Providing online graphical data flow web application tools or services for charge

A computer-implemented method, comprising utilizing a computer to perform:

• storing a plurality of graphical data flow programs (GDFPs), wherein each GDFP comprises a respective plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate the functionality of the program, and is accessible and useable via web browsers executing on client computers, and wherein the GDFPs are in accordance with a data flow programming protocol in which program functions execute whenever their necessary input data are available;
• storing a graphical data flow program execution engine (GDFP execution engine), wherein the GDFPs require the GDFP execution engine to execute;
• establishing a network connection with a client computer over a network;
• receiving a universal resource identifier (URI) from the client computer over the network, wherein the URI indicates a GDFP of the plurality of GDFPs;
• sending the GDFP and the GDFP execution engine to the client computer over the network in response to the URI, wherein the GDFP execution engine is entirely executable in a web browser on the client computer to:
• execute the GDFP entirely in the web browser on the client computer in accordance with the data flow model of computation via the GDFP execution engine, including executing program functions of the GDFP whenever their required input data are available, wherein the GDFP execution engine displays a front panel in the web browser during execution of the GDFP, wherein the front panel comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising one or more output indicators for displaying results of the GDFP execution, and/or one or more input controls for receiving user input specifying input to the GDFP;
• and
• assessing a charge for use of the GDFP on the client computer.

A non-transitory computer-accessible memory medium that stores program instructions executable by a processor of a client computer to:

• establish a network connection with a server computer over a network, wherein the server computer stores:
• a plurality of graphical data flow programs (GDFPs), wherein each GDFP comprises a respective plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate the functionality of the program, and is accessible and useable via web browsers executing on client computers, and wherein the GDFPs are in accordance with a data flow model of computation in which program functions execute whenever their necessary input data are available;
• and
• a graphical data flow program execution engine (GDFP execution engine), wherein the GDFPs require the GDFP execution engine to execute;
• send a universal resource identifier (URI) to the server computer over the network, wherein the URI indicates a GDFP of the plurality of GDFPs;
• receive the GDFP and the GDFP execution engine from the server over the network in response to the URI;
• execute the GDFP entirely in a web browser on the client computer in accordance with the data flow model of computation via the GDFP execution engine, including executing program functions of the GDFP whenever their required input data are available, wherein the GDFP execution engine displays a front panel in the web browser during execution of the GDFP, wherein the front panel comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising one or more output indicators for displaying results of the GDFP execution, and/or one or more input controls for receiving user input specifying input to the GDFP;
• and
• receive an indication of an assessed charge for use of the GDFP from the server computer over the network.

A computer-implemented method, comprising utilizing a client computer to perform:

• establishing a network connection with a server computer over a network, wherein the server computer stores:
• a plurality of graphical data flow programs (GDFPs), wherein each GDFP comprises a respective plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate the functionality of the program, and is accessible and useable via web browsers executing on client computers, and wherein the GDFPs are in accordance with a data flow model of computation in which program functions execute whenever their necessary input data are available;
• and
• a graphical data flow program execution engine (GDFP execution engine), wherein the GDFPs require the GDFP execution engine to execute;
• sending a universal resource identifier (URI) to the server computer over the network, wherein the URI indicates a GDFP of the plurality of GDFPs;
• receiving the GDFP and the GDFP execution engine from the server over the network in response to the URI;
• executing the GDFP entirely in a web browser on the client computer in accordance with the data flow model of computation via the GDFP execution engine, including executing program functions of the GDFP whenever their required input data are available, wherein said executing the GDFP comprises displaying a front panel in the web browser during, wherein the front panel comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising one or more output indicators for displaying results of the GDFP execution, and/or one or more input controls for receiving user input specifying input to the GDFP;
• and
• receiving an indication of an assessed charge for use of the GDFP from the server computer over the network.

A non-transitory computer-accessible memory medium that stores:

• a graphical data flow program (GDFP), comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate the functionality of the program, wherein the GDFP is accessible and useable via web browsers executing on client computers, and wherein the GDFP is in accordance with a data flow model of computation in which program functions execute whenever their necessary input data are available;
• a graphical data flow program execution engine (GDFP execution engine), wherein the GDFP requires the GDFP execution engine to execute;
• and
• program instructions executable by a processor to:
• establish a network connection with a client computer over a network;
• receive a universal resource identifier (URI) from the client computer over the network, wherein the URI indicates the GDFP;
• send the GDFP and the GDFP execution engine to the client computer over the network in response to the URI, wherein the GDFP execution engine is entirely executable in a web browser on the client computer to:
• execute the GDFP entirely in the web browser on the client computer in accordance with the data flow model of computation via the GDFP execution engine, including executing program functions of the GDFP whenever their required input data are available, wherein the GDFP execution engine displays a front panel in the web browser during execution of the GDFP, wherein the front panel comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising one or more output indicators for displaying results of the GDFP execution, and/or one or more input controls for receiving user input specifying input to the GDFP;
• and
• assess a charge for use of the GDFP on the client computer.

A computer-implemented method, comprising utilizing a computer to perform:

• storing a graphical data flow program (GDFP), comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes or icons which visually indicate the functionality of the program, wherein the GDFP is accessible and useable via web browsers executing on client computers, and wherein the GDFP is in accordance with a data flow model of computation in which program functions execute whenever their necessary input data are available;
• storing a graphical data flow program execution engine (GDFP execution engine), wherein the GDFP requires the GDFP execution engine to execute;
• establishing a network connection with a client computer over a network;
• receiving a universal resource identifier (URI) from the client computer over the network, wherein the URI indicates the GDFP;
• sending the GDFP and the GDFP execution engine to the client computer over the network in response to the URI, wherein the GDFP execution engine is entirely executable in a web browser on the client computer to:
• execute the GDFP entirely in the web browser on the client computer in accordance with the data flow model of computation via the GDFP execution engine, including executing program functions of the GDFP whenever their required input data are available, wherein the GDFP execution engine displays a front panel in the web browser during execution of the GDFP, wherein the front panel comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising one or more output indicators for displaying results of the GDFP execution, and/or one or more input controls for receiving user input specifying input to the GDFP;
• and
• assessing a charge for use of the GDFP on the client computer.