Reception system for an interactive computer network and method of operation

A reception system provided in an interactive computer network, the reception system for presenting partitioned applications including informational and transactional services to a user, the reception system comprising:

• input means for receiving user inputs, at least some of which may include requests for partitioned applications, and at least some of which may include messages;
• storage means for storing objects, the objects collectively including data and executable program instructions used in generating the partitioned applications, and the storage means further retaining objects between requests for partitioned applications;
• objects processing means responsive to the input means for selectively retrieving and interpreting objects to extract data and program instructions required for composing and generating the partitioned applications;
• communication means for passing messages arising at the input means and object requests arising at the object processing means to and receiving objects and messages from the interactive network;
• collection means in communication with the input means and the communication means for compiling object use data and passing the compiled object use data to the interactive network.

Method for operating a compute as a reception system for presenting partitioned applications to a user, the partitioned application being made up of objects that collectively include data and program instructions, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving requests for partitioned applications at the reception system;
• b. interpreting objects to extract data and program instructions required for composing and generating the requested partitioned applications;
• c. executing program instructions that may be included within the objects for which the requested partitioned applications can be generated;
• d. storing objects from which the requested partitioned applications can be generated and retaining objects between requests for partitioned applications;
• e. communicating with the network to obtain objects from which the requested partitioned applications can be generated that are not available at the reception system;
• f. causing the interpreted object data to be presented at the reception system;
• wherein, when a partitioned application is requested, the reception system determines the objects required to be executed for generating the partitioned application;
• determines whether the required objects are available at the reception system;
• secures required objects not available at the reception system from the network;
• and interprets the required objects to obtain the data and program instructions required for composing and presenting the partitioned application, and presents the application by supplying the necessary data for presentation.