Interactive computer network and method of operation

• US 6,199,100 B1
• Filed: 08/06/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• 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:
  US09/369,650
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/303, 709/304, 709/305
• US Class Current: 709/203
• 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 method is described for operating a distributed processing, interactive computer network. The network is intended to provide very large numbers of simultaneous users access to large numbers of applications which include pre-created, interactive text/graphic sessions. The network includes one or more servers, interactive applications, and one or more user reception systems. The respective reception systems are designed to and are capable of communicating with the respective servers and receiving applications from them. The respective reception systems feature a display interface, as well as reception system software, operating system software and CPU for executing the applications and presenting applications to respective users. The method features steps for preparing the applications in a high-level programing language so that the applications may be executed at the respective reception systems independently of the reception system CPU type and operating system type by interpreting the respective applications at runtime with an interpreter available at the respective reception systems. In accordance with the method, the applications are divided into sections and structured with objects of multiple types containing application display data and/or program code. The objects are distributed in the network and provided at run time at a reception system at which the respective applications are requested. The method further features steps for providing the respective application programs with a structure that features a header section, data structure section and code section implemented in objects. In this arrangement, method steps are provides to enable respective application programs code section to include one or more procedures for supporting system services, the procedures including a key word for identifying the respective procedures. Additionally, the method includes steps for enabling application program data structure section to identifying the data structure for the respective application programs. Further, the method includes steps for enabling the respective application program structure to include a header section that identifies the respective application program names.

Claims

1. A method for operating a server in a computer network to enable presentation of interactive applications, the network including at least a first server, interactive applications and one or more reception systems, the reception systems being capable of communicating with the server and receiving applications from the server, the reception systems, respectively, including a display interface, as well as reception system software, operating system software and CPU for presenting applications to respective users, the method comprising steps of:

a. Providing on the network one or more applications employing objects;

b. Storing the objects on the network;

c. Supplying objects from the server for applications employing objects requested at a reception system to the extent the objects for the requested applications are unavailable at the reception system;

d. Preparing the applications employing objects so that they may be executed at the receptions systems independently of the respective reception system CPU type and operating system type; and

e. Executing the applications employing objects at the respective reception systems for presentation at the respective reception system interfaces.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein preparing the applications so that they may executed independently of the respective reception system CPU type and operating system type includes steps for preparing the applications in a high-level programing language.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein executing the applications at the respective reception systems includes steps for interpreting the applications during processing at the respective reception systems.

4. The method of claim 3 including steps for dividing at least the applications employing objects into sections.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein dividing the applications into sections includes steps for forming the application sections with objects, the objects including display data and/or program code for generating display of respective application sections.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein forming the application sections with objects includes steps for arranging the objects as multiple object types.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein arranging the objects as multiple object types includes steps for providing an object type for defining program information used in supporting execution of the respective applications at the respective reception systems.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein arranging the objects as multiple object types includes steps for providing an object type for defining formatting of the respective applications at respective reception system display interfaces.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein arranging the objects as multiple object types includes steps for providing an object type for defining application elements that may appear at respective reception system display interfaces.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein arranging the objects as multiple object types includes steps for providing an object type for defining a make-up template for application sections presented at the respective reception system display interfaces.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein arranging the objects as multiple object types includes steps for providing an object type for defining window elements that may appear at respective reception system display interfaces.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein arranging the objects as multiple object types includes steps for providing the object types with a predetermined structure which comprises a header and one or more information segment which define the respective objects.

13. The method of claims 12 wherein forming the application sections with objects includes steps for embedding objects within objects.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein providing the object types with a predetermined structure comprising a header and one or more information segment includes steps for structuring headers with a sequence of information which identifies respective objects.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein structuring object headers includes steps for structuring headers with information which indicates the version of respective objects.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein structuring object headers includes steps for structuring headers with information which indicates intended use of respective objects.

17. The method of claim 4 wherein preparing the applications in a high-level programing language includes steps for compiling the applications into a data stream which is organized as objects.

