Method for loading a function provided by a first computer (server) onto a second computer (client)

US6766366B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Ralf Schafer · Marbach, DE
• Martin Gitsels · Hersbruck, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 7, 2000
• Grant date: Jul 20, 2004
• Expiry date: Feb 7, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L69/329
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A function is to be loaded from a first computer onto a second computer via a network, preferably a computer network or a communication network. To that end, the second computer, in addition to containing an operating system, also contains a platform-independent system, preferably a JAVA virtual machine, which assures that platform-independent code (JAVA byte code) can be run on this second computer by the operating system of the second computer. In addition to platform-independent code, platform-dependent code, specifically for the hardware of the second computer, can be loaded from the first computer, whereby the losses in running time resulting from platform-independent code are avoided. To that end, the first computer comprises the required platform-dependent functions, preferably as dynamic libraries that are potentially requested from the second computer, in order to achieve gains in running time on the second computer.