[54] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR
`INTEGRATING DISPARATE INFORMATION
`TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS AND
`PLATFORMS ACROSS AN ENTERPRISE
`
`[75] Inventors: Randall R Mears, Plano; Brad L
`
`
`
`Rucker’Allem both of TeX- [73] Assignee: Electronics Data Systems
`
`[ * ]
`
`Notice:
`
`
`
`COrPOFatIOII, Plano, TeX- This patent issued on a continued pros-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`, , 5,742,762 5,742,845 577457754
`
`Ulllted States Patent [19]
`Mears et al.
`
`US006041362A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,041,362
`*Mar. 21, 2000
`
`5,475,836 12/1995 Harris .................................... .. 395/600
`5,539,904
`7/1996 Bfallns
`~
`5493mm“
`9/1996 Heath ............................... .. 395/187.01
`i/1997 Cloud .................................... .. 709/300
`
`,
`
`,
`
`5,553,239
`
`1 er .... ..
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`/1998 Irribarren 4/1998 SCIIOII 4/1998 W 4/1998 Laagiriire __
`
`
`
`5,892,946 P rimary EX?min6V—EriC COleIIlan 4/1999 Worster
`
`
`
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—L. Joy GriebenoW; Baker &Botts
`ecution application ?led under 37 CFR
`L-L-P
`1.53(d), and is subject to the tWenty year
`ABSTRACT
`p2t4e(r211t)( 2t)e~rm provisions of 35 USC [57]
`A method and system for integrating disparate information
`technology applications and platforms across an enterprise
`provides a Web client interface that associates With an
`enterprise netWork. Connecting With the Web client through
`the network is the Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
`server that includes a Common GateWay Interface (CGI)
`interface program for augmenting the integration of the
`disparate applications and platforms via remote and local
`applications execution. The HTTP server is speci?c to the
`particular enterprise for speci?cally dealing With application
`servers and information servers and further for collecting
`information and gathering it together into a form that is then
`displayed on the Web client.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/546,390
`_
`_
`Oct‘ 20’ 1995
`Flled'
`[22]
`[51] Int. c1.7 .................................................... .. G06F 17/30
`[52] us CL
`709/300. 709/250
`[58] Field of
`iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii "395/800’709/300
`"""""""""""""" "
`706/250 219’
`’
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,623,964 11/1986 GetZ ...................................... .. 709/300
`5,297,249
`3/1994 Bernstein .
`395/156
`5,305,456
`4/1994 Boitana ................................. .. 395/700
`
`20 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`12
`
`wogké?m
`
`WEB CLIENT
`
`HTTP SERVER WITH GGI
`INTERFACE PROGRAM THAT
`32
`\ AUGMENTS INTEGRATION VIA
`REMOTE CLIENT
`APPLICATION INITIATION
`
`HTTP SERVER WITH CGI
`14
`INTERFACE PROGRAM THAT
`AUGMENTS INTEGRATION VIA /
`REMOTE AND LOCAL
`APPLICATION EXECUTION
`
`MEMBER
`
`‘l8
`
`CLOUD
`
`140
`
`10
`
`APPLICATION
`SERVERS
`
`1—4
`
`\
`15
`
`INFORMATION
`SERVERS
`
`\24
`
`20
`
`22
`
`REMOTE
`APPLICATION
`LIBRARY
`
`MEMBER
`HANDBOOK
`
`ORGANIZATION
`CHART
`
`Plaid Technologies Inc.
`Exhibit 1019
`
`Ex. 1019 Page 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21,2000
`
`Sheet 1 of2
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`6,041,362
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`Ex. 1019 Page 2
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`Ex. 1019 Page 2
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`
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`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21,2000
`
`Sheet 2 of2
`
`6,041,362
`
`$6.55
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`
`Ex. 1019 Page 3
`
`

`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR
`INTEGRATING DISPARATE INFORMATION
`TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS AND
`PLATFORMS ACROSS AN ENTERPRISE
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a method and system for
`obtaining, processing, and displaying information and, more
`particularly, to a method and system for integrating disparate
`information technology applications and platforms across an
`enterprise that permits remote application execution and
`information delivery, local application execution from a
`remote application library, and a variety of other services
`through a single user interface.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Corporations have many disparate neW and old or existing
`applications that generally have been developed as stand
`alone functions. Information technology systems, for
`example, may have been Written by or for the accounting
`department, the shipping department, or the order entry
`group and often have different designs and user interfaces,
`different applications, and run on different platforms. They
`also are often stored in many different, and different types of,
`data bases.
