System and method for remote file access by computer

A method for accessing and executing an executable program via a computer, in which the program is stored in a provider system and includes a plurality of separately executable program portions comprising computer instructions, the separately executable program portions being arranged according to a file structure,

• each separately executable program portion comprises file structure information and processable content;
• the program has a standard, unmodified form available for installation as a whole;
• the method comprising the following steps:
• A) connecting the provider system and a user system for data transfer via a network;
• B) in the user system:
• i) over the network, transmitting requests for access to selected ones of the separately executable program portions by transmitting the transfer requests via the network;
• ii) separately transferring from the provider system and loading in the user system each selected program portion;
• iii) upon transfer of each selected, separately executable program portion, executing that program portion in the user system, whereby the program may be executed in the user system with fewer than all of the separately executable program portions being resident in the user system;
• iv) initially installing only the file structure;
• v) for each installed program portion, establishing an access structure, the access structure including file structure information for the respective program portion, as well as access information, which includes a locator indicating a storage location where the corresponding program portion's executable content is stored, the locator including a network address of the provider system;
• vi) upon each request for access to the executable content of any of the program portions, issuing a transfer request that includes the corresponding locator;
• and
• vii) fetching the executable content of the requested program portions from the storage location;
• C) in the provider system:
• i) maintaining the program in its standard, unmodified form in the provider system;
• ii) generating from the unmodified form of the program in the provider system an installation image of the program, the image including, for each program portion, the file structure information;
• D) installing a virtual machine within the user system, the virtual machine having a virtual operating system and a virtual storage disk;
• E) installing a virtual machine monitor as an interface between the virtual machine and a host operating system of the user system;
• F) installing the file structure information of the separately executable program portions within the virtual storage disk;
• G) issuing all requests for access to the separately executable program portions via the virtual operating system;
• H) processing all transferred, selected, separately executable program portions within the virtual machine;
• and
• I) intercepting and handling all requests for access issued by the virtual operating system in the virtual machine monitor;
• J) transfer of all separately executable program portions from the provider system thereby remaining transparent to a user of the virtual machine;
• K) whereby the user executes the program in the user system without loading the entire executable program into the user system.

A system for accessing and executing at least one executable program via a computer, in which the program has a standard, unmodified form available for installation as a whole, comprising:

• A) a data transfer network;
• B) a provider computer system that has:
• i) a provider storage device storing the program as a plurality of separately executable program portions comprising computer instructions, the separately executable program portions being arranged according to a predetermined file structure;
• ii) a provider network connection device connecting the provider computer system to the network;
• iii) a module that generates from the unmodified form of the program an installation image of the program, the image including, for each program portion, file structure information, as well as an installation indicator;
• C) a user system that has:
• i) an operating system;
• ii) a local storage device;
• iii) a user network connection device connecting the user system to the network;
• iv) a file transfer module comprising computer-executable instructions:
• a) for initially installing only the file structure information only when the installation indicator is in an on state;
• b) for issuing requests for access to selected ones of the separately executable program portions;
• c) for separately initiating transfer from the provider computer system for loading in the user system each selected program portion;
• and
• v) a processor processing, after transfer, each selected, separately executable program portion;
• D) whereby the user executes the program in the user system without loading the entire executable program into the user system.

A method for providing access to software comprising the following steps:

• in a provider system, storing according to a file structure at least one executable program as separately executable program portions, each having file structure information and executable content;
• providing to at least one member user an installation version of the program for installation within a user computer;
• initially providing for installation within the user computer program skeleton, the program skeleton including, for each program portion, an access structure, the access structure including the file structure information for the respective program portion, but with the corresponding executable content of at least one program portion excluded, as well as access information, which includes a locator indicating a storage location where the corresponding program portion's executable content is stored;
• and
• in real time, and upon receipt of a request issued by the user computer, separately transferring and loading into the user computer the executable content of currently selected ones of the separately executable program portions, whereby the user executes the program in the user system without loading the entire executable program into the user system.