Real time internet communications system

• US 8,028,043 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle OTC Subsidiary LLC (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: InstantServicecom Incorporated (Instantservice.com)
• Inventors: Hankejh, Damion L., Ton-That, Hoa, Rood, Martin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US11/981,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20100257225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/225, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A novel real time internet communication system is disclosed. It is a novel way for users to collaborate on the fly, and without having to own or download any programs that then stay resident on the user'"'"'s computer. It is marketed under a novel business system that makes highly productive software available to businesses and end users, but which is not purchased by customers or end users, has no conventional distribution system, and never requires update, installation or rollout by the customer or end user.

Claims

1. A software distribution system comprising:

a. a web server operated by a software distribution service, the web server operatively configured to;

i. provide a first web site on the distributed network;

ii. provide a second web site on the distributed network;

iii. run a software application, the software application being;

(1) at least partially downloadable as a thin client application to a user computing device; and

(2) at least partially usable by the user over the distributed network as at least two operatively connected and integrated application modules, a first module being the thin client application running on the user computing device and a second module running on the web server; and

iv. run a distribution application, the distribution application being operably configured to;

(1) receive and store an agreement request via the second web site;

(2) receive a request for the user to use the software application from the user via interaction with the first web site;

(3) download the thin client application portion of the software application to the user computing device;

(4) operatively connect the first module and the second module allowing the user to operably use the software application; and

(5) track and store at least a portion of the data relevant to the user'"'"'s usage of the software application.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising the distribution application running on the web server being configured to:

a. place a cookie on the user computing device;

b. check the user computing device for the cookie before download of the thin client application; and

c. use data imbedded in the cookie for user usage of the software application.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a. the thin client application comprising separate, but operably connectable, sections; and

b. the distribution application running on the web server being configured to download the thin client application to the user computing device in separate bursts of operably connectable sections.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a plurality of users, second and successive users each having a user computing device running a user browser;

b. the software application being usable over the distributed network by a plurality of users; and

c. the distribution application running on the web server being further operably configured to;

i. receive a plurality of user requests for software application usage;

ii. download a copy of the thin client application to the plurality of user computing devices, each copy of the thin client application being connectable in an integrated combination over the distributed network with the same instance of the software application; and

iii. track and store at least a portion of the data relevant to each of the plurality of user'"'"'s usage of the software application.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising the thin client application running on the user computing device being configured to operatively interact with a user browser running on the user computing device.

6. A software distribution system comprising:

a. a first server operated by a web business, the first server providing a first web site on the distributed network;

b. a second server operated by a software distribution service, the second server providing a second web site on the distributed network and operatively configured to;

i. run a software application, the software application being;

(1) at least partially downloadable as a thin client application to a user computing device; and

(2) at least partially usable by the user over the distributed network as at least two operatively connected and integrated application modules, a first module being the thin client application running on the user computing device and a second module running on the web server; and

ii. a distribution application running on the second server, the distribution application being operably configured to;

(1) receive and store an agreement request via the second web site;

(2) receive a request for the user to use the software application;

(3) download the thin client application portion of the software application to the user computing device;

(4) connect the user to operably use the software application while browsing the first web site; and

(5) track and store at least a portion of the data relevant to the user'"'"'s usage of the software application.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a. a web business computing device running a web business browser.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising the distribution application running on the second server being configured to:

a. place a cookie on the user computing device;

b. check the user computing device for the cookie before download of the thin client application; and

c. use data imbedded in the cookie for user usage of the software application.

9. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a. the thin client application comprising separate, but operably connectable, sections; and

b. the distribution application running on the second server being configured to download the thin client application to the user computing device in separate bursts of operably connectable sections.

10. The system of claim 6 further comprising

a. a plurality of users, second and successive users each having a user computing device running a user browser;

b. the software application being usable over the distributed network by a plurality of users;

c. the distribution application running on the second server being further operably configured to;

i receive a plurality of user requests for software application usage;

ii. download a copy of the thin client application to each of the plurality of user computing devices, each thin client application being connectable in an integrated combination over the distributed network with the same instance of the software application; and

iii. track and store at least a portion of the data relevant to each of the plurality of user'"'"'s usage of the software application.

11. The system of claim 6 further comprising the thin client application running on the user computing device being configured to operatively interact with a user browser running on the user computing device.

12. A method of providing software distribution, said method comprising the following steps:

a. a software distribution service providing a first web site accessible over the distributed network;

b. the software distribution service also providing a second web site on the distributed network and running a software application on a web server, the software application being usable over the distributed network by agreement with the software distribution service;

c. receiving and storing an agreement request via the second web site;

d. receiving a request for software application usage from a user via interaction with the first web site;

e. the software distribution service downloading a thin client application to the user'"'"'s computing device running a browser, the thin client application being connectable in an integrated combination over the distributed network with the software application;

f. connecting the thin client application running on the user'"'"'s computing device with the software application running on the web server, the user thereby operably using the software application; and

g. tracking and storing at least a portion of the data relevant to the user'"'"'s usage of the software application.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

a. at least one more user running at least one more browser operably connected to the distributed network on at least one more computing device;

b. following step 26.g, receiving at least one more user request for software application usage through the distributed network;

c. downloading a thin client application to each of the at least one more user'"'"'s computing devices, each thin client application being connectable in an integrated combination over the distributed network with the same instance of the software application; and

d. storing data relevant to each of the at least one more user'"'"'s usage of the software application.

14. A method of providing software distribution, said method comprising the following steps:

a. a web business providing a first web site accessible over the distributed network;

b. a software distribution service providing a second web site over the distributed network and running a software application, the software application being usable over the distributed network by agreement with the software distribution service;

c. receiving and storing an agreement request via the second web site;

d. receiving a request for software application usage from a user via interaction with the first web site;

e. the software distribution service downloading a thin client application to the user'"'"'s computing device running a browser, the thin client application being connectable in an integrated combination over the distributed network with the software application;

f. connecting the user to operably use the software application while browsing the first web site; and

g. tracking and storing at least a portion of the data relevant to the user'"'"'s usage of the software application.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising, after step 28.h, invoicing the web business for the user'"'"'s usage.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising, in the step of invoicing the web business, invoicing based upon the number of instances of use by the user of the software application.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising, in the step of invoicing the web business, invoicing the web business based upon the duration of use by the user of the software application.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising between steps 28.d and 28.e:

a. the user clicking on a hyperlink on the first web site; and

b. generating a user request for software application usage from the hyperlink click.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising, in step 28.f, downloading the thin client application to the user in separate bursts of operably connectable sections.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising, after step 28.d, a step of updating the software application.

21. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

a. in step 28.a, at least one more user running at least one more browser operably connected to the distributed network on at least one more computing device;

b. following step 28.h, receiving at least one more user request for software application usage through the distributed network;

c. downloading a thin client application to each of the at least one more user'"'"'s computing device, each thin client application being connectable in an integrated combination over the distributed network with the same instance of the software application; and

d. storing data relevant to each of the at least one more user'"'"'s usage of the software application.