Software distribution over a network

• US 8,024,399 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TMI Solutions LLC (Strategic Intellectual Solutions, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Twintech E.U.
• Inventors: Reisman, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Ian N
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOWFIGHI, AFSHAWN M
• Application Number:
  US11/513,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20070073846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/203, 709217-219, 707 1- 10
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/18 Address timing or clocking circuits; Address control signal generation or management, e.g. for row address strobe [RAS] or column address strobe [CAS] signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for software distribution include providing and receiving application-specific information, services, and software component elements over a network.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

a client station interface function configured to cause an online server-based information distribution service to recognize a request for a particular application function to be executed, at least in part, on behalf of a client station, wherein the particular application function is obtaining updated information related to a financial plan or a financial portfolio;

a first transport function configured to cause the online server-based information distribution service to provide the client station with a software component element that is configured to enable user interface or data access functions in a multi-function application software package running on an operating system operated at the client station, the multi-function application software package being configured to enable communication with a plurality of independently operated online server-based information distribution services that are respectively configured to execute different application functions offered by independent application function providers on behalf of the client station, wherein the user interface or data access functions are configured to support execution of the particular application function, at least in part, at the online server-based information distribution service, and the software component element includes a form and program logic related to the financial plan or the financial portfolio; and

a second transport function configured to cause the online server-based information distribution service to provide the updated information related to the financial plan or the financial portfolio in response to the software component element being invoked at the client station.

2. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element is application function-specific.

3. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element is associated with an application provider.

4. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element is available from a publisher.

5. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element is available from an operator of the online server-based information distribution service.

6. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element is available from an online service provider.

7. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element is configured to be transmitted once to the client station.

8. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element is configured to be transmitted once and retained for further use by the client station.

9. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element is configured to be automatically deleted after use by the multi-function application software package.

10. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element is configured to be reusable.

11. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element enables applet functionality in the multi-function application software package.

12. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element comprises applets.

13. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element comprises ActiveX controls.

14. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element comprises scripts.

15. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element comprises Flash controls.

16. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element is configured to be physically distributed on a fixed or removable storage medium.

17. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the software component element comprises:

a user interface control element;

a user interface presentation element;

a multimedia presentation and/or control element;

a database processing element;

a data access element;

or

a data transport element.

18. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the multi-function application software package is configured to perform a business data processing function, a video game function, or a groupware function.

19. A method for providing a software component element from an online server-based information distribution service to a client station connected thereto over a communications network, comprising:

receiving a request for a particular application function to be executed on behalf of the client station, wherein the particular application function is obtaining updated information related to a financial plan or a financial portfolio;

providing to the client station the software component element, wherein the at least one software component element enables user interface or data access functions in a multi-function application software package running on an operating system operated at the client station, the multi-function application software package being configured to enable communication with a plurality of independently operated online server-based information distribution services that are respectively configured to execute different application functions offered by independent application function providers on behalf of the client station, wherein the user interface or data access functions are configured to support execution of the particular application function at the online server-based information distribution service, and the software component element includes a form and program logic related to the financial plan or the financial portfolio; and

providing the updated information related to the financial plan or the financial portfolio in response to the software component element being invoked at the client station.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that is application function-specific.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that is configured to be provided on behalf of an application provider.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that is configured to be provided on behalf of a publisher.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that is configured to be provided on behalf of the online server-based information distribution service operator.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that is configured to be provided on behalf of an online service provider.

25. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes transmitting the software component element once to the client station.

26. The method according to claim 19, further comprising configuring the software component element for retention on the client station, and wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes transmitting the software component element once to the client station.

27. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that is configured to be automatically deleted after use by the multi-function application software package.

28. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that is configured to be reusable.

29. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that is configured to enable applet functionality in the multi-function application software package.

30. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that comprises applets.

31. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that comprises ActiveX controls.

32. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that comprises scripts.

33. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that comprises Flash controls.

34. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that is configured to be physically distributed on a fixed or removable storage medium.

35. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the client station the software component element includes providing a software component element that comprises one or more of:

a user interface control element;

a user interface presentation element;

a multimedia presentation and/or control element;

a database processing element;

a data access element;

or

a data transport element.

36. The method according to claim 19, wherein the multi-function application software package is configured to perform a business data processing function, a video game function, or a groupware function.

37. An apparatus for providing a software component element to a client station over a communications network, comprising:

a processor;

a client station interface configured to recognize a request for a particular application function to be executed on behalf of the client station, wherein the particular application function is obtaining updated information related to a financial plan or a financial portfolio; and

a memory storing;

a first transport module configured to provide the client station with the software component element that is configured to enable user interface or data access functions in a multi-function application software package running on an operating system operated at the client station, the multi-function application software package being configured to enable communication with a plurality of independently operated online server-based information distribution services that are respectively configured to execute different application functions offered by independent application function providers on behalf of the client station, wherein the user interface or data access functions are configured to support execution of the particular application function, and the software component element includes a form and program logic related to the financial plan or the financial portfolio; and

a second transport module configured to cause the online server-based information distribution service to provide the updated information related to the financial plan or the financial portfolio in response to the software component element being invoked at the client station.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element is application function-specific.

39. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element is associated with an application provider.

40. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element is associated with a publisher.

41. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element is available from an online service provider.

42. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element is configured to be transmitted once to the client station.

43. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element is configured to be transmitted once and retained for further use by the client station.

44. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element is configured to be automatically deleted after use by the multi-function application software package.

45. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element is configured to be reusable.

46. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element is configured to enable applet functionality in the multi-function application software package.

47. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element comprises applets.

48. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element comprises ActiveX controls.

49. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element comprises scripts.

50. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element comprises Flash controls.

51. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element is configured to be physically distributed on a fixed or removable storage medium.

52. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the software component element comprises one or more of:

a user interface control element;

a user interface presentation element;

a multimedia presentation and/or control element;

a database processing element;

or

a data access element; and

a data transport element.

53. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the multi-function application software package is configured to perform a business data processing function, a video game function, or a groupware function.