Method and apparatus for computing over a wide area network

• US 7,007,070 B1
• Filed: 02/28/1997
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AI-CORE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: G&H Nevada-Tek
• Inventors: Hickman, Paul L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/810,620
• Time in Patent Office: 3,287 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.33, 395/200.48, 395/200.57, 395/500.59, 395/200.02, 395/500, 707/10, 708/208
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/20 Network management software packages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• 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: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A cluster computer system including multiple network accessible computers that are each coupled to a network. The network accessible computers implement host computer programs which permits the network accessible computers to operate as host computers for client computers also connected to the network, such that input devices of the client computers can be used to generate inputs to the host computers, and such that image information generated by the host computers can be viewed by the client computers. The system also includes a cluster administration computer coupled to the multiple network accessible computers to monitor the operation of the network accessible computers. A method for providing access to host computers by client computers over a computer network includes receiving a request for a host computer coupled to a computer network from a client computer coupled to the computer network, wherein the relationship of the host computer to the client computer is to be such that after the client computer becomes associated with a host computer, an input device of the client computer can be used to generate inputs to the host computer, and such that image information generated by the host computer can be viewed by the client computer. Next, a suitable host computer for the client computer is determined, and the client computer is informed of the network address of the suitable host computer.

Claims

1. A cluster computer system comprising:

a plurality of network accessible computers each having a unique address with respect to a network, each including a central processing unit and non-volatile memory, where each of said network accessible computers is coupled to said network, where said network accessible computers implement host computer programs which permit the network accessible computers to operate as host computers for client computers coupled to said network, where a client computer controls the functionality of a host computer after being downloaded from said host computer a client program to run on said client computer that includes the ability to communicate with said host computer program, whereby an input device of said client computer can be used to generate inputs to said host computer, and such that image information generated by said host computer can be viewed in a window of said client computer; and

a cluster administration computer coupled to said network to monitor the operation of said network accessible computers;

wherein said network is a TCP/IP protocol network, and wherein said host computer programs are responsive to keyboards and pointing devices of said client computers as transmitted to said host computers over said TCP/IP protocol network under the control of client programs running on said client computers, said host programs transmitting said image information to said client computers over said TCP/IP protocol network for display in browser windows of browser programs running on said client computers;

wherein said cluster administration computer is operative to control at least one function of said network accessible computers; and

wherein said at least one function is to reset a selected network accessible computer.

2. A cluster computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of network accessible computers are coupled to said network with a corresponding plurality of communication channels.

3. A cluster computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of network accessible computers also each include volatile memory and data bus controllers.

4. A cluster computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said cluster administration computer is coupled to said network to receive inputs from other computer systems coupled to said network.

5. A cluster computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said client programs are transmitted to said client computers over said TCP/IP protocol network.

6. A cluster computer system as recited in claim 5 wherein said client programs are Java Applet programs.

7. A cluster computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said cluster administration computer is running a cluster administration program which administers the connection of a client computer to a host computer.

8. A cluster computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said cluster administration computer is operative to process a TCP/IP compatible data packet received over said TCP/IP protocol network, where said cluster administration computer is operative to determine the origin and destination of said TCP/IP data packet.

9. A cluster computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said cluster administration computer is operative to create a list of available network accessible computers.

10. A cluster computer system comprising:

a plurality of network accessible computers each having a unique address with respect to a network, each including a central processing unit and non-volatile memory, where each of said network accessible computers is coupled to said network, where said network accessible computers implement host computer programs which permit the network accessible computers to operate as host computers for client computers coupled to said network, where a client computer controls the functionality of a host computer after being downloaded from said host computer a client program to run on said client computer that includes the ability to communicate with said host computer program, whereby an input device of said client computer can be used to generate inputs to said host computer, and such that image information generated by said host computer can be viewed in a window of said client computer; and

a cluster administration computer coupled to said network to monitor the operation of said network accessible computers;

wherein said network is a TCP/IP protocol network, and wherein said host computer programs are responsive to keyboards and pointing devices of said client computers as transmitted to said host computers over said TCP/IP protocol network under the control of client programs running on said client computers, said host programs transmitting said image information to said client computers over said TCP/IP protocol network for display in browser windows of browser programs running on said client computers; and

wherein said cluster administration computer serves to coordinate the sharing of at least one local resource by said network accessible computers.

11. A cluster computer system as recited in claim 10 wherein said at least one local source is a data storage device.

12. A cluster computer system as recited in claim 10 wherein said cluster administration computer is operative to control at least one function of said network accessible computers.

13. A method for providing access to host computers by a client computer over a computer network comprising:

receiving a request for a host computer coupled to a computer network from a client computer coupled to said computer network, said request received by a cluster administration computer, wherein the relationship of said host computer to said client computer is to be such that after said client computer becomes associated with a host computer by being downloaded from said host computer a client program that includes the ability to communicate with a host computer program running on said host computer, an input device of said client computer can be used to generate inputs to said host computer, and such that image information generated by said host computer can be viewed by said client computer;

determining a suitable host computer for said client computer by said cluster administration computer, wherein determining a suitable host computer includes receiving the desired requirements for a host computer from said client computer, and comparing said desired requirements to the characteristics of available host computers on said computer network;

informing said client computer of the network address of said suitable host computer by said cluster administration computer, whereby said client computer can become associated with said host computer;

loading a personal state of a client using said client computer into said network accessible computer that will serve as said suitable host computer; and

monitoring the functionality of a plurality of network accessible computers by said cluster administration computer;

whereby monitoring the functionality of a plurality of network accessible computers includes resetting a network accessible computer if it is determined that it is not functioning properly.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer readable media having program instructions embodied on said media for implementing the method of claim 13.