System and method for extending client-server software to additional client platforms for servicing thin clients requests

• US 6,847,987 B2
• Filed: 09/30/1998
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hochberg, Avishai Haim, Case, Douglas Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Marc D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prieto, Beatriz
• Application Number:
  US09/163,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,309 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/225, 709/229, 709/230, 709/238, 709/250, 719/328
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

A method and system for servicing a request using a server is disclosed. The server is capable of communicating with a client. The client provides a plurality of functions. The method and system include providing a thin client for providing the request. The thin client is compatible with at least one client platform. The method and system also include providing a listening program. The listening program is for listening for the request from the thin client and invoking the client. A portion of the plurality of functions may be provided on the at least one client platform. In another aspect, the thin client is further compatible with a plurality of client platforms. The request may be from one of the plurality of client platforms.

Claims

1. A system for servicing a request using a server, said server being capable of communicating with a client, said client providing a plurality of functions through communication with said server which services said request, the client being compatible with a particular client platform, said system comprising:

a thin client for providing said request, said thin client being compatible with at least one client platform and residing on a client machine; and

a listening program for listening for said request from the thin client and invoking said client in response to said request, said request being serviced by communication between said client and said server, said listening program residing on a server machine;

wherein a portion of said plurality of functions may be provided on said client machine using said at least one client platform using said thin client to allow said client to be used with said at least one client platform;

wherein said system includes a data storage system, wherein said request relates to storage of data using said server, wherein said data is transferred between the thin client and the client, wherein said plurality of functions include a migrate or recall or a backup or restore of said data;

wherein said thin client converts said data between said particular client platform and said at least one client platform; and

wherein said client and said server both reside on said server machine.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the client utilizes a first format and the thin client utilizes a second format;

and

wherein the listening program further converts between the first format and the second format.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the thin client is further compatible with a plurality of client platforms;

and

wherein the request may be from one of the plurality of client platforms.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the thin client is implemented in JAVA.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the client further includes at least one application program interface (API);

and

wherein the listening program invokes the client through the at least one API.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the thin client further ensures that the data exists in the second format and provides the data to the listening program.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the data includes at least one file;

and

wherein the plurality of functions further includes archiving the at least one file.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of functions further include retrieving the at least one file.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the thin client is executed by a browser.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the thin client is implemented in C.

11. A method for servicing a request using a server, said server being capable of communicating with a client, said client providing a plurality of functions through communication with said server which services said request, said client being compatible with a particular client platform, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a thin client, said thin client for providing said request, said thin client being compatible with at least one client platform and residing on a client machine; and

providing a listening program, said listening program for listening for a communication from said thin client, and invoking said client in response to the request, said request being serviced by communication between said client and said server, said listening program residing on a server machine;

wherein a portion of said plurality of functions may be provided on said client machine using said at least one client platform using said thin client to allow the client to be used with said at least one client platform;

wherein said server is part of a data storage system, wherein the request relates to storage of data using said server, wherein said data is transferred between the thin client and the client, and wherein said plurality of functions includes a migrate or recall or a backup or restore of said data;

wherein said thin client converts said data between the particular client platform and the at least one client platform; and

wherein said client and said server both reside on said server machine.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the client utilizes a first format and the thin client utilizes a second format;

and

wherein the listening program further converts between the first format and the second format.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the thin client is further compatible with a plurality of client platforms;

and

wherein the portion of the plurality of functions may be provided on the plurality of client platforms.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the thin client providing step further includes the step of:

providing the thin client implemented in JAVA.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the client further includes at least one application program interface (API);

and

wherein the listening program invokes the client through the at least one API.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the thin client further ensures that the data exists in the second format and provides the data to the listening program.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the data includes at least one file;

and wherein the plurality of functions further include archiving the at least one file.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of functions further include retrieving the at least one file.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the thin client providing step further includes the step of:

providing the thin client implemented in C or C++.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the thin client is further compatible with a plurality of client platforms;

and

wherein the request may be from one of the plurality of client platforms.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20 wherein the client further includes at least one application program interface (API);

and wherein the instruction for invoking the client further includes instructions for;

using the listening program to invoke the client through the at least one API.

