SERVING SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS FROM SERVERS TO CLIENT COMPUTERS

• US 20100325626A1
• Filed: 08/30/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Schaefer, Stuart, Greschler, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• 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 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An application serving system is disclosed that comprises a target client computer that connects to a server system and subscribing institution host Web Server, over a network. Both the client computer Web server and server system implement a network protocol layer to communicate across the network. In a preferred embodiment, network is the Internet, or other public or private network, and the network protocol layers are implemented on top of TCP/IP or UDP/IP. Other network configurations and network protocols layers, however, could be implemented in place or in addition to the Internet such as wireless CDPD, GPRS, or other networks. The target, client computer is preferably a PC.

Claims

1. A method for executing an application over a network, comprising:

requesting an application for execution on a client computer by specifying a session identifier and application identifier to authenticate the request associated with the session identifier; and

receiving on a client computer an application descriptor from a host server and a subset of instructions of the application to the client computer for execution, wherein the application descriptor includes an identity of the host server hosting the application.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein requesting an application comprises directing a request to a server.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 comprising receiving an application identification in a browser executing on the client computer

4. The method as recited in claim 1 comprising determining whether a software player is installed on the client computer.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 comprising installing a software player on the client computer if the software player is determined to not be installed.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the host is selected from a plurality of host servers in which the selected host server is geographically proximate to the client computer.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the client computer maintains a connection with the host server while the application executes on the client computer.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the host server is selected from a host controlled by the subscribing institution.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising receiving on the client computer a total time available for use of the application.

10. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions fixed thereon that upon execution on a computing device, cause the acts comprising:

requesting an application for execution on a client computer by specifying a session identifier and application identifier to authenticate the request associated with the session identifier; and

receiving on a client computer an application descriptor from a host server and a subset of instructions of the application to the client computer for execution, wherein the application descriptor includes an identity of the host server hosting the application.

11. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 10 comprising computer-readable instructions that upon execution on a computing device, further cause the act of requesting an application comprises directing a request to a server.

12. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 10 comprising computer-readable instructions that upon execution on a computing device, further cause the act of receiving an application identification in a browser executing on the client computer

13. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 10 comprising computer-readable instructions that upon execution on a computing device, further cause the act of determining whether a software player is installed on the client computer and installing a software player on the client computer if the software player is determined to not be installed.

14. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory in communication with said processor when the system is active, said memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions that upon execution on a computing device, cause the acts comprising;

requesting an application for execution by the processor by specifying a session identifier and application identifier to authenticate the request associated with the session identifier; and

receiving an application descriptor from a host server and a subset of instructions of the application for execution, wherein the application descriptor includes an identity of the host server hosting the application.

15. The computer system as recited in claim 14 said memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions that upon execution on a computing device, further cause the act of requesting an application comprises directing a request to a server.

16. The computer system as recited in claim 14 said memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions that upon execution on a computing device, further cause the act of receiving an application identification in a browser executing on the client computer

17. The computer system as recited in claim 14 said memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions that upon execution on a computing device, further cause the act of determining whether a software player is installed on the client computer and installing a software player on the client computer if the software player is determined to not be installed.

18. The computer system as recited in claim 14 said memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions that upon execution on a computing device, further cause the host server to be selected from a plurality of host servers in which the selected host server is geographically proximate to the client computer.

19. The computer system as recited in claim 14 wherein the client computer maintains a connection with the host server while the application executes on the client computer.

20. The method as recited in claim 14 said memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions that upon execution on a computing device, further cause the client computer to process a total time available for use of the application.