Packager apparatus and method for physically and logically packaging and distributing items in a distributed environment
US6345306B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L63/08
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for creating packages and for transferring packages between computer systems provides a graphical user interface that allows a user to define various attributes for a package. Logical packages may be defined, which specify package elements to include in the package. Physical packages may also be defined, which contain a copy of the package elements specified in the logical package. Once a user defines a logical package, the logical package may be transferred to an endpoint system. The endpoint system reads the logical package, and from the parameters in the logical package determines where to retrieve the package elements and what other actions are appropriate while retrieving the package elements and constructing a physical package. In this manner, the endpoint system retrieves the package elements as required. The preferred embodiment of the present invention defines a packager using an object oriented framework mechanism that defines both core and extensible functions. Core functions of the framework mechanism cannot be modified by a user, while extensible functions in the framework mechanism are extended by a user to define a run-time package application…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.