`The stand-alone functions can require different interfaces
`and login identi?ers for each function, the use of multiple
`netWork navigation functions (i.e., searching for the
`applications), multiple menuing systems and speci?c knoWl
`edge of each application in order to knoW When and hoW to
`use them. This results in “islands of information” in any
`enterprise. The consequences of this can be lost opportunity,
`reinvention and reWork, and unproductive time spent search
`ing for data and other information about the enterprise and
`its human, tangible, and intangible resources and assets.
`One of the principle tasks of system integration is to
`integrate disparate databases, applications, and platforms
`into one system that is accessible to desired enterprise
`employees. Almost Without exception, in these situations
`many established softWare systems that may have already
`been installed are replaced by systems that ?t Within the
`integrator’s neW integration scheme. Presently, it is not
`possible, Without reWriting or replacing all the existing
`systems, to integrate the different applications and platforms
`inside the corporation. Unfortunately, When this occurs,
`there is the need to retrain the employees Who used the
`previously existing systems.
`With the conventional methods of integrating the need for
`different softWare systems to be useable by different users
`for many different applications, many other limitations also
`exist. For example, the existing enterprise applications and
`platforms are not netWork connectable using the various
`protocols, such as TCP/IP that permit communication on
`netWorks. In addition, the many applications and platforms
`that an enterprise uses in their present state require different
`and separate passWords.
`Moreover, even though a system integrator may provide
`neW softWare systems for an enterprise, there is yet a great
`deal of information on different databases in different for
`mats that either does not become incorporated into the
`system or that does not become usable in a common or
`integrated format. Also, different interfaces are necessary to
`integrate the different applications and the different plat
`forms. In fact, even With the best of system integration
`products and services, there is no ability to provide to
`employees and other users a single comprehensive user
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`6,041,362
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`2
`interface that provides an automatically updated, up-to-the
`minute vieW of the information and processes occurring
`Within the enterprise across its many different applications
`and platforms.
`Consequently, there is a need for a method and system
`that permits use of the numerous applications and data,
`including platforms that are disparate.
`There is a need for a method and system that permits a
`user to avoid the unnecessary complexity and frustration of
`having to logon to every single system of a Wide-area or
`other netWork, With a separate passWord for each logon
`operation.
`There is the further need for a user interface providing a
`single menu that permits authoriZed users to access all
`information that an entire corporation holds.
`There is the need for a method and system that permits
`local application execution from a remote application
`library, even in the instance that the remote application
`library includes functional, structurally, and substantively
`different data bases.
`There is yet a further need for a method and system that
`provides users the ability to interface numerous intelligent
`and non-intelligent interfaces at the enterprise level and
`execute different applications on multifarious platforms.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance With the present invention, a method and
`system for integrating disparate information technology
`applications and platforms across an enterprise is provided
`that substantially eliminates or reduces disadvantages and
`problems associated With previously developed systems for
`integrating disparate applications and platforms.
`One aspect of the present invention provides a Web client
`interface that associates With an enterprise netWork Where
`the Web client comprises a computer softWare application.
`Connecting through the enterprise netWork and With the Web
`client is an application integrating server that includes a
`graphical interface program for augmenting the integration
`of the disparate applications and platforms by remotely and
`locally executing applications. The applications integrating
`server, Which is speci?c to the particular enterprise speci?
`cally interfaces and integrates With the disparate application
`and information servers and collects and gathers information
`for display in an integrated form through the comprehensive
`graphical interface.
`One embodiment of the applications integrating server is
`a Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server that includes
`a form that is displayed to the Web client in an Hyper-Text
`Markup Language (HTML) document. As a result of the
`user providing information that the form uses, the HTTP
`server causes the execution of a graphical interface script
`that contains logical instructions for sending a request to
`execute a transaction to the various application servers. The
`appropriate application server or servers respond to the
`request to update affected information on associated
`databases, by addressing the application integrating server
`and providing the results of the initiated activity. The HTTP
`server then builds an HTML document and returns the
`document to the Web client. The user may then respond, as
`desired, to the HTML document, by requesting more or
`different information from the different applications and
`platforms of the enterprise.
