Browser-independent and automatic apparatus and method for receiving, installing and launching applications from a browser on a client computer
US6546554B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 21, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 21, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F8/61
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A browser-independent and automatic apparatus and method for receiving, installing, and launching applications from a browser is described. According to one embodiment, a helper application is registered with a browser for a specified file type. When the browser encounters a link to a metafile of the specified file type, the file is downloaded to the requesting system and the helper application is invoked to process the downloaded file. In the context of a Java™ implementation, the downloaded metafile comprises a short launch file specification for a Java™ application, and specifies a classpath as a set of Universal Resource Identifiers (“URIs”), a Java™ Runtime Environment (“JRE”) version, security considerations, and other relevant information concerning the Java™ application to be executed. According to aspects of the present invention, automatic installation of Java™ archive files (“JAR files”) and class files based on the URIs from which they are downloaded is implemented, automatic updates and versioning are supported without any central administration, and automatic installation of multiple JREs is facilitated…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.