Acquisition and operation of remotely loaded software using applet modification of browser software

Patent 5923885 Issued on July 13, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 31, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

System and method for providing and displaying a web page having an embedded menu
Patent #: 5742768
Issued on: 04/21/1998
Inventor: Gennaro, et al.

Secure platform independent cross-platform remote execution computer system and method Patent #: 5757925
Issued on: 05/26/1998
Inventor: Faybishenko

Inventors

Application

No. 741959 filed on 10/31/1996

US Classes:

717/176Network

Examiners

Primary: Downs, Robert W.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Beyer & Weaver, LLP

International Classes

G06F 009/445
G06F 015/16

Abstract

Methods, systems, and software for installing and operating selected software applications on a client computer that is in communication with a server computer on a computer network is described. In one aspect, a method for installing and operating a selected software application on a client computer that is in communication with a server computer across a computer network. In one embodiment, browser software is provided on the client computer that includes a browser user interface and is effective to identify and download selected software applications from the server onto the client computer for execution thereby. A data transfer communication link is established between the client and server computers across the network, a desired software application is selected using the browser, and the desired software application is transmitted across the network from the server to the client. The browser user interface is then transmuted into the user interface of the desired application to allow operation of the downloaded software application using the transmuted browser user interface. Using the methods, systems, and software described herein, software can be distributed to client computers without the installation and other management difficulties common with managing software on multiple computer systems. More importantly, the methods, systems, and apparatus provided by the present invention allow for the distribution of software that is platform-independent; thereby freeing network and system administrators--and users--from the frustrations and difficulties created by the need to manage various platform-dependent versions of software.

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