Method and apparatus for computing within a wide area network

• US 7,013,327 B1
• Filed: 02/12/1997
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1996
• 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., Gough, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/798,704
• Time in Patent Office: 3,317 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.33, 395/200.48, 395/200.57, 395/200.59, 395/200.02, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/208
• 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 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

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. An apparatus for remotely controlling a host computer by a client comprising:

a network;

a client computer coupled to said network, said client computer having a monitor, a keyboard, and a pointing device, said client computer running a browser program displaying a browser window on said monitor and further being capable of running a client program that is delivered over said network in conjunction with said browser program;

said client program being capable of transmitting event data over said netowrk, said event data including an input device event created by at least one of said keyboard and said pointing device; and

a host computer coupled to said network and beig accessible by said client computer using said browser program and said client program, said host computer receiving said event data and placing said event data in an event queue of said host computer, said host program transmitting image updates to said client computer over said network to affect an image displayed in said browser window of said cliemt computer said image updates including at least a portion of a video buffer image within said host computer, whereby said client computer may control a host computer with said input device as if the input device were connected to said host computer, and whereby said client computer may display images on said monitor as if said monitor were connected to said host computer, such that said host computer becomes a mult- purpose, virtual machine of a user of said client computer;

wherein said host computer is initially accessed by said client computer through a web page accessible through said network, and wherein said client computer and said host computer communicate directly after the respective addresses of said host computer and said client computer are known to each other.

2. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer as recited in claim 1 wherein said image updates transmitted from said host computer to said client computer includes images that can be displayed upon a monitor connected to said host computer, such that inputs to said host computer from said keyboard and said pointing device of said client computer can control operations of said host computer, and such that images developed in response thereto can be displayed within said browser window of said client computer.

3. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer as recited in claim 1 wherein said network is an Internet-type network.

4. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer as recited in claim 1 wherein said client program is a Java Applet program.

5. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer as recited in claim 4 wherein said Java Applet is stored on said host computer as a script, and is transmitted to said client computer over said network along with an address of said host computer.

6. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer as recited in claim 1, wherein said host computer and said client computer each having an operating system selected from the group including Macintosh, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows NT, and UNIX operating systems.

7. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer as recited in claim 1 wherein a correct password from said client computer is required for it to access the functionality of said host computer.

8. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said host computer provides access information concerning its accessibility by a client computer.

9. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer system as recited in claim 8 wherein said access information includes view only information and view- and-control information.

10. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer system as recited in claim 8 wherein an indication of said access information is displayed in said browser window of said client machine.

11. A method permitting the remote control of a host computer comprising:

providing a client program to a client computer connected to a network and running a browser program having a browser window displayed on a monitor, said client program permitting said client computer to control and view image outputs of a host computer also connected to said network;

receiving at said host computer over said network remote compute control information produced in response to the manipulation of an input device including at least one of a keyboard and a pointing device of said client computer, said remote computer control information including event data transmitted by said client computer over said network and placed in an event queue of said host computer; and

detecting changes in said image outputs of said host computer and transmiting image updates corresponding to said changes to said client computer for use by said client program to provide corresponding images in said browser window, where said image outputs can be affeceted by said remote computer control information sent from said client computer, said image updates including at least a portion of a video buffer image within said host computer,

whereby said client computer may control said host computer with said input devive as if the input device were connected to said host computer, and whereby said client computer may display images on said monitor as if said monitor were connected to said host computer, such that said host computer becomes a multi-purpose, virtual machine of a user of said client computer;

wherein said client computer is provided to said cient computer by said host computer;

wherein said client program comprises a Java Applet program;

wherein said client program provides a resolution between said host computer and said client computer.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said client program implements password protection for access to said host computer.

13. A computer readable media including program instructions for implementing the method of claim 12.

14. A computer readable media including program instructions for implementing the method of claim 11.