System and method for delivering remotely stored applications and information

• US 8,402,115 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Droplets Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Droplets Incorporated
• Inventors: Franco, Louis M., Rose, Frank Leon, Brittan, Philip S. J., Cunningham, Mark, Bulkin, Alex, Baskin, Mat, Blonder, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): ENG, DAVID Y
• Application Number:
  US12/359,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/203, 709/202, 709/213, 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/06 Message adaptation to terminal or network requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• 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

A method and system are disclosed for delivering interactive links for presenting applications and second information at a client computer from remote sources in a network-configured computer processing system. In one embodiment, the method includes retrieving over a first communication connection, in response to a request of a client computer, informational content having computer program code embedded therein, and executing the embedded computer program code for establishing a second communication connection to an application server. The method further includes retrieving over the second communication connection first information including presentational information for presenting the application and the second information. The method also includes presenting the application and the second information based upon the presentational information, and storing on the client computer an interactive link for selectively re-establishing the second communication connection to the application server for retrieving the first information and presenting the application and the second information on an as-needed basis. Preferably, the storing of the interactive link includes downloading a graphical representation of the interactive link and storing a file containing information representing an operating environment of the client computer and a network address of the application server.

Claims

1. A computerized method for delivering interactivity over the web to a client device from a remotely stored application residing on a server, the method comprising:

in response to receiving a request for a web page from the client device, serving a web page to the client device, the web page having executable code embedded therein which, when executed in a web browser running on the client device, communicates messages with the remotely stored application on the server, the web page further having user interface information for presenting within the web browser a user interface for the remotely stored application;

receiving an event message from the executable code on the client device, the event message reporting an action taken within one or more screen components in the user interface through the client device;

executing application logic within the remotely stored application on the server to generate data values based on the action reported in the event message and client device information; and

sending to the client device an update message with at least some of the generated data values and instructions for use by the executable code to present the data values within the user interface of the web page at the client device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an event message comprises receiving an event message reporting data entry in a text box in the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an event message comprises receiving an event message reporting data entry within a drop down list in the user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an event message comprises receiving an event message reporting a drag and drop operation performed within the user interface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the remotely stored application is an email application, and wherein the drag and drop operation comprises dragging of an email message displayed in the user interface to a folder.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an event message comprises receiving an event message reporting data entry within a button in the user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein executing application logic comprises executing application logic to generate real time data values.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the remotely stored application comprises a stock watching application, and wherein the data values generated by execution of the application logic comprises stock prices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein executing application logic comprises generating data values based on the client device information comprising information representing hardware, software and/or user interface capabilities of the client device.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising receiving the client device information from the client device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein executing application logic comprises generating data values based on the client device information comprising information representing an operating state of the remotely stored application.

12. A computerized method for delivering interactivity over the web to a client device from a remotely stored application residing on a server, the method comprising:

receiving a web page at the client device, the web page having executable code embedded therein which, when executed in a web browser running on the client device, communicates messages with the remotely stored application on the server, the web page further having user interface information for presenting within the web browser a user interface for the remotely stored application;

the executable code sending to the server an event message reporting an action taken within one or more screen components in the user interface;

in response to sending the event message, the client device receiving an update message from the server with data values and instructions for use by the executable code to present the data values within the user interface of the web page at the client device, the data values having been generated by application logic executing within the remotely

stored application on the server based on the action reported in the event message and client device information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein sending the event message comprises sending an event message reporting data entry in a text box in the user interface.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein sending the event message comprises sending an event message reporting data entry within a drop down list in the user interface.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein sending the event message comprises sending an event message reporting a drag and drop operation performed within the user interface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the remotely stored application is an email application, and wherein the drag and drop operation comprises dragging of an email message displayed in the user interface to a folder.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein sending the event message comprises sending an event message reporting data entry within a button in the user interface.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the update message comprises receiving an update message with real time data values.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the remotely stored application comprises a stock watching application, and wherein the data values received in the update message comprise stock prices.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the data values are generated based on the client device information comprising information representing hardware, software and/or user interface capabilities of the client device.

21. The method of claim 20, comprising the client device sending the client device information to the server.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the data values are generated based on the client device information comprising information representing an operating state of the remotely stored application.

23. The method of claim 12, comprising storing an interactive link at the client device graphically representing the executable code which, when selected, causes the executable code to establish a communication connection with the server.

24. The method of claim 12, wherein the client device receives the update message without requesting a refresh the web page.

25. A system for delivering interactivity over the web to a client device from a remotely stored application residing on a server, the system comprising:

one or more web pages stored at the server, the web pages each having executable code embedded therein which are programmed to, when executed in a web browser running on the client device, communicate messages with the remotely stored application on the server, the web pages each further having user interface information for presenting within the web browser a user interface for the remotely stored application, the messages communicated by the executable code including an event message communicated from the executable code to the server reporting an action taken within one or more screen components in the user interface and an update message sent from the server to the client

device with data values and instructions for use by the executable code to present the data values within the user interface of the web page at the client device

the remotely stored application residing on the server and containing application logic executing within the remotely stored application to generate the data values based on the action reported in the event message and client device information.