a color command for specifying a drawing color.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a draw-text command for drawing text.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a fill command for applying color to a specified region in an area where the graphical image is created.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a horizontal line command for drawing a horizontal line.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a vertical line command for drawing a vertical line.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a define origin command for specifying a point having coordinates (0,0).

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a plot-point command for plotting a point.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the syntax of the general purpose computer graphics language includes a plot-line command for drawing a vector between two points.