Server for starting client application on client if client is network terminal and initiating client application on server if client is non network terminal

A method for distributing computing between a server and a client terminal which communicate via a network, comprising the steps of:

• (a) initiating connection of the client terminal to the server utilizing the network;
• (b) responding to the initial connection request at the server by transmitting an enquiry message to the client terminal;
• (c) responding to the enquiry message at the client terminal with a message comprising identification information indicative of the client terminal being a network terminal or a non-network terminal and identifying a client application the client terminal requires;
• (d) receiving and analyzing the identification information at the server to determine if the client terminal is a network terminal or a non-network terminal;
• and
• (d1) loading a server application if the client terminal is a network terminal, which starts the client application if necessary, on the client terminal utilizing the network and starts a server application to service future requests from the client terminal;
• and
• (d2) loading a server application on the server, if necessary, which initiates a client application on the server for processing the client application at the server on behalf of the client terminal, if the client terminal is a non-network terminal.

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for enabling a distributed computing system, including a client terminal and a server which communicate via a network, comprising:

• (a) a code segment for initiating connection of the client terminal to the server utilizing the network;
• (b) a code segment for responding to the initial connection request at the server by transmitting an enquiry message to the client terminal;
• (c) a code segment for responding to the enquiry message at the client terminal with a message comprising identification information indicative of the client terminal being a network terminal or a non-network terminal and identifying a client application the client terminal requires;
• (d) a code segment for receiving and analyzing the identification information at the server computer to determine if the client terminal is a network terminal or a non-network terminal;
• and
• (d1) a code segment for loading a server application if the client terminal is a network terminal, which starts the client application if necessary, on the client terminal utilizing the network and starts a server application to service future requests from the client terminal;
• and
• (d2) a code segment for loading a server application, if necessary, on the server which initiates the client application on the server for processing the client application at the server on behalf of the client terminal, if the client terminal is a non-network terminal.