Distributed application launcher for optimizing desktops based on client characteristics information

• US 6,212,564 B1
• Filed: 07/01/1998
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Harter, John L., Lection, David Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US09/108,813
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103, 707/526, 707/542, 709/246, 709/227, 709/228, 713/200
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method, system and program product are described which allow a dynamically constructed desktop to be optimized for the capabilities of the browser in the target device. This enables a server to manage the distribution of applets to clients matching the capabilities of the browser, the Java runtime environment (JRE), the screen resolution, color depth, sound capabilities, link speed, communications links and any other items which can be differentiated that are supported by the client requesting use of the applet.

Claims

1. A system for customizing applications delivered to a client computer in a client/server network, said client computer having characteristic information, said system comprising:

a server computer;

an application suite residing on said server computer;

a web server residing on said server computer;

a web browser residing on said client computer; and

,

a servlet associated with said web server, said servlet receiving information indicating said client characteristics of said client computer, constructing, by said servlet, a desktop optimized for said client characteristics of said client computer and returning said optimized desktop to said web browser residing on said client computer.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said client/server network has network characteristic information wherein said servlet receives information indicating said network characteristics and utilizes both said client characteristics and said network characteristics in constructing said optimized desktop.

2. A method for customizing applications delivered to a client computer in a client/server network, said client computer having characteristic information, said network comprising a server computer, an application suite residing on said server computer, a web server residing on said server computer and a web browser residing on said client computer, said method comprising:

means associated with said web server for receiving information indicating the client characteristics of said client computer;

means, responsive to receiving said information, for constructing a desktop optimal for said characteristics of said client computer; and

,

means for returning said optimal desktop to said web browser residing on said client computer.

3. A program residing on a computer readable medium for customizing applications delivered to a client computer in a client/server network, said client computer having client characteristic information, said network comprising a server computer, an application suite residing on said server computer, a web server residing on said server computer and a web browser residing on said client computer, said program comprising:

computer executable program code means associated with said web server for receiving said client characteristic information of said client computer;

computer executable program code means, responsive to receiving said client characteristic information, for constructing a desktop optimal for said characteristics of said client computer; and

,

computer executable program code means for returning said optimal desktop to said web browser residing on said client computer.

4. An apparatus for customizing applications delivered to a client computer in a client/server network, said client computer having characteristic information, said apparatus comprising:

computer readable program code associated with a web server, said computer readable program code associated with said web server for receiving information indicating the characteristics of said client computer, constructing a desktop optimal for said characteristics of said client computer and transmitting said optimal desktop to said client computer.

6. A method for customizing applications delivered to a client computer in a client/server network, said client computer having client characteristic information, said network comprising a server computer, an application suite residing on said server computer, a web server residing on said server computer and a web browser residing on said client computer, said network having network characteristic information said method comprising:

means associated with said web server for receiving information indicating said client characteristic information;

means associated with said web server for receiving information indicating said network characteristic information;

means, responsive to receiving said information indicating said client characteristics and said information indicating said network characteristics, for constructing a desktop optimal for said characteristics of said client computer; and

,

means for returning said optimal desktop to said web browser residing on said client computer.

7. A program residing on a computer readable medium for customizing applications delivered to a client computer in a client/server network, said client computer having client characteristic information and said network having network characteristic information, said network comprising a server computer, an application suite residing on said server computer, a web server residing on said server computer and a web browser residing on said client computer, said program comprising:

computer executable program code means associated with said web server for receiving said client characteristic information of said client computer;

computer executable program code means associated with said web server for receiving said network characteristic information;

computer executable program code means, responsive to receiving said client characteristic information and said network characteristic information, for constructing a desktop optimal for said characteristics of said client computer and said network; and

,

computer executable program code means for returning said optimal desktop to said web browser residing on said client computer.