`The present invention provides netWork capable softWare
`for the application integrating server, such as an Internet
`World Wide Web broWser system, to create a single point of
`
`Ex. 1019 Page 4
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`

`
`3
`interface for the user to access and communicate With any
`sub-organiZation of the enterprise. By using a networked set
`of application integrating servers that interface and control
`the disparate application systems, documents, presentations,
`source code programs, softWare objects and other digitally
`stored information all Within the enterprise, the present
`invention provides the methodology and system for com
`municating betWeen the disparate servers Within the enter
`prise. With the present invention, the user has the ability to
`send and receive requests for information and transactions
`that interface all types of applications, technical libraries,
`object libraries, code libraries, document repositories, dis
`cussion databases, and information databases Within the
`enterprise.
`Accordingly, the present invention provides the user With
`a single “Window” into the entire enterprise. The present
`method and system permit the user to broWse through
`multiple applications from a single interface, rapidly share
`information, and update and disseminate the information
`inside the enterprise. The present method and system permit
`the enterprise to logically organiZe information to permit
`employees and other users to search, doWnload and use the
`information by topic, type of information (e.g., documents,
`presentations, and interactive applications, etc.), or by busi
`ness function or other structures, as desired.
`Another especially attractive feature of the present inven
`tion is that it permits “mining” old applications that here
`tofore Were dif?cult or impossible to access and use. Infor
`mation of signi?cant value that may not have been used
`because of these dif?culties becomes useable as a result of
`the present invention. This results in a more comprehensive
`vieW of the enterprise than has been possible previously.
`Multimedia applications, for example, are made simple as a
`by-product of the present invention. This is because, through
`the single integrated user interface, the many images and
`audio tracks that a user may desire for multimedia presen
`tations and that an enterprise may have on various different
`applications and platforms noW becomes readily available to
`the user.
`In fact, in a manner that Was previously not possible, the
`present invention permits the user to “move” from depart
`ment to department across the enterprise using the single
`integrated user interface. The present invention, in effect,
`provides a single point of contact for personnel seeking
`information and, therefore, becomes a “rallying point” for
`all neW applications.
`Other technical advantages of the present invention
`include the fact that employees, Who may have been trained
`on a prior or existing application or interface, can use the
`single interface Without requiring additional training on the
`neW and separate applications. The present invention ini
`tiates transactions from the integrated interface to operate
`applications or Without the user’s knoWledge.
`Also, security of the many different applications and
`different platforms of an enterprise is simpli?ed With the
`present invention. When a user desires information that
`initiates a given application or requires access to a particular
`platform, the present invention sends the user’s passWord to
`the appropriate applications or platform behind the scenes.
`Accordingly, the present invention provides a single homog
`enous interface for all of the departments Within an enter
`prise.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`For a more complete understanding of the present inven
`tion and the advantages thereof, reference is noW made to
`the folloWing description Which is to be taken in conjunction
`With the accompanying draWings in Which like reference
`numerals indicate like features and Wherein:
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`6,041,362
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`4
`FIG. 1 shoWs one embodiment of the present invention as
`applied to a single user interface for disparate applications;
`and
`FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of the present inven
`tion as applied to a single user interface for disparate
`applications.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illus
`trated in the FIGUREs like numerals being used to refer to
`like and corresponding parts of the various draWings.
`The present invention provides a Web client interface that
`connects through an enterprise netWork to an application
`integrating server such as an Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol
`(HTTP) server. The HTTP server includes a graphical inter
`face such as that provided by a Common GateWay Interface
`(CGI) interface program for integrating the disparate appli
`cations and platforms of the enterprise via remote and local
`applications execution. The HTTP server may be speci?c to
`the particular enterprise for speci?cally integrating and
`interfacing With application servers and information servers
`and further for collecting and gathering information together
`to display it in a desired form on the CGI interface.
`One embodiment of the HTTP server may include a form
`that is displayed in an Hyper-Text Markup Language
`(HTML) format. The user provides information that the
`form requires, and, in response, the HTTP server causes the
`execution of CGI script that may contain the logic and other
`instructions for sending a request that executes a transaction
`to an addressed and interfaced application server. The par
`ticular application server then may respond to the request,
`update information relating to that user’s request by address
`ing the particular application server, and providing the
`results of the initiated activity. The HTTP server then can
`build a neW or supplemental existing HTML document that
`the HTTP server returns to the Web client. The user may then
`respond, as desired, to the built document by, for example,
`seeking more or different information from the different
`applications and platforms of the enterprise.
