Web application system and method to dynamically select between local installed and cloud-based resources
The embodiments herein are directed to collecting information from multiple sources about platform capabilities and evaluating the platform capabilities of at least a requesting computer system and a server. A portal can automatically and dynamically select a proper client/application to handle communication based on availability, connectivity and more characteristics and provide a communication recommendation when requesting a function. Logic in the portal allows the portal to determine how best to set up execution of the function. The portal logic can essentially evaluate all of the options available and then choose the best option.
1. A method comprising:
sending, by a first computer system, a request for a function to a server;
receiving, by the first computer system, a directive from the server to execute a capabilities application in response to the request for the function;
determining, by the capabilities application, first information associated with the first computer system, wherein the first information comprises information relating to one or more of software installed on the first computer system, drivers installed on the first computer system, hardware of the first computer system, and an operating system of the first computer system;
sending the first information to the server;
receiving, from the server and in response to the first information, a uniform resource locator (URL) based on a comparison of the first information and second information to determine an optimal operating environment for executing the function, wherein the second information is associated with one or more capabilities of the server, wherein the URL identifies the optimal operating environment; and
based on the received URL, one of:
executing the function locally at the first computer system; and
sending a request to the server requesting the server to execute the function.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the URL instructs the first computer system to execute the function locally at the first computer system.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the URL instructs the first computer system to send the request to the server.
4. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the capabilities application executed by the first computer system interfaces with the operating system of the first computer system to determine the first information.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the first computer system, code for installing the capabilities application.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the capabilities application provides the first information to the server through a portal to a web browser.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the capabilities application includes a scanner that retrieves third information, wherein the third information is associated with an application and a resource.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the capabilities application stores the third information at a datastore on the first computer system.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the third information includes one or more of: a device identifier, an application identifier, an application version, a domain identifier, a capability, an upgrade requirement, and a ready indication.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the capabilities application retrieves at least some of the information about the application and the resource stored in the datastore from the datastore to send to the server.
11. A server computer system comprising:
a memory;
a processor in communication with the memory, the processor operable to:
receive a request for a function from a first computer system;
in response to the request for the function from the first computer system, send a directive to the first computer system, wherein the directive instructs the first computer system to execute a capabilities application;
receive first information, wherein the first information is associated with the first computer system, wherein the first information comprises information relating to one or more of software installed on the first computer system, drivers installed on the first computer system, hardware of the first computer system, and an operating system of the first computer system;
compare the first information and second information, wherein the second information is associated with one or more capabilities of the server computer system, to determine an optimal operating environment for executing the function;
based on the comparison, generate a uniform resource locator (URL) identifying the optimal operating environment; and
send the URL to the first computer system, wherein the URL instructs the first computer system to one of execute the function locally at the first computer system and send a request to the server to request the function to be executed by the server computer system.
12. The server computer system according to claim 11 , wherein the URL instructs the first computer system to execute the function locally at the first computer system.
13. The server computer system according to claim 12 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
send, to the first computer system, a directive to install the capabilities application; and
send, to the first computer system, code for installing the capabilities application;
wherein the capabilities application interfaces with an operating system (OS) at the first computer system to determine the first information, and wherein the capabilities application provides the first information to the server computer system.
14. The server computer system according to claim 12 , further comprising a datastore, and wherein the processor is further operable to:
store the first information and the second information in the datastore, wherein at least one of the first information and the second information stored in the datastore includes one or more of: a device identifier, an application identifier, an application version, a domain identifier, a capability, an upgrade requirement, and a ready indication.
15. The server computer system according to claim 14 , wherein the processor is further operable to retrieve at least some of the first information and the second information from the datastore.
16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that cause a processor of a server to execute a method, the method comprising:
receiving a request for a function from a first computer system;
in response to receiving the request for the function from the first computer system, sending a directive to the first computer system, wherein the directive instructs the first computer system to execute a capabilities application;
receiving first information associated with the first computer system, wherein the first information comprises information relating to one or more of software installed on the first computer system, drivers installed on the first computer system, hardware of the first computer system, and an operating system of the first computer system;
comparing the first information and second information to determine an optimal operating environment for executing the function, wherein the second information is associated with one or more capabilities of the server;
based on the comparison, generating a uniform resource locator (URL) identifying the optimal environment; and
sending the URL to the first computer system, wherein the URL instructs the first computer system to one of execute the function locally at the first computer system and send a request to the server requesting the function to be executed by the server.
17. The medium according to claim 16 , wherein the URL instructs the first computer system to execute the function locally at the first computer system.
18. The medium according to claim 16 , wherein the URL instructs the first computer system to send the request to the server.
19. The medium according to claim 16 , wherein the capabilities application interfaces with an operating system of the first computer system to determine the first information.
20. The medium according to claim 17 , wherein the capabilities application stores the first information at a datastore on the first computer system, wherein the first information stored in the datastore includes one or more of: a device identifier, an application identifier, an application version, a domain identifier, a capability, an upgrade requirement, and a ready indication.