Method for loading a function provided by a first computer (server) onto a second computer (client)

• US 6,766,366 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2000
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Schafer, Ralf, Gitsels, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): PARTON, KEVIN S
• Application Number:
  US09/485,326
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/232, 709/231, 709/247, 709/223, 717/171, 717/172, 717/176, 717/177
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44521 Dynamic linking or loading; Link editing at or after load time, e.g. Java class loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• 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 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A function is to be loaded from a first computer onto a second computer via a network, preferably a computer network or a communication network. To that end, the second computer, in addition to containing an operating system, also contains a platform-independent system, preferably a JAVA virtual machine, which assures that platform-independent code (JAVA byte code) can be run on this second computer by the operating system of the second computer. In addition to platform-independent code, platform-dependent code, specifically for the hardware of the second computer, can be loaded from the first computer, whereby the losses in running time resulting from platform-independent code are avoided. To that end, the first computer comprises the required platform-dependent functions, preferably as dynamic libraries that are potentially requested from the second computer, in order to achieve gains in running time on the second computer.

Claims

1. A method for loading a function offered by a first computer onto a second computer, the first computer and the second computer connected via a network, comprising:

inquiring at the first computer via the network as to whether the function is available in a platform-dependent code;

loading a platform-independent code of the function from the first computer and terminating the method when a platform-dependent code is not available; and

when the platform-dependent code is available, performing the following;

carrying out a check to determine whether the platform-dependent code of the function is present on the second computer and, when the platform-dependent code of the function is present, the platform-dependent code is loaded and the method is terminated, and

when the platform-dependent code is not present on the second computer, a decision is made based on an input as to whether the platform-dependent code should be loaded from the first computer, the decision comprising;

when a decision is made with the input that the platform-dependent code should not be loaded, the platform-independent code is loaded and the method is terminated, and

when a decision is made with the input that the platform-dependent code should be loaded, then, following a negotiation between the first computer and the second computer, the platform-dependent code of the function is loaded onto the second computer.

2. The method according to claim 1, whereby the negotiation comprises:

requesting, via the second computer, a list of available platform-dependent realizations of the function from the first computer;

transmitting the list from the first computer to the second computer; and

selecting, via the second computer, a suitable realization, which informs the first computer thereof, and requests a transmission of the realization of the function.

3. The method according to claim 2, whereby, following the selecting, loading the platform-dependent code from the first computer onto the second computer, a security check of the platform-dependent code is implemented.

4. The method according to claim 3, whereby the security check comprises:

before the loaded, platform-dependent code is implemented on the second computer, an integrity check of the code ensues.

5. The method according to claim 1, whereby the input comprises at least one of the following:

indicating whether a user wishes to load platform-dependent code from the first computer;

is performed on the basis of a list that comprises computers of a secure environment; and

loading the platform-dependent code when the first computer includes no security-relevant data and/or programs.

6. The method according to claim 1, whereby the platform-independent code is JAVA byte code.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the integrity check of the code includes a virus search program.

8. A method for loading a function offered by a first computer onto a second computer, the first computer and the second computer connected via a network, comprising:

inquiring at the first computer via the network as to whether the function is available in a platform-dependent code;

loading a platform-independent code of the function from the first computer and terminating the method when a platform-dependent code is not available; and

when the platform-dependent code is available, performing the following;

carrying out a check to determine whether the platform-dependent code of the function is present on the second computer and, when the platform-dependent code of the function is present, the platform-dependent code is loaded and the method is terminated, and

when the platform-dependent code is not present on the second computer, a decision is made based on an input as to whether the platform-dependent code should be loaded from the first computer, the decision comprising;

when a decision is made with the input that the platform-dependent code should not be loaded, the platform-independent code is loaded and the method is terminated, and

when a decision is made with the input that the platform-dependent code should be loaded, then, following a negotiation between the first computer and the second computer, the platform-dependent code of the function is loaded onto the second computer, whereby the negotiation comprises;

requesting, via the second computer, a list of available platform-dependent realizations of the function from the first computer;

transmitting the list from the first computer to the second computer; and

selecting, via the second computer, a suitable realization, which informs the first computer thereof, and requests a transmission of the realization of the function.