US 6,128,652 A · System for manipulating and updating data objects with remote data sources automatically and seamlessly

Abstract

Applications are created having remote data sources linked to data objects on storage media such as CD-ROMs. These data objects are linked transparently to remote sources and updated automatically. An agent--based LiveServer accepts connections from at least one LivePlayer which may be linked to the invention remotely by a direct network link or a modem dial out to the terminal server to which the LiveServer is connected. When the LivePlayer fetches a resource from the network it shall first post its universal resource locator (URL) to the LiveServer. The LiveServer scans a translation table of alternative addresses for the URL. The LiveServer returns either an original or translated URL to the LivePlayer which then uses this URL to check its local hard disk cache to determine if the resource has been fetched earlier. If no such resource exists on the local cache the LivePlayer fetches the media from the remote site via the appropriate network protocol. This media will then be kept on the local cache and rendered by the LivePlayer. If the URL is found on the local cache, the appropriate network protocol will be used to contact the remote site to determine if it is outdated. If the cache is outdated, the local file is replaced by the new file fetched from the remote site. Otherwise the local file is rendered by the LivePlayer. The LiveServer automatically broadcasts updates to remote data sources to all currently connected LivePlayers, which then update the media by doing a remote fetch if it is currently been browsed. These LiveServer broadcasts thus provide live updates to data objects.

Claims26

Dependent claims

In a system for creating applications for data object on storage media including at least one LiveServer adopted for accepting connections from at least one LivePlayer, said LivePlayer being linked to said LiveServer remotely via a direct network link or a dialup to a terminal server of said LiveServer, each said LivePlayer having at least one Universal Resource Locator (URL) for identifying the location of an object on storage media or on a communication network and at least one local cache memory, a method for linking remote data sources for updating said data object seamlessly, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) sending URL of said LivePlayer to said LiveServer;
(b) checking at said LiveServer with a translation table of alternative addresses of said URL for changes to said URL;
(c) returning a translated URL from said LiveServer to said LivePlayer if there is a change in step (b);
(d) checking with said cache memory of said LivePlayer to determine if the resource associated with URL in step (c) has been previously fetched;
(e) retrieving media from remote site over said network link if no resource exists on cache memory of said LivePlayer and storing the same on said cache memory;
(f) contacting remote site over said network link if URL exists on cache memory of said LivePlayer and determining if said URL is updated;
and
(g) replacing the contents of cache memory with new file retrieved from remote site if URL in step (f) is outdated;
whereby data objects in said applications are linked transparently with remote data sources and updated automatically.

6 more elements

(a) sending URL of said LivePlayer to said LiveServer;
(b) checking at said LiveServer with a translation table of alternative addresses of said URL for changes to said URL;
(c) returning a translated URL from said LiveServer to said LivePlayer if there is a change in step (b);
(d) checking with said cache memory of said LivePlayer to determine if the resource associated with URL in step (c) has been previously fetched;
(e) retrieving media from remote site over said network link if no resource exists on cache memory of said LivePlayer and storing the same on said cache memory;
(f) contacting remote site over said network link if URL exists on cache memory of said LivePlayer and determining if said URL is updated;
and
(g) replacing the contents of cache memory with new file retrieved from remote site if URL in step (f) is outdated;
and
(h) rendering with LivePlayer the contents of cache memory if URL in step (f) is updated,
whereby data objects in said applications are linked transparently with remote data sources and updated automatically.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for manipulating and updating data objects with remote data sources automatically and seamlessly

Life of this patent

System for manipulating and updating data objects with remote data sources automatically and seamlessly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26