`Implementing the present architecture includes the steps
`of identifying all the components to make this Work. The
`enterprise netWork is speci?c to the particular enterprise
`according to the various disparate applications and platforms
`Within the enterprise. The HTTP server includes a CGI
`interface program that augments integration via remote and
`local application execution. The CGI interface is unique to
`the particular enterprise and speci?cally deals With the
`particular application servers or information servers of the
`enterprise to collect the information, gather it together, and
`assemble it in a form that the user interface displays.
`The CGI script contains the logic and instructions for
`sending a request for a transaction to an appropriate appli
`cation server and for receiving a response back from that
`application server. The CGI interface program may be
`Written in C, PERL, or some other appropriate computer
`language that permits the formation of logic and instructions
`for the particular application server.
`FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the operation of one embodiment
`of the present invention Wherein enterprise netWork 10
`interfaces With client Workstation 12 that operates on the
`Web client Where the Web client comprises a computer
`softWare application. It should be understood that client
`Workstation 12 is used by a user or operator, and the Web
`client is run by client Workstation 12 for use by the user or
`operator. HTTP server 14 includes a CGI interface program
`that augments integration via remote and local application
`execution and connects With enterprise netWork 10. Appli
`cation servers 16 connects to enterprise netWork 10 and
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`Ex. 1019 Page 5
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`6,041,362
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`includes numerous and disparate application servers, such as
`an application server for member database 18, an application
`server for employee ?le 20, and an application server for
`order ?le and program 22. Also connecting to enterprise
`netWork 10, information servers 24 may include numerous
`and disparate information servers, such as information serv
`ers for organization charge data ?le 26, member handbook
`28, and remote application library 30. In the example of FIG.
`1, enterprise netWork 10 also connects or has an interface
`With HTTP server 32.
`The integrated application that FIG. 1 illustrates includes
`an example of disparate applications across an enterprise. In
`this example, at step 1-1, the user at client Workstation 12
`?lls in the HTML form to request information relating to
`membership of an individual and submits the form by
`clicking a SUBMIT button or function key at client Work
`station 12. Step 1-2 shoWs that the HTML form is received
`by HTTP server 32 and an Add Member function of the CGI
`interface program indicated in the HTML form is to be
`executed.
`At step 1-3, the Add Member function of the CGI inter
`face program connects to application servers 16 and the Add
`Member Transaction is initiated by application server 16.
`The Add Member Transaction, at step 1-4, queries the
`employee database of employee ?le 20 to validate and edit
`the information from the employee database in response to
`the request. At step 1-5, the Add Member Transaction
`ensures that the employee is not currently a member and
`then adds the employee to membership database 18.
`Code indicating a successful transaction is returned at step
`1-6 to the Add Member CGI program currently executing on
`the HTTP Server. The Add Member CGI program, at step
`1-7, sends a request to Information Servers 24 updating
`member handbook 28 to include the neW member in its
`member directory. Member handbook 28 is an online ?le
`that may be in a Word processing format such as MS Word®,
`a trademark of Microsoft Corp., or WordPerfect®, a trade
`mark of Novell, Inc.
`At step 1-8, member handbook 28 is updated by an
`Update Member Handbook Application through information
`server 24. The HTML Version of the member directory,
`Which may reside on yet another HTTP Server is also
`updated at step 1-9, by the update member handbook appli
`cation. There are at least tWo Ways to update member
`handbook 28. One Way is to have the server access the
`database directly and return the results. One of the many
`possible alternatives to the above method to update
`addresses the situation of HTTP server 32 not having the
`ability or clearance to go to member database 18, for one
`reason or another. An alternative approach, in this instance,
`Would be to build an HTML tree that contains the entire
`member database 18.
`At step 1-10, code indicating a successful transaction is
`returned to the add member CGI program along With the
`speci?cation of the URL for the current Member Handbook.
