Computing architecture

• US 6,654,784 B1
• Filed: 01/14/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nexaweb Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Wei, Coach
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit, Bunjob
• Application Number:
  US09/483,405
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/204, 709/328, 709/330, 715/513, 705/513
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A computer system for executing a rich application over a network connection includes a backend server connected to an application server, a web server connected to the application server and to a client machine. The backend server stores and executes the rich application, which includes a Graphical User Interface (GUI) having a set of controls used to control and execute the application. The application server receives and converts information of the GUI into one or more web pages and one or more client side scripts. A client foundation class running at the client machine receives and converts the one or more web pages and the client side scripts into an application user interface, and executes the client-side scripts thereby controlling interactions of a user with the application user interface. The application user interface includes at least one of the GUI controls.

Claims

1. A method for running a rich applications over a network by a system, said system comprising a backend server, an application server connected to said backend server, a web server connected to said application server, and a client machine comprising a web browser and a client foundation class and being connected to said web server via said network, said method comprising the steps of:

running said rich application on said backend server wherein said rich application comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) having a set of controls used to control and execute said rich application;

generating and sending an information of said GUI to said application server;

converting said GUI information into one or more web pages and one or more client-side scripts by said application server;

routing said one or more web pages and said client-side scripts to said client machine via said web server;

processing said one or more web pages and said one or more client-side scripts by said client foundation class and producing an application user interface comprising at least one control of said set of controls of said GUI; and

executing said client-side scripts by said client foundation class thereby controlling interactions of a user with said application user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said client-side scripts comprise JavaScript.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said client-side scripts comprise VBScript.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said network is the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said network is a local area network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said local area network is a bandwidth-limited slow speed network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said network comprises a wireless network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said client machine has a limited computing capacity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said client machine is a wireless device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said client machine is a palmtop device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said client machine is selected from a group consisting of workstations, desktops and laptops.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said backend server, said application server and said web server are combined into one entity.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said set of controls of said GUI comprises at least one control selected from a group consisting of window, dialog, menu, button, multiple windows, toolbar, tree table, tab panel, popup menu, edit control, tree view, list view, table, scroll, icon, frame, status bar, task bar, cascade style sheet, layered pane, and multiple document interface.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said client foundation class comprises a set of controls selected from a group consisting of window, dialog, menu, button, multiple windows, toolbar, tree table, tab panel, popup menu, edit control, tree view, list view, table, scroll, icon, frame, status bar, task bar, cascade style sheet, layered pane, and multiple document interface.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said client foundation class is implemented using Dynamic HTML and JavaScript.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said client foundation class is implemented using Java programming language running as a Java Applet.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said client foundation class is implemented using Java programming language running as a Java application.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said client foundation class is implemented using ActiveX.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said client foundation class is implemented using a web browser plugin.

20. A computer system for executing a rich application over a network connection comprising:

a backend server adapted to store and execute said rich application, wherein said rich application comprises a Graphical User Interface (GUI) having a set of controls used to control and execute said application;

an application server being connected to said backend server and adapted to receive an information of said GUI and convert said GUI information into one or more web pages and one or more client side scripts;

a web server being connected to said application server and adapted to receive and transmit said one or more web pages and said one or more client-side scripts;

a client machine being connected to said web server via said network connection and comprising a web browser and a client foundation class, wherein said client foundation class is adapted to receive said one or more web pages and said one or more client-side scripts, to produce an application user interface comprising at least one control of said set of controls of said GUI and to execute said client-side scripts thereby controlling interactions of a user with said application user interface.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said client foundation class comprises a set of controls selected from a group consisting of window, dialog, menu, button, multiple windows, toolbar, tree table, tab panel, popup menu, edit control, tree view, list view, table, scroll, icon, frame, status bar, task bar, cascade style sheet, layered pane, and multiple document interface.

22. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said client foundation class is implemented using Dynamic HTML and JavaScript.

23. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said client foundation class is implemented using Java programming language running as a Java Applet.

24. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said client foundation class is implemented using Java programming language running as a Java application.

25. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said client-side scripts comprise JavaScript.

26. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said client-side scripts comprise VBScript.

27. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said client-side scripts comprise Java.

28. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said set of controls of said GUI comprises at least one control selected from a group consisting of window, dialog, menu, button, multiple windows, toolbar, tree table, tab panel, popup menu, edit control, tree view, list view, table, scroll, icon, frame, status bar, task bar, cascade style sheet, layered pane, and multiple document interface.

29. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said one or more web pages comprise an HTML format.

30. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said backend server, said application server and said web server are combined into one entity.