Serving software applications from servers for client computers
View Patent ↗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.
1. A computer-implemented method for serving an application over a network, the method comprising:
receiving on a server computer a first request having a session identifier and a requested application identifier corresponding to the application, wherein the application is designed to run directly on an operating system;
accessing using the server computer a user database to authenticate the first request associated with the session identifier;
accessing using the server computer an application database to determine characteristics of the application based on the received application identifier;
selecting using the server computer a host to serve the application at least partially based on the determined characteristics of the application wherein said host sends an application descriptor to a client computer and a subset of instructions of the application to the client computer for execution, wherein the application descriptor includes an identity of the host.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the server and the computer and the selected host are the same computing system.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the act of authenticating comprises verifying that a subscribing institution is valid.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the act of determining characteristics of the application comprises determining minimum system requirements that are required by the application on a target computer.
5. 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.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the client computer and the host computer maintains a connection while the application executes on the client computer.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the host is selected from a host controlled by the subscribing institution.
8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the client computer is provided with a total time available for use of the application.
9. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer readable instructions for serving an application over a network, upon execution on a computing device, the instructions causing the following actions:
receiving on a server computer a first request having a session identifier and a requested application identifier corresponding to the application, wherein the application is designed to run directly on an operating system;
accessing a user database to authenticate the first request associated with the session identifier;
accessing an application database to determine characteristics of the application based on the received application identifier;
selecting a host to serve the application at least partially based on the determined characteristics of the application wherein said host sends an application descriptor to a client computer and a subset of instructions of the application to the client computer for execution, wherein the application descriptor includes an identity of the host.
10. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9 wherein the server performs the actions of the host without selecting a host.
11. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9 wherein the act of authenticating comprises verifying that a subscribing institution is valid.
12. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9 wherein the act of determining characteristics of the application comprises determining minimum system requirements that are required by the application on the target computer.
13. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9 wherein the host is selected from a plurality of host servers in which the selection of the host is based on geographic proximity to the client computer.
14. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9 wherein the client computer and the host computer maintains a connection while the application executes on the client computer.
15. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9 wherein the host is selected from a host controlled by the subscribing institution.
16. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9 wherein the client computer is provided with a total time available for use of the application.