System and method for providing a web-based operating system

• US 8,447,832 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2011
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Inventors: Malmer, Fredrik, Arvidsson, Erik Viktor, Morris, Drew E., Pishevar, Shervin
• Primary Examiner(s): Donabed, Ninos
• Application Number:
  US13/091,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A system and method for providing a web-based operating system is disclosed. A web-based operating system is downloaded from a server to a network-enabled device. The web-based operating system provides a platform from which to run web-based computer applications. Web-based computer applications are downloaded from the server onto the network-enabled device, and executed in conjunction with the web-based operating system. Those portions of the web-based operating system software and web-based computer application software are downloaded to the network-enabled device as needed. A component-based environment for the development and deployment of a web-based operating system and web-based computer applications is also provided. Components are deployed within library files as part of a component-based development model. The web-based operating system downloads those library files needed to execute the web-based computer applications.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a browser of a client computer;

transmitting a top-level page into the browser of the client computer in response to the request from the browser of the client computer having a predetermined context, said top-level page referencing library files including,

a web-based operating system component library file, said web-based operating system component library file to be executed within the predetermined context of the browser, and

a web-based application library file referencing web-based operating system components by a component library file name and component name being related to the web-based application library file providing functions of a server-side application within the browser, wherein the application library file includes one or more import statements;

accessing at least one import statement in the application library file to determine to transmit an additional library file into the browser, wherein said additional library file references one or more other library components;

transmitting the additional library file; and

executing said web-based application by executing said component library file, said application library components, and said one or more other library components in the browser.

2. The method of claim 1, further including transmitting one or more library files selected from a group consisting of component library files and application library files, to the browser.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the library files include scripting language program elements.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the scripting language program elements are selected from a group consisting of DHTML, VBScript, JavaScript, and XML program elements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the web-based operating system component library file loads the web-based application library file into a new context within the top-level page.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the web-based operating system component library executes a plurality of applications in the top-level page.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the application library file references an application programming interface.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor in a computer system, cause the processor to execute a method for executing a web-based application using a browser of a client computer from components loaded from a remote server, the method causing the processor to:

transmit a top-level page into the browser of the client computer in response to the request from the browser of the client computer having a predetermined context, said top-level page to reference library files to include,

a web-based operating system component library file, said web-based operating system component library file to be executed within the predetermined context of the browser, and

a web-based application library file referencing web-based operating system components by a component library file name and component name related to the web-based application library file to provide functions of a server-side application within the browser, wherein the application library file includes one or more import statements;

access at least one import statement in the application library file to determine to transmit an additional library file into the browser, wherein said additional library file references one or more other library components;

transmit the additional library file; and

execute said web-based application by executing said component library file, said application library components, and said one or more other library components in the browser.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, further including instructions to cause the computer to transmit one or more library files selected from a group consisting of component library files and application library files, to the browser.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the library files include scripting language program elements.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the scripting language program elements are selected from a group consisting of DHTML, VBScript, JavaScript, and XML program elements.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the web-based operating system component library file loads the web-based application library file into a new context within the top-level page.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the web-based operating system component library executes a plurality of applications in the top-level page.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the application library file references an application programming interface.

15. An apparatus for executing a web-based application using a browser of a client computer from components loaded from a remote server, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in operative communication with the processor, the memory including a stored set of processing instructions which, if executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

transmit a top-level page into the browser of the client computer in response to the request from the browser of the client computer having a predetermined context, said top-level page to reference library files including,

a web-based operating system component library file, said web-based operating system component library file to be executed within the predetermined context of the browser as scripting language program elements, and

a web-based application library file referencing web-based operating system components by a component library file name and component name related to the web-based application library file to provide functions of a server-side application within the browser, wherein the application library file includes one or more import statements;

access at least one import statement in the application library file to determine to transmit an additional library file into the browser, wherein said additional library file references one or more other library components;

transmit the additional library file; and

execute said web-based application by executing said component library file, said application library components, and said one or more other library components in the browser.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further directing the processor to transmit one or more library files selected from a group consisting of component library files and application library files.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the scripting language program elements are selected from a group consisting of DHTML, VBScript, JavaScript, and XML program elements.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the web-based operating system component library file is to load the web-based application library file into a new context within the top-level page.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the web-based operating system component library executes multiple applications in the top-level page.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the application library file references an application programming interface.

21. A method for executing a web-based application using a browser of a client computer from components loaded from a remote server, comprising:

receiving a request from a browser of a client computer;

transmitting a web-based operating system component library file in response to a request from the browser of the client computer having a predetermined context with a top-level page that references the web-based operating system component library file, said web-based operating system component library file to be executed within the predetermined context of the browser;

transmitting a web-based application library file referencing web-based operating system components by a component library file name and component name related to the web-based application library file to provide functions of a server-side application within the browser, wherein the application library file includes one or more import statements;

accessing at least one import statement in the application library file to determine to transmit an additional library file into the browser, wherein said additional library file references one or more other library components;

transmitting the additional library file; and

executing said web-based application by executing said component library file, said application library components, and said one or more other library components in the browser.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the web-based operating system component library file loads the web-based application library file into a new context within the top-level page.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the web-based operating system component library file includes scripting language program elements.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the scripting language program elements are selected from a group consisting of DHTML, VB Script, JavaScript, and XML program elements.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the component library executes multiple applications in the top-level page.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the web-based operating system downloads only the web-based operating system component library files needed to execute a particular web-based application.

27. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor in a computer system, cause the processor to execute a method for executing a web-based application using a browser of a client computer from components loaded from a remote server, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a browser of a client computer;

transmitting a web-based operating system component library file in response to the request from the browser of the client computer having a predetermined context with a top-level page that references the web-based operating system component library file, said web-based operating system component library file to be executed within the predetermined context of the browser;

transmitting a web-based application library file referencing web-based operating system components by a component library file name and component name related to the web-based application library file to provide functions of a server-side application within the browser, wherein the application library file includes one or more import statements;

accessing at least one import statement in the application library file to determine to transmit an additional library file into the browser, wherein said additional library file references one or more other library components;

transmitting the additional library file; and

executing said web-based application by executing said component library file, said application library components, and said one or more other library components in the browser.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the web-based operating system component library file loads the web-based application library file into a new context within the top-level page.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the web-based operating system component library file includes scripting language program elements.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the scripting language program elements are selected from a group consisting of DHTML, VBScript, JavaScript, and XML program elements.

31. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the component library executes multiple applications in the top-level page.

32. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the web-based operating system downloads only web-based operating system component library files needed to execute a particular web-based application.

33. An apparatus for executing a web-based application using a browser of a client computer from components loaded from a remote server, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in operative communication with the processor, the memory for executing a plurality of processing instructions for directing the processor to;

receive a request from a browser of a client computer;

transmit a web-based operating system component library file in response to the request from the browser having a predetermined context with a top-level page that references the web-based operating system component library file, said web-based operating system component library file to be executed within the predetermined context of the browser as scripting language program elements;

transmit a web-based application library file referencing web-based operating system components by a component library file name and component name related to the web-based application library file to provide functions of a server-side application within the browser, wherein the application library file includes one or more import statements;

access at least one import statement in the application library file to determine to transmit an additional library file into the browser, wherein said additional library file references one or more other library components;

transmit the additional library file; and

execute said web-based application by executing said component library file, said application library components, and said one or more other library components in the browser.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the web-based operating system component library file loads the web-based application library file into a new context within the top-level page.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the scripting language program elements are selected from a group consisting of DHTML, VBScript, JavaScript, and XML program elements.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the web-based operating system component library file executes multiple applications in the top-level page.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the web-based operating system downloads only web-based operating system component library files needed to execute a particular web-based application.

38. A method of providing a server-side application for executing a web-based application using a browser of a client computer from components loaded from a remote server, comprising:

receiving a request from a browser of a client computer;

transmitting a web-based application library file in response to the request from a browser of the client computer having a predetermined context with a top-level page that references the web-based application library file, said web-based application library file to be executed within the predetermined context of the browser, the web-based application library file referencing web-based operating system components by a component library file name and component name, the web-based application library file providing functions of a server-side application within the browser, wherein the application library file includes one or more import statements;

access at least one import statement in the application library file to determine to transmit an additional library file into the browser, wherein said additional library file references one or more other library components;

transmit the additional library file; and

execute said web-based application by executing a component library file associated with the component library file name, application library components associated with the component name, and said one or more other library components in the browser.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the library files include scripting language program elements.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the scripting language program elements are selected from a group consisting of DHTML, VBScript, JavaScript, and XML program elements.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the web-based operating system component library file loads the web-based application library file into a new context within the top-level page.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the web-based operating system component library file executes multiple applications in the top-level page.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the web-based operating system downloads only web-based operating system component library files needed to execute the server-side application.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the web-based application library file references an application programming interface.

45. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor in a computer system, cause the processor to execute a method for executing a web-based application using a browser of a client computer from components loaded from a remote server, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a browser of a client computer;

transmitting a web-based application library file in response to the request from the browser of the client computer having a predetermined context with a top-level page that references the web-based application library file, said web-based application library file to be executed within the predetermined context of the browser, the web-based application library file referencing web-based operating system components by a component library file name and component name, the application library file providing functions of a server-side application within the browser, wherein the application library file includes one or more import statements;

access at least one import statement in the application library file to determine to transmit an additional library file into the browser, wherein said additional library file references one or more other library components;

transmit the additional library file; and

execute said web-based application by executing a component library file associated with the component library file name, application library components associated with the component name, and said one or more other library components in the browser.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 45, wherein the library files include scripting language program elements.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 46, wherein the scripting language program elements are selected from a group consisting of DHTML, VBScript, JavaScript, and XML program elements.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 45, wherein the web-based operating system component library file loads the web-based application library file into a new context within the top-level page.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 45, wherein the web-based operating system component library file executes multiple applications in the top-level page.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 45, wherein the web-based operating system downloads only web-based operating system component library files needed to execute a particular web-based application.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 45, wherein the web-based application library file references an application programming interface.

52. An apparatus for executing a web-based application using a browser of a client computer from components loaded from a remote server, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in operative communication with the processor, the memory for executing a plurality of processing instructions for directing the processor to;

receive a request from a browser of a client computer;

transmit a web-based application library file in response to the request from the browser of the client computer having a predetermined context with a top-level page that references the web-based application library file, said web-based application library file to be executed within the predetermined context of the browser, the web-based application library file referencing web-based operating system components by a component library file name and component name, as scripting language program elements, the web-based application library file providing functions of a server-side application within the browser, wherein the application library file includes one or more import statements;

access at least one import statement in the application library file to determine to transmit an additional library file into the browser, wherein said additional library file references one or more other library components;

transmit the additional library file; and

execute said web-based application by executing a component library file associated with the component library file name, application library components associated with the component name, and said one or more other library components in the browser.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the scripting language program elements are selected from a group consisting of DHTML, VBScript, JavaScript, and XML program elements.

54. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the web-based operating system component library file loads the application library file into a new context within the top-level page.

55. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the web-based operating system component library file executes multiple applications in the top-level page.

56. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the web-based operating system downloads only web-based operating system component library files needed to execute a particular web-based application.

57. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the web-based application library file references an application programming interface.