Method and apparatus for providing desktop application functionality in a client/server architecture

• US 7,890,961 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seitz, Edward F., Whittle, Derrick W., Sollicito, Vincent L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Van H
• Application Number:
  US10/652,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20050050547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,727 Days
• Field of Search: 719/310, 719/320, 709/203, 709/204, 709/224, 707/203, 715/234
• US Class Current: 719/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing functionalities of desktop applications using a client/server architecture is provided. Data including a user'"'"'s preferences and a script are provided to a client system. The script is configured to define a function of a control. The function allows the control to perform an operation using the received data. The use of the received data and script permits a user to have a desired interface and environment regardless of the native functionalities of the client system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a client computer in response to a request for a web page, data associated with at least one user-defined preference, previously specified by a user said data comprising display information and operational information, said data not required for a server-based application corresponding to the web page, and said user-defined preference unique to each user;

receiving, at said client computer, a script defining a control, said control including a display function and an operational function based on said data;

configuring said operational function of said control to perform according to said operational information based on said data; and

controlling the performance of said operational function in accordance to said operational information using at least a portion of said data; and

wherein said control modifies an instantiation of the server-based application by providing a modified web page in accordance with the user-defined preference instead of the web page requested.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least a portion of said data comprises server-based preferences.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

creating client-based preferences by storing said at least a portion of said data in a local data cache.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said display function comprises:

presenting another portion of said data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said display function comprises:

presenting said data in accordance to said display information based on said data.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said content is an HTML, document, said HTML document comprises a field, said data comprises a plurality of selections, and said presenting presents said selections as alternative entries for said field.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said data and said script are received from a server.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing said data in a local data cache.

11. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

computer readable storage medium coupled to said processor; and

computer code, encoded in said computer readable storage medium, configured to cause said processor to;

receive at a client, data associated with at least one user-defined preference, previously specified by a user, in response to a request for a web page, wherein said data comprises display information and operational information, said data not required for a server-based application, and said user-defined preference is unique to each user;

receive, at said client, a script defining a control, and said control including a display function and an operational function based on said data;

configure said operational function of said control to perform in accordance to said operational information based on at least a portion of said data; and

control the performance of said operational function in accordance to said operational information using at least a portion of said data;

wherein said control modifies an instantiation of the server-based application by providing a modified web page in accordance with the user-defined preference instead of the web page requested.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said at least a portion of said data comprises server-based preferences.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein said computer code is further configured to cause said processor to:

create client-based preferences by storing said at least a portion of said data in a local data cache.

14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said display function comprises:

presenting another portion of said data in accordance to said display information based on said data.

15. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said display function comprises:

presenting said data in accordance to said display information based on said data.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein said computer code is further configured to cause said processor to:

receive content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said content is an HTML document, said HTML document comprises a field, said data comprises a plurality of selections, and said presenting presents said selections as alternative entries for said field.

18. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said data and said script are received from a server.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein said computer code is further configured to cause said processor to:

receive content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said computer code is further configured to cause said processor to:

store said data in a local data cache.

21. A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions executed by a computer system, said computer-executable instructions comprising:

a first set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to receive at a client, data associated with at least one user-defined preference, previously specified by a user, in response to a request for a web page, wherein said data comprises display information and operational information, said data not required for a server-based application, and said user-defined preference is unique to each user;

a second set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to receive, at said client, a script defining a control, said control including a display function and an operational function based on said data, and said control is provided to said user at said client;

a third set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to configure said operational function of said control to perform in accordance to said operational information based on said data; and

a fourth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to control the performance of said operational function in accordance to said operational information using at least a portion of said data;

wherein said control modifies an instantiation of the server-based application including providing at said client a modified web page, in accordance with the user-defined preference instead of the web page requested.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein said at least a portion of said data comprises server-based preferences.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, said computer-executable instructions further comprising:

a fifth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to create client-based preferences by storing said at least a portion of said data in a local data cache.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein said display function comprises:

presenting another portion of said data in accordance with said display information based on said data.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein said operational information comprises:

presenting said data.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, said computer-executable instructions further comprising:

a fifth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to receive content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein said content is an HTML document, said HTML, document comprises a field, said data comprises a plurality of selections, and said presenting presents said selections as alternative entries for said field.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein said data and said script are received from a server.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, said computer-executable instructions further comprising:

a fifth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to receive said control.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 29, said computer-executable instructions further comprising:

a sixth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to receive content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 30, said computer-executable instructions further comprising:

a seventh set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to store said data in a local data cache.

32. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving at a client data associated with at least one user-defined preference, previously specified by a user, in response to a request for a web page, wherein said data includes display information and operational information, said data is not required for a server-based application, and said user-defined preference is unique to each user;

means for receiving a script at said client, wherein said script defines a control, and said control includes a display function and an operational function based on said data;

means for configuring said operational function of said control to perform in accordance to said operational information based on said data; and

means for controlling the performance of said operational function in accordance to said operational information using at least a portion of said data;

wherein said control modifies an instantiation of the server-based application including providing a modified web page in accordance with the user-defined preference instead of the web page requested.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said at least a portion of said data comprises server-based preferences.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

means for creating client-based preferences by storing said at least a portion of said data in a local data cache.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said display function comprises:

presenting another portion of said data in accordance with said display information based on said data.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said display function comprises:

presenting said data in accordance with said display information based on said data.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising:

means for receiving content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said content is an HTML, document, said HTML document comprises a field, said data comprises a plurality of selections, and said presenting presents said selections as alternative entries for said field.

39. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said data and said script are received from a server.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

means for receiving content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising:

means for storing said data in a local data cache.

42. A method for facilitating desktop application functionality in a client/server architecture using a server-based application, the method, at a server, comprising:

sending data associated with at least one user-defined preference, previously specified by a user, in response to a request for a web page, wherein said data includes display information and operational information, said data is not required for the server-based application, and said user-defined preference is unique to each user;

sending a script to a client, wherein said script defines a control, said control includes a display function and an operational function based on said data;

configuring said operational function of said control to perform according to said operational information associated with said data; and

controlling the performance of said operational function in accordance to said operational information using at least a portion of said data;

wherein said control modifies an instantiation of the server-based application including providing a modified web page in accordance with the user-defined preference instead of the web page requested.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

presenting another portion of said data.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein said at least a portion of said data comprises server-based preferences.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

serving content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said content is an HTML document, said HTML document comprises a field, and said data comprises a plurality of selections.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

causing a portion of said data to be presented, wherein said presenting presents said selections as alternative entries for said field.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein said data and said script arc sent by a server.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

sending content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

50. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

computer readable storage medium coupled to said processor; and

computer code, encoded in said computer readable storage medium, configured to cause said processor to;

send data associated with at least one user-defined preference, previously specified by a user, in response to a request for a web page, wherein said data includes display information and operational information, said data is not required for a server-based application, and said user-defined preference is unique to each user;

send a script to a client, wherein said script defines a control, said control includes a display function and an operational function based on said data;

configure said operational function of said control to perform in accordance to said operational information based on said data; and

control the performance of said operational function in accordance to said operational information using at least a portion of said data;

wherein said control modifies an instantiation of the server-based application including providing a modified web page in accordance with the user-defined preference instead of the web page requested.

51. The computer system of claim 50, wherein said computer code is further configured to cause said processor to:

cause another portion of said data to be presented.

52. The computer system of claim 50, wherein said at least a portion of said data comprises server-based preferences.

53. The computer system of claim 50, wherein said computer code is further configured to cause said processor to:

serve content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

54. The computer system of claim 53, wherein said content is an HTML, document, said HTML document comprises a field, and said data comprises a plurality of selections.

55. The computer system of claim 54, wherein said computer code is further configured to cause said processor to:

cause a portion of said data to be presented, wherein said presenting presents said selections as alternative entries for said field.

56. The computer system of claim 50, wherein said data and said script are sent by a server.

57. The computer system of claim 56, wherein said computer code is further configured to cause said processor to:

send content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

58. A tangible computer readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions executed by a computer system, said computer-executable instructions comprising:

a first set of instructions, executable by said computer system, configured to send data associated with at least one user-defined preference, previously specified by a user, in response to a request for a web page, wherein said data includes display information and operational information, said data is not required for a server-based application, and said user-defined preference is unique to each user;

a second set of instructions, executable by said computer system, configured to send a script to a client, wherein said script defines a control, said control includes a display function and an operational function based on said data;

a third set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to configure said operational function of said control to perform in accordance to said operational information based on said data; and

a fourth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to control the performance of said operational function in accordance to said operational information using at least a portion of said data;

wherein said control modifies an instantiation of the server-based application including providing a modified web page in accordance with the user-defined preference instead of the web page requested.

59. The computer readable storage medium of claim 58, said computer-executable instructions further comprising:

a fifth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to cause another portion of said data to be presented.

