Distribution of deployment information for remote applications

A method for providing services via a smart card on a distributed computing network, comprising the steps of:

• placing a smart card containing an application that is associated with a service in communication with a first device on the network;
• reading an address from the smart card;
• using said address to obtain a proxy for said application from a second device on the network;
• and
• executing said proxy on said first device to thereby enable said first device to operate as a gateway which receives calls for said application from clients on the network and converts said calls into commands that are transmitted to the card for processing by said application.

A portable service provider that is connectable to a distributed computing network, said portable service provider including a memory having stored therein:

• an application program that provides services to clients via said network;
• a first set of information that is published on the network and that contains data which is specific to the implementation of the application on said service provider, to provide clients with access to the service provided by said application program;
• and
• an address for a location on the network at which is stored a second set of information that is published on the network and that contains data which is generic to multiple implementations of the application, to provide clients with access to said service.

A distributed computing network, comprising:

• a first device that publishes information that enables clients on said network to access services available via said network;
• a second device that stores a first portion of said information;
• and
• a third device that communicates with a portable service provider containing an application that provides services via said network, said third device being operable to retrieve a second portion of said information from said portable service provider, read an address stored in said portable service provider that identifies a location at which said first portion of said information is stored, retrieve said first portion of said information stored at said address, and provide said first and second portions of said information to said first device for publication on the network.