22. A method for servicing a request for a function performed by a server, said the server capable of communicating with a client, said client providing a plurality of functions through communication with said server which services said request, being compatible with a particular client platform, and utilizing a first format, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) utilizing a thin client compatible with a plurality of client platforms to provide said request, said thin client using a second format and residing on a client machine;

(b) listening for the request on a listening program coupled with said thin client and residing on a server machine;

(c) converting from said first format to said second format;

(d) invoking the client by said listening program in response to said request; and

(e) communicating between said client and said server to service said request;

wherein a portion of said plurality of functions may be provided on said plurality of client platforms, thereby allowing said client to be used with the client machine using said at least one client platform;

wherein said server is part of a data storage system, wherein said request relates to storage of data using said server, wherein said data is transferred between the thin client and the client, and wherein said request includes a migrate or recall or a backup or restore of said data;

wherein said thin client converts said data between said particular client platform and said at least one client platform; and

wherein said client and said server both reside on said server machine.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the client further includes at least one application program interface (API) and wherein the client invoking step (d) further includes the step of:

(d1) using the listening program to invoke the client through the at least one API.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the client and the server both reside on the server machine remote from the client machine on which the thin client resides.

25. A computer-readable medium having a program for servicing a request using a server, said server being capable of communicating with a client, said client providing a plurality of functions through communication with said server which services the request, said client being compatible with a particular client platform, the program containing instructions for:

providing a thin client compatible with at least one client platform and residing on a client machine; and

providing a listening program for listening for a communication from said thin client, and invoking said client in response to said request, said request being serviced by communication between said client and said server, said listening program residing on a server machine;

wherein a portion of said plurality of functions may be provided on said client machine using said at least one client platform, thereby allowing said client to be used with said at least one client platform;

wherein said server is part of a data storage system, wherein said request relates to storage of data using said server, wherein said data is transferred between the thin client and the client, and wherein said plurality of functions include a migrate or recall of a backup or restore of said data;

wherein said thin client converts the data between said particular client platform and said at least one client platform; and

wherein said client and said server both reside on said server machine.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the client and the server both reside on the server machine remote from the client machine on which the thin client resides.

27. A computer-readable medium containing a program for servicing a request for a function performed by a server, said server being capable of communicating with a client, said client providing a plurality of functions through communication with said server which services the request, said client being for use with a particular client platform, the program including instructions for:

listening for said request from a thin client, said thin client being compatible with a plurality of client platforms and residing on a client machine;

invoking said client in response to said request to allow said client and server to communicate to service said request, said request being serviced by communication between said client and said server; and

providing said thin client with a response from said service of the request, thereby allowing said client to be used with the plurality of platforms;

wherein said server is part of a data storage system, wherein said request relates to storage of data using said server, wherein said data is transferred between the thin client and the client, and wherein the request includes a migrate or recall or a backup or restore of the data; and

wherein said thin client converts said data between said particular client platform and said at least one client platform;

wherein a listening program performs the listening and invoking instructions; and

wherein said client and said server both reside on said server machine.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27 wherein the client and the server both reside on the server machine remote from the client machine on which the thin client resides.

29. A computer-readable medium containing a program for servicing a request for a function performed by a server, said server being capable of communicating with a client, said client providing a plurality of functions and being compatible with a particular client platform, the program including instructions for:

providing said request to a listening program, said request capable of being from a plurality of client platforms, said client communicating with said server to service said request, said listening program residing on a server machine and being capable of invoking said client, said request being serviced by communication between said client and said server; and

receiving a reply from the listening program, said reply being in response to said service of said request;

wherein a portion of the plurality of functions may be provided on said plurality of client platforms to allow said client to be used with said plurality of client platforms;

wherein said server is part of a data storage system, wherein said request relates to storage of data using said server, wherein said data is transferred between the thin client and the client, and wherein the plurality of functions include a migrate or recall or a backup or restore of the data;

wherein said thin client converts data between the particular client platform and said at least one client platform; and

wherein said client and said server both reside on said server machine.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the client and the server both reside on the server machine remote from the client machine on which the thin client resides.