`This results in the construction of an HTML page that
`indicates the successful status of the request and contains a
`55
`hotlink to the neW Member Handbook. The resulting HTML
`page is then sent, at step 1-11, to client Workstation 12 Where
`it is displayed. The display noti?es the user that his appli
`cation Was successful and gives him a hot link to the updated
`Member Handbook 28. The user can then initiate vieWing of
`the neW Member Handbook by pressing the associated
`hotlink.
`In FIG. 2, another example appears of implementing the
`present embodiment. The distinction betWeen FIGS. 1 and 2
`is that HTTP server 32 of FIG. 1 is replaced by HTTP server
`34 of FIG. 2 that includes user-de?ned mime types that
`implement remote client application initiation. At step 2-1,
`a user at client Workstation 12 clicks on an HTML link for
`
`6
`NeW Memberships. The HTTP server 14 then sends the
`requested document, Which is de?ned as a user mime type,
`at step 2-2, and executes a custom helper application that is
`loaded on client Workstation 12, Which shall be herein
`referred to as a Launch Manager. The triggering document
`itself contains the actual name of the program required to
`process the neW memberships and add member transaction
`applications.
`In step 2-3, the Launch Manager, executing on client
`Workstation 12 and using the program name speci?ed in the
`triggering document, connects to information server 24 and
`requests a copy of the executable code for the add member
`transaction. The Add Member Transaction application is
`executed, at step 2-4, on client Workstation 12 to display a
`form that the user ?lls out and initiates the Add request. At
`step 2-5, the Add Member Transaction application insures
`that the employee is on the employee database and that the
`entered information is valid by directly accessing the
`employee ?le 20. The Add Member Transaction application
`insures that the employee is not currently on the membership
`database, at step 2-6, and then adds the employee to the
`membership database. Then, at step 2-7, the Add Member
`Transaction sends a request to the Information Server to
`update the particular version of the Online Member Hand
`book to include the neW member in its member directory.
`Member Handbook 28 is updated, at step 2-8, by the
`Update Member Handbook Application. The HTML Version
`of the Member Database, residing on yet another HTTP
`Server is also updated, at step 2-9, by the Update Member
`Handbook Application Within information server 24. At step
`2-10, a code indicating success is returned to the Add
`Member Transaction program that runs on client Workstation
`12 along With the Word processing copy of the Member
`Handbook 28.
`The Add Member Transaction on client Workstation 12
`displays a success message and executes MS Word®,
`WordPerfect®, or another Word processing system With neW
`Member Handbook 28. Once the user acknoWledges, the
`Add Member Transaction completes and transfers the focus
`to the Web client WindoW at client Workstation 12. These
`events occur at step 2-11.
`Note that in FIG. 1 and 2 con?gurations, security in the
`many different applications and different platforms is sim
`pli?ed. The passWord gets passed to the applications behind
`the scenes. The system passes the passWord to the different
`applications and platforms.
`The present invention solves the security problem in the
`folloWing Way. The user may log in and enter a single
`passWord. That encrypted passWord, then, may be passed on
`by client Workstation 12 to all the platforms for the trans
`actions that are being executed behind the scenes. The
`surrogate transactions that have been Written inside the
`interface are able to retrieve that information from the ?le.
`In other Words, either an initial transaction or response
`transaction Would carry that passWord on into those different
`systems. This is separate and distinct from the security
`integration problems that exist When using disparate appli
`cations.
`These different systems each represent a different inter
`face Without speci?cally identical integration to the user.
`The present embodiment permits the user to have and use the
`same passWord With all the different applications and plat
`forms With the present embodiment managing it for the user.
`With the present embodiment, it is even possible to have
`different passWords in different places With a simple table
`lookup for each user at client Workstation 12 for initiating
`the appropriate applications and accessing the platforms to
`respond to particular requests for information.
`Although the invention has been described in detail herein
`With reference to the illustrative embodiments, it is to be
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`Ex. 1019 Page 6
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`6,041,362
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`7
`understood that this description is by Way of example only
`and is not to be construed in a limiting sense. It is to be
`further understood that numerous changes in the details of
`the embodiments of the invention and additional embodi
`ments of the invention, Will be apparent to, and may be made
`by, persons of ordinary skill in the art having reference to
`this description. It is contemplated that all such changes and
`additional embodiments are Within the spirit and true scope
`of the invention as claimed beloW.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A system for connecting a Web client to an enterprise
`netWork having a plurality of disparate applications and
`platforms, comprising:
`a Web client;
`a predetermined information interface form for interfac
`ing the Web client With an enterprise netWork; and
`an application server that connects the Web client to the
`enterprise netWork, the application server operable to
`initiate the updating of information in a ?rst disparate
`application in response to information received from a
`second disparate application.
