US 6,163,797 A · Application dispatcher for seamless, server application support for network terminals and non-network terminals

Abstract

A plurality of clients are connected to one or more servers. When a client initiates a connection with a server, the server responds to the request for connection by transmitting a message back to the client to determine whether the client is a network terminal or not. The client responds with a message that is received by an application dispatcher at the server which takes one of a pair of actions based on whether the client is a network terminal. If the client terminal is a network terminal, then the application dispatcher starts a server application in the server which responds to the client application in the client. Going forward, the server application responds to all future requests from the client application. If the client is not a network terminal, then the application dispatcher initiates a client application in the server to service the client terminal application requirements. Requests from the client application on behalf of the client terminal are subsequently serviced by a server application at the server which communicates to the client terminal via the client application at the server. In one embodiment, the application dispatcher includes a listener. The listener is assigned to a particular port number of the server. The listener is responsible for waiting for new incoming connections from a client terminal (e.g., a network terminal or a non-network terminal). When a new incoming connection is detected, the listener dynamically instantiates a resolver and passes the connection to the resolver. The behavior of the resolver can vary depending on the port number and requirements of the client terminal. For example, for a network terminal, such as a commercially available VeriFone Personal ATM.TM. (PATM.TM.) appliance or a Personal Computer (PC), the resolver is responsible for executing "who are you" negotiation and for generating a session key.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method for an application dispatcher for server application support for a plurality of client terminals, the client terminals in communication with a server via a network, the method comprising:

a client terminal initiating a connection to the server utilizing the network;
the server listening for the connection utilizing the application dispatcher, the application dispatcher starting a listener, the listener detecting the connection, the application dispatcher starting a resolver for the client terminal in response to the detecting of the connection, and the resolver handling the connection;
and
the server determining if the client terminal is a network terminal or a non-network terminal.

1 more element

A system for an application dispatcher for server application support for a plurality of client terminals, the client terminals in communication with a server via a network, the system comprising:

a client terminal, the client terminal comprising client logic for initiating a connection to the server utilizing the network;
the server, the server comprising server logic for listening for the connection utilizing the application dispatcher, the application dispatcher starting a listener, the listener detecting the connection, the application dispatcher starting a resolver for the client terminal in response to the detecting of the connection, and the resolver handling the connection, and the server further comprising logic for determining if the client terminal is a network terminal or a non-network terminal.

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for an application dispatcher for server application support for a plurality of client terminals, the client terminals in communication with a server via a network, the computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

a client code segment for initiating a connection to the server utilizing the network;
a server code segment for listening for the connection utilizing the application dispatcher, the application dispatcher starting a listener, the listener detecting the connection, the application dispatcher starting a resolver for the client terminal in response to the detecting of the connection, and the resolver handling the connection, and the server code segment further comprising logic for determining if the client terminal is a network terminal or a non-network terminal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Application dispatcher for seamless, server application support for network terminals and non-network terminals

Life of this patent

Application dispatcher for seamless, server application support for network terminals and non-network terminals

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29