18. The method of claim 4 wherein preparing the applications in a high-level programing language includes steps for providing the applications with a prescribed program structure which includes multiple sections.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein providing the applications with a prescribed program structure having multiple sections includes steps for providing the application programs with a code section.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein providing applications with prescribed program structure having code sections includes steps for providing respective application program code sections with one or more procedures for supporting system services, the procedures including a key word for identifying the respective procedures.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein providing application code sections with one or more procedures respectively identified by key words includes steps for providing the key words as verbs.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein providing application code sections with one or more procedures respectively identified by verbs includes steps for enabling the name of a respective procedures to function as the procedure identifying verb.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein providing applications with prescribed program structure having code sections further includes steps for providing respective application program structure with a data structure section, the program data structure section identifying the data structure for the application program.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein providing applications with prescribed program structure having data structure section includes steps for identifying variables within the data structure as respective strings.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein providing applications with prescribed program structure having a data structure section identifying variables as respective strings includes steps for providing string variables of multiple types.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein providing string variable in multiple types includes steps for providing variables as field variables and array variables.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein providing applications with prescribed program structure having code sections and data sections further includes steps for providing respective application program structure with respective header sections, the respective program structure header sections identifying the respective program names.

28. A method for operating a server in a computer network to enable presentation of interactive applications, the network including at least a first server, interactive applications and one or more reception systems, the reception systems being capable of communicating with the server and receiving applications from the server, the reception systems, respectively, including a display interface, as well as reception system software, operating system software and CPU for presenting applications to respective users, the method comprising steps of:

a. Providing on the network one or more applications employing objects;

b. Storing the objects on the network;

c. Supplying objects from the server for applications employing objects requested at a reception system to the extent the objects for the requested applications are unavailable at the reception system;

d. Preparing the applications employing objects in a high-level programing language; and

e. Executing the applications employing objects at the respective reception systems by interpreting the applications during processing at the respective reception system such that the applications employing objects may be presented at the respective receptions systems independently of the reception system CPU type and operating system type.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of providing applications employing objects includes steps for dividing the applications employing objects into sections, and steps for forming the application sections with objects, the objects including display data and/or program code for generating display of respective application sections.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein preparing the applications in a high-level programing language includes steps for providing the applications with a prescribed program structure which includes multiple sections.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein providing the applications with a prescribed program structure having multiple sections includes steps for providing the applications with a code section.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein providing applications with prescribed program structure having code sections includes steps for providing respective application program code sections with one or more procedures for supporting system services, the procedures including respective key words for identifying the procedures.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein providing application code sections with one or more procedures identified by respective key words includes steps for enabling the name of a respective procedures to function as the procedure identifying key word.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein providing applications with prescribed program structure having code sections further includes steps for providing the application program structure with a data structure section, the program data structure section identifying the data structure for the respective application programs.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein providing the program structure with a data section includes steps for providing data variables as string variable of multiple types, the multiple types including field variables and array variables.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein providing applications with prescribed program structures having respective code sections and data sections further includes steps for providing respective application program structures with a header section, the program structure header section identifying the program name.

37. A method for operating a server in a computer network to enable presentation of interactive applications, the network including at least a first server, interactive applications and one or more reception systems, the reception systems being capable of communicating with the server and receiving applications from the server, the reception systems, respectively, including a display interface, as well as reception system software, operating system software and CPU for presenting applications to respective users, the method comprising steps of:

a. Providing on the network one or more applications employing objects;

b. Preparing the applications employing objects in a high-level programing language; and

c. Executing the applications employing objects at the respective reception systems by interpreting the applications during processing at the respective reception system such that the applications employing objects may be presented at the respective receptions systems independently of the reception system CPU type and operating system type.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of providing applications employing objects includes steps for dividing the applications employing objects into sections, and steps for forming the application sections with objects, the objects including display data and/or program code for generating display of respective application sections.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein preparing the applications in a high-level programing language includes steps for providing the applications with a prescribed program structure which includes multiple sections.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein providing the applications with a prescribed program structure having multiple sections includes steps for providing the applications with a code section.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein providing applications with prescribed program structure having code sections includes steps for providing respective application program code sections with one or more procedures for supporting system services, the procedures respectively identified by key words.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein providing application code sections with one or more procedures respectively identified by key words includes steps for enabling the names of respective procedures to function as the respective procedure identifying key words and steps for providing the respective key words as verbs.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein providing applications with prescribed program structure having code sections further includes steps for providing respective application program structure with a data structure section, the program data structure section identifying the data structure for the application program.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein providing string variable in multiple types includes steps for providing variables as field variables and array variables.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein providing applications with prescribed program structure having code sections and data sections further includes steps for providing respective application program structure with a header section, the program structure header section identifying the program name.