Systems and methods for executing application programs from a memory device linked to a server at an internet site

A system for allowing a client to execute an application program stored on a disk linked to the server of an Internet site, comprising

• a data transport interface for connecting to said server,
• an identification program for detecting a system configuration of said client and for generating a client-type signal for transport to said server,
• a connection program for collecting from said server a server address signal representative of a network address of said server, and a path name signal representative of a file system that includes the application program,
• a mount mechanism for generating a mount request, as a function of said path name signal, and for providing said mount request to said data transport interface to direct said server to provide an array of server file pointers that point to a file descriptor representative of said file system that includes the application program,
• a file handle mechanism for generating an array of remote file pointers as a function of said server address signal, said path name signal and said array of server file pointers, and
• a program loader for selecting one of said remote file pointers and for transporting a file block associated with said selected remote file pointer from said disk to a local program memory element.

A process for allowing a client to connect to a server of an Internet site for executing an application program stored on a disk linked to the server, comprising

• providing said server with an administration program for storing a file system of computer files on said disk according to a select file system protocol,
• providing a page program having a hypertext link generator for generating, in response to a link signal from said client, a directory information signal representative of a hypertext signal identifying said file system of computer files,
• providing a data transport interface for connecting to said server,
• transporting from said server a server address signal representative of a network address of said server, and a path name signal representative of a file system that includes the application program,
• generating a mount request, as a function of said path name signal, and transporting said mount request to said server for directing said server to provide an array of server file pointers that point to a file descriptor representative of said file system that includes the application program,
• generating an array of remote file pointers, as a function of said server address signal, said path name signal and said array of server file pointers, providing said array of remote file pointers to a program loader element operating on said client, and
• directing said program loader to select one of said remote file pointers and to transport from said disk to a local program memory element, a file block associated with said selected remote file pointer.

A process for allowing a client to connect to a server of an Internet site for executing an application program stored on a disk linked to the server, comprising

• providing a data transport interface for connecting to said server,
• providing a client management program for generating a client file having information signals representative of at least one characteristic of said client, for providing said client file to said server,
• transporting from said server a server address signal representative of a network address of said server, and a path name signal representative of a file system that includes the application program,
• generating a mount request, as a function of said path name signal, and transporting said mount request to said server for directing said server to provide an array of server file pointers that point to a file descriptor representative of said file system that includes the application program,
• generating an array of remote file pointers, as a function of said server address signal, said path name signal and said array of server file pointers,
• providing said array of remote file pointers to a program loader element operating on said client, and
• directing said program loader to select one of said remote file pointers and to transport from said disk to a local program memory element, a file block associated with said selected remote file pointer.

A system for allowing a client to execute an application program stored on a disk linked to the server of an Internet site having a file sharing program, comprising

• a data transport interface for connecting to said server,
• a connection program for collecting from said server a server address signal representative of a network address of said server, and a path name signal representative of a file system that includes the application program,
• a mount mechanism for generating a mount request, as a function of said path name signal, and for providing said mount request to said data transport interface to direct said server to provide an array of server file pointers that point to a file descriptor representative of said file system that includes the application program,
• a file handle mechanism for generating an array of remote file pointers as a function of said server address signal, said path name signal and said array of server file pointers, and
• a program loader for selecting one of said remote file pointers and for transporting a file block associated with said selected remote file pointer from said disk to a local program memory element.