`2. The system of claim 1, Wherein:
`the application server comprises a Hyper-Text Transfer
`Protocol server; and
`the predetermined information interface form comprises a
`Hyper-Text Markup Language document.
`3. The system of claim 1, Wherein the application server
`further comprises an interface program operable to:
`receive a request generated by the Web client for infor
`mation from the disparate applications and platforms;
`retrieve the requested information from at least tWo of the
`disparate applications and platforms; and
`integrate the requested information into the predeter
`mined information interface form for delivery to the
`Web client.
`4. The system of claim 3, Wherein the interface program
`further comprises instructions for building a Hyper-Text
`Markup Language document that integrates the requested
`information into the predetermined interface form for deliv
`ery to the Web client.
`5. The system of claim 3, Wherein the application server
`comprises a Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol server having a
`Common GateWay interface program operable to integrate
`the requested information into the predetermined informa
`tion interface form for delivery to the Web client.
`6. The system of claim 1, Wherein the disparate applica
`tions comprise a member database application, an employee
`?le application, and an order ?le and program application.
`7. An application server for connecting a Web client to an
`enterprise netWork having a plurality of disparate applica
`tions and platforms, the application server having an inter
`face program comprising:
`?rst instructions for receiving a request generated by the
`Web client for information from the disparate applica
`tions and platforms; and
`second instructions for initiating the updating of informa
`tion in a ?rst disparate application in response to
`information received from a second disparate applica
`tion.
`8. The application server of claim 7, further comprising:
`third instructions for retrieving the requested information
`from at least tWo of the disparate applications and
`platforms; and
`fourth instructions for integrating the requested informa
`tion into a predetermined information interface form
`for delivery to the Web client.
`9. The application server of claim 7, Wherein the interface
`program comprises a Common GateWay interface program.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`8
`10. The application server of claim 8, Wherein:
`the application server comprises a Hyper-Text Transfer
`Protocol server; and
`the predetermined information interface form comprises a
`Hyper-Text Markup Language document.
`11. The application server of claim 8, Wherein the third
`instructions comprise third instructions for retrieving the
`requested information from the disparate applications and
`platforms by using remote and local applications execution.
`12. The application server of claim 8, Wherein the third
`instructions comprise third instructions for:
`initiating a remote application execution on at least one of
`the disparate applications;
`retrieving the requested information resulting from the
`remote application execution; and
`processing the requested information by initiating a local
`application execution on the application server.
`13. The application server of claim 8, Wherein the fourth
`instructions comprise fourth instructions for building a
`Hyper-Text Markup Language document that integrates
`the requested information into the predetermined inter
`face form for delivery to the Web client.
`14. Amethod for connecting a Web client to an enterprise
`netWork having a plurality of disparate applications and
`platforms, comprising the folloWing steps performed at an
`application server:
`receiving a request generated by the Web client for
`information from the disparate applications and plat
`forms; and
`initiating the updating of information stored in a ?rst
`disparate application in response to information
`received from a second disparate application.
`15. The method of claim 14, Wherein:
`the application server comprises a Hyper-Text Transfer
`Protocol server; and
`the predetermined information interface form comprises a
`Hyper-Text Markup Language document.
`16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
`retrieving the requested information from at least tWo of
`the disparate applications and platforms; and
`integrating the requested information into a predeter
`mined information interface form for delivery to the
`Web client.
`17. The method of claim 16, Wherein the step of retrieving
`comprises retrieving the requested information from the
`disparate applications and platforms using remote and local
`applications execution.
`18. The method of claim 16, Wherein the step of retrieving
`comprises retrieving the requested information from
`the disparate applications and platforms using remote and
`local applications execution of a Common GateWay
`interface program residing on the application server.
`19. The method of claim 16, Wherein the step of retrieving
`comprises:
`initiating a remote application execution on at least one of
`the disparate applications;
`retrieving the requested information resulting from the
`remote application execution; and
`processing the requested information by initiating a local
`application execution on the application server.
`20. The method of claim 16, Wherein the step of integrat
`ing the requested information comprises building a Hyper
`Text Markup Language