Interactive computer network and method of operation

• US 6,182,123 B1
• Filed: 09/18/1997
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US08/933,488
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 345/200.5, 345/200.51, 345/200.52, 345/200.33, 345/200.47, 345/200.48, 345/200.49, 345/712, 705/25, 705/26, 705/27, 707/104, 707/530, 707/540, 709/201, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/217
• 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 system for automatically updating a program stored in a remote computer, the system comprising:

a remote computer including a remote memory for storing a program and a remote revision status,

the remote program revision status indicating the revision level of the program stored in the remote memory;

a main computer including a main memory for storing the latest revisions of the program and a main program revision status,

the main program revision status indicating the revision level of the program stored in the main memory;

means for transmitting the remote program revision status from the remote computer to the main computer;

means for comparing the remote program revision status to the main program revision status;

means for determining which portions of the program stored in a main memory are different from the program stored in the remote memory;

means for transmitting updated portions of the program stored in the main computer to the remote computer;

means for replacing portions of the program stored in the remote computer with updated portions of the program received from the main computer; and

means for transmitting the new program revision status from the main computer to the remote computer.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising

means for storing and maintaining variable data and constant data related to a plurality of products in the memory of the main computer,

means for storing constant data related to a plurality of products in the memory of the remote computer,

means for selecting a product from the remote computer memory for which product information is desired,

means for comparing constant data in the memory of the remote computer with constant data in the memory of the main computer,

means for determining updated portions of the constant data stored in the main computer that are different than the constant data stored in the remote computer,

means for transmitting the updated portions of the constant data stored in the main computer from the main computer to the remote computer, and

means for replacing portions of the constant data stored on the remote computer with the updated portions of constant data received from the main computer.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising

means for integrating constant data stored in the memory of the remote computer associated with the selected product with the variable data received from the main computer to provide information related to the selected product including both constant and variable data.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising

means for storing and maintaining a main constant data revision status in the memory of the main computer,

the main constant data revision status indicating the revision level of the constant data stored in the main computer,

means for storing a remote constant data revision status in the memory of the remote computer, and

the remote constant data revision status indicating the revision level of the constant data stored in the remote computer.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein

the means for comparing constant data in the memory of the remote computer with constant data in the memory of the main computer compares the remote constant data revision status with the main constant data revision status maintained in the main computer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein

the means for transmitting updated portions of the constant data stored in the main memory from the main computer to the remote computer also transmits an updated remote revision status identical to the main revision status from the main computer to the remote computer.