60. The computer readable storage medium of claim 59, wherein said at least a portion of said data comprises server-based preferences.

61. The computer readable storage medium of claim 58, said computer-executable instructions further comprising:

a fifth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to serve content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

62. The computer readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein said content is an HTML document, said HTML document comprises a field, and said data comprises a plurality of selections.

63. The computer readable storage medium of claim 62, said computer-executable instructions further comprising:

a sixth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to cause a portion of said data to be presented, wherein said presenting presents said selections as alternative entries for said field.

64. The computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein said data and said script are sent by a server.

65. The computer readable storage medium of claim 64, said computer-executable instructions further comprising:

a fifth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to send said control.

66. The computer readable storage medium of claim 64, said computer-executable instructions further comprising:

a fifth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to send content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

67. An apparatus comprising:

means for sending data associated with at least one user-defined preference, previously specified by a user, in response to a request for a web page, wherein said data includes display information and operational information, said data is not required for a server-based application, and said user-defined preference is unique to each user;

means for sending a script to a client, wherein said script defines a control, said control includes a display function and an operational function based on said data;

means for configuring said operational function of said control to perform in accordance to said operational information based on said data; and

means for controlling the performance of said operational function in accordance to said operational information using at least a portion of said data;

wherein said control modifies an instantiation of the server-based application including providing a modified web page in accordance with the user-defined preference instead of the web page requested.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising:

means for causing another portion of said data to be presented.

69. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein said at least a portion of said data comprises server-based preferences.

70. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising:

means for serving content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein said content is an HTML, document, said HTML document comprises a field, and said data comprises a plurality of selections.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising:

means for causing a portion of said data to be presented, wherein said presenting presents said selections as alternative entries for said field.

73. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein said means for sending said data and said means for sending said script are a server.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, further comprising:

means for sending content, wherein said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

75. A system comprising:

a server computer having at least one processor, wherein said server computer comprises a script server configured to serve a script to a client computer, said server computer is configured to serve data associated with at least one user-defined preference, previously specified by a user, in response to a request for a web page and said script, wherein said data includes display information and operational information, said data is not required for a server-based application, and said user-defined preference is unique to each user, said script defines a control, said control includes a display function and an operational function based on said data, wherein said server is further configured to control the performance of said operational function in accordance to said operational information using at least a portion of said data, wherein said at least a portion of said data comprises server-based preferences, and said control modifies an instantiation of the server-based application including providing a modified web page in accordance with the user-defined preference instead of the web page requested.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein said server computer is further configured to cause another portion of said data to be presented.

77. The system of claim 75, wherein said server computer is further configured to serve content, said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein said content is an HTML document, said HTML document comprises a field, and said data comprises a plurality of selections.

79. The system of claim 78, further comprising:

said server computer is further configured to cause a portion of said data to be presented, wherein said presenting presents said selections as alternative entries for said field.

80. The system of claim 75, further comprising:

a client computer, wherein said client computer is configured to receive said data and said script, and to provide said data and said script to an application resident on said client computer, and said control is within said application.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein said control is configured to control said performance in accordance to said operational information using at least a portion of said data.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein said control is configured to causing another portion of said data to be presented.

83. A system comprising:

a client computer having at least one processor, wherein said client computer is configured to receive data associated with at least one user-defined preference, previously specified by a user, in response to a request for a web page and a script and provide a control according to said data, and to provide said data and said script to an application resident on said client computer, wherein said data includes display information and operational information, said data is not required for a server-based application, said user-defined preference is unique to each user, said script defines said control within said application, said control includes a display function and an operational function based on said data, wherein said control is configured to control the performance of said operational function in accordance to said operational information using at least a portion of said data, wherein said at least a portion of said data comprises server-based preferences, and wherein said control modifies an instantiation of the server-based application including providing a modified web page in accordance with the user-defined preference instead of the web page requested.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein said control is configured to cause another portion of said data to be presented.

85. The system of claim 83, wherein said client computer is further configured to receive content, said content comprises said script, and said script comprises said data.

86. The system of claim 85, wherein said content is an HTML document, said HTML, document comprises a field, and said data comprises a plurality of selections.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein said client computer is further configured to present a portion of said data, wherein said presenting presents said selections as alternative entries for said field.

88. The system of claim 83, further comprising:

a server computer, wherein said server computer comprises a script server configured to serve said script, and said server is configured to serve said script to said client computer.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein said server computer is further configured to serve said data to said client computer.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein said server computer is further configured to serve content.