System and method for incrementally executing a client/server application

A method for incrementally executing a client/server application, the application executed on a client and on a server, the server comprising a server processor and a memory for executing a server component wherein the client and the server are in communication over a communication link, the method comprising the steps of:

• (i) providing a server application component comprising a plurality of server component portions on the server, the plurality of server component portions including an initial server component portion and one or more subsequent server component portions;
• the plurality of server comnonent portions further including a compact portion loaded and executed on the server upon receipt of a first application function request from the client component, the compact portion delivering a subset of functions applicable to commands most commonly requested to provide a fast executing initial portion of the application;
• (ii) providing a client component on the client, the server application component and the client component forming the client/server application;
• (iii) loading the initial server component portion into the memory of the server, in response to a parameter included in a request from the client component for an application function;
• (iv) executing the initial server component portion to provide an initial function to the client;
• (v) loading into the memory of the server, in response to a subsequent parameter included in a subsequent request from the client component, the subsequent server component portion;
• and
• (vi) executing the subsequent server component portion to provide a subsequent function to the client.

A system including a processor for incrementally executing a client/server application, the application executed on a client and a server, wherein the client and the server are in communication over a communication link, the system comprising:

• a module for providing a server application component comprising a plurality of server component portions on the server, the plurality of server component portions including an initial server component portion and one or more subsequent server component portions, the initial server component portion having an initial function, each of the one or more subsequent server component portions including a respective subsequent function;
• the plurality of server component portions further including a compact portion loaded and executed on the server upon receipt of a first application function request from the client component, the compact portion delivering a subset of functions applicable to commands most commonly requested to provide a fast executing initial portion of the application;
• a module for providing a client component on the client, the server application component and the client component forming the client/server application, the client component including a command selector, the command selector having means for generating a parameter for use by the server application component in determining the appropriate server component portion of the plurality of server component portions to load and execute on the server to provide the selected function to the client, the parameter being an initial parameter or a subsequent parameter;
• a module for loading and executing an appropriate server component portion from the plurality of server component portions in response to an initial request from the client component for an application function, the initial request including a parameter associated with the appropriate server component portion, the parameter being created at the client;
• and
• a module for loading and executing an additional appropriate server component portion of the plurality of server component portions for an additional request received from the client component for an application function not available from any running server component portion, the additional request including a parameter associated with the additional appropriate server component portion, the parameter in the additional request being created at the client.

A storage medium readable by a computer encoding a computer program for execution by the computer to carry out a method for incrementally executing a client/server application, the application executed on a client and a server, wherein the client and the server are in communication over a communication link, the computer program comprising:

• code means for a server application component comprising a plurality of server component portions, the plurality of server component portions including an initial server component portion and one or more subsequent server component portions, the initial server component portion having an initial function, each of the one or more subsequent server component portions including a respective subsequent function, the plurality of server component portions further including a compact portion loaded and executed on the server upon receipt of a first application function request from the client component, the compact portion delivering a subset of functions applicable to commands most commonly requested to provide a fast executing initial portion of the application;
• code means for a client component on the client, the server application component and the client component forming the client/server application, the client component including a command selector, the command selector having means for generating a parameter for use by the server application component in determining the appropriate server component portion of the plurality of server component portions to load and execute on the server to provide the selected function to the client, the parameter being an initial parameter or a subsequent parameter;
• code means for loading and executing, an appropriate server component portion from the plurality of server component portions in response to an initial request from the client component for an application function, the initial request including a parameter associated with the appropriate server component portion, the parameter being created at the client;
• and
• code means for loading and executing, an additional appropriate server component portion of the plurality of server component portions for an additional request received from the client component for an application function not available from any running server component portion, the additional request including a parameter associated with the additional appropriate server component portion, the parameter in the additional request being created at the client.

A method of executing an application in an environment comprising a server and a client, the server comprising a server processor and a memory for executing a server component, the server component including an initial server component portion and one or more subsequent server component portions, the server component further including a compact portion loaded and executed on the server upon receipt of a first application function request from the client component, the compact portion delivering a subset of functions applicable to commands most commonly requested to provide a fast executing initial portion of the application;

• the client comprising a client component, the server component and the client component forming the application, the method comprising the steps of:
• a) at the server, receiving an initial message from the client, the initial message including an initial parameter associated with the initial server component portion, the initial parameter being created by a client application;
• b) at the server, loading into the memory of the server, in response to the initial parameter, the initial server component portion;
• d) at the server, executing the initial server component portion in the memory to provide an initial function to the client;
• e) at the server, receiving a subsequent message from the client, the subsequent message including a subsequent parameter associated with the subsequent server component portion, the subsequent parameter being created by the client application;
• f) at the server, loading into the memory of the server, in dependence upon the subsequent parameter, the subsequent server component portion;
• and
• g) at the server, executing the subsequent server component portion in the memory to provide a subsequent function to the client.

A server for a client, the server comprising:

• a memory for executing a server component, the server component including an initial server component portion and one or more subsequent server component portions, the server component futher including a compact portion loaded and executed on the server upon receipt of a first application function request from the client component, the compact portion delivering a subset of functions applicable to commands most commonly requested to provide a fast executing initial portion of the application;
• the client comprising a client component, the server component and the client component forming an application,
• means for receiving an initial message from the client, the initial message including an initial parameter associated with the initial server component portion, the initial parameter being created by a client application;
• means for loading into the memory of the server, in response to the initial parameter;
• means for executing the initial server component in the memory to provide an initial function to the client;
• means for receiving a subsequent message from the client, the subsequent message including a subsequent parameter associated with the subsequent server component portion, the subsequent parameter being created by the client application;
• means for loading into the memory of the server, in response to the subsequent parameter, the subsequent server component portion;
• and
• means for executing the subsequent server component in the memory to provide a subsequent function to the client.