Self-configurable distributed system

A self-configurable distributed computer software system having a Web server with a local storage disk for storing byte code, and a Web browser connected to the Web server, said Web browser having an applet and means for requesting and receiving byte code from the Web server for use by the applet, said system comprising:

• a distributed persistent storage mechanism for storing byte code utilized by a plurality of applets distributed throughout the system;
• means within the Web server for determining whether the byte code requested by the Web browser is stored on the local storage disk;
• and
• a servlet within the Web server for retrieving the byte code from the distributed persistent storage mechanism if the byte code requested by the Web browser is not stored on the local storage disk.

In a self-configurable distributed computer software system, a method of enabling an applet running on a Web browser to obtain needed software code from a distributed persistent storage mechanism outside a machine hosting the applet's originating Web server, said method comprising the steps of:

• sending a request for the software code from the Web browser to the applet's Web server, the Web server having a local storage disk;
• determining in the Web server whether the requested software code is stored on the local storage disk;
• requesting a servlet in the Web server to obtain the requested software code from the distributed persistent storage mechanism upon determining that the requested software code is not stored on the local storage disk;
• sending a request for the software code from the servlet to the distributed persistent storage mechanism;
• sending the requested software code from the distributed persistent storage mechanism to the servlet;
• providing the requested software code to the Web Server;
• and
• sending the requested software code from the Web server to the Web browser.

A Web server for providing requested software code to an applet in a Web browser, the Web server comprising:

• a connection to the Web browser and a connection to a distributed persistent storage mechanism outside the Web server;
• a local storage disk within the Web server for storing software code;
• a mechanism within the Web server for determining whether software code requested by the Web browser is stored on the local storage disk;
• and
• a servlet within the Web server that retrieves the requested software code from the distributed persistent storage mechanism and provides the code to the Web server if the software code requested by the applet is not stored on the local storage disk.