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`US 6,757,729 B1
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`a2) United States Patent
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`(45) Date of Patent:
`Devarakondaetal.
`*Jun. 29, 2004
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`US006757729B1
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`(75)
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`(54) VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGER FOR
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`NETWORK COMPUTERS
`Inventors: Murthy Devarakonda,Briarcliff
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`Manor, NY (US); Ajay Mohindra,
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`Yorktown Heights, NY (US); Deborra
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`Jean Zukowski, Yorktown Heights, NY
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`(US)
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`EP
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`(73) Assignee:
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`(“) Notice:
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`International Business Machines
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`Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
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`This patent issued on a continued pros-
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`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
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`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
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`term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`patent
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`154(a)(2).
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`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
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`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
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`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
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`(56)
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0780778
`12/1995
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`seesstesnnneeereees 29/6
`Wroodatod “ : oDOS
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`.. GO6F/9/46
`/1999
`eves GO06F/9/46
`WO 9944127 AL *
`9/1999
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`ieee. GO6F/9/46
`WO 9944134 AL* 9/1999
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`WO 0077635 Al * 12/2000 wee G06F/9/46
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`acces H04Q/7/00
`WO 0223927 A2* 3/2002
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`(Berstein) Bernstein, Philip A. “Middleware: A Model for
`
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`Distributed System Services”, pp. 86-98, Feb. 1996.*
`Zukowski et al. “Metis: A Thin—Client Application Frame-
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`work” Jun. 1997, USENIX.*
`
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`
`
`Waldo, Jim. “Object-oriented programming on the Net-
`
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`
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`
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`work.” ECOOP’99. 1999.*
`
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`Wollrath, Ann. et al. “Simple Activation for Distributed
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`Objects”, USENIX, Conference on OO Technologies
`
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`(COOTS), Jun. 1995.*
`
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`Wollrath, Ann etal. “A Distributed Object Modelfor Java”,
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`USENIX, Conference on OO Technologies and Systems
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`
`(COOTS), Jun. 1996.*
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`Sun Microsystems. “The Java Language Environment, A
`(21) Appl. No.: 08/722,434
`
`
`
`
`White Paper”, Oct. 1995.*
`
`
`
`
`Joint Submission, Interoperability Between Microsoft COM
`Oct. 7, 1996
`(22)
`Filed:
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`(51) Int. C1.cece GO06F 15/173; GOGF 15/16;|and OMG CORBA2.0, Aug. 1994.*
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`GO6F 9/00
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`Primary Examiner—Lewis A. Bullock,Jr.
`(52) US. Ch. eeeeee 709/226; 709/229; 718/104
`(74) ‘Aitorney, Agent, or Firm—Gail H. Zarich; Anne
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`(58) Field of Search ......... 395/200.02, 200.06,
`Vachon Dougherty
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`395/200.09, 200.2, 694, 680, 682, 683;
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`718/100, 104; 719/330, 310, 315; 709/200-226,
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
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`A system and method for a downloadable just-in-time
`229
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`middleware called VEM that provides access to network
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`services,
`including system services such as printing and
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`local storage, to applications that run on Network Comput-
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`ers. The VEM configures the default client services and
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`stores information about these services. When an application
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`executing on the Network Computer wishesto use one of the
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`services, it communicates with its local VEM. The VEM
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`returns a handle to the appropriate service to complete the
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`service request.
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`References Cited
`
`
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2/1993 Skeen et al. ssc 709/314
`5,187,787 A *
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`5,261,044 A * 11/1993 Dev et al. cccccceceeee 345/855
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`5,287,507 A *
`2/1994 Hamilton et al. 0.0.0... 719/315
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`
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`5,341,477 A *
`8/1994 Pitkin et al... 709/226
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`
`
`5,408,619 A *
`4/1995 Oram oe
`eeeteeeeeeees 707/10
`
`
`
`
`6/1995 Gray bteeeeeeeee
`5,426,421 A *
`sere 340/3.32
`
`
`8/1995 Wrabetz et al... 709/330
`5,442,791 A *
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`(List continued on next page.)
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`17 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
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`SERVICE DIRECTORY MANAGER
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`‘SERVICE DIRECTORY TABLE
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`ATTRIBUTE SERVICE PROVIDER
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`i0BK1)
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`1061)
`
`
`11011)
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`NETWORK COMPUTER
`
`
`VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT
`MANAGER
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`CONFIGURED
`SERVICES
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` CONFIGURED
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`SERVICES
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`LGEExhibit-1009/Page 1 of 10
`LGEv. Uniloc
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`LGE Exhibit-1009/Page 1 of 10
`LGE v. Uniloc
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`

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`US 6,757,729 B1
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`Page 2
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`5,475,819 A * 12/1995 Miller et al. 2... 709/203
`
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`
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`1/1996 Sudamaetal. ............. 395/600
`5,483,652 A
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`
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`5,734,828 A *
`3/1998 Pendse et al.
`.............. 709/203
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`5,748,896 A *
`5/1998 Daly et al. 0. 709/223
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`5,802,530 A *
`9/1998 Van Hoff oe 345/835
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`5,826,000 A * 10/1998 Hamilton....
`ve T14/4
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`5,838,906 A * 11/1998 Doyle etal. ee 709/202
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`5,852,722 A * 12/1998 Hamilton occ 709/221
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`5,870,544 A *
`2/1999 Curtis
`- 709/229
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`5,886,697 A *
`3/1999 Naughton et al.
`.......... 345/473
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`6,009,464 A * 12/1999 Hamilton et al. 0.0.0.0... 709/219
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`1/2000 Frailong et al... 709/250
`6,012,100 A *
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`6/2000 Frailong et al.
`............ 709/222
`6,073,172 A *
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`.......... 709/203
`613L116 A * 10/2000 Riggins et al.
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`6,144,960 A * 11/2000 Okadaet al. voces 707/10
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`6,185,611 BL *
`2/2001 Waldo et al... 709/221
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`6,266,774 Bl *
`7/2001 Sampathetal... 713/201
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`6,449,642 B2 *
`9/2002 Bourke-Dunphyetal.
`. 709/222
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`6,496,858 B1 * 12/2002 Frailong et al.
`............ 709/221
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`6,560,656 B1 *
`5/2003 O’Sullivan et al.
`......... 709/250
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`6.591.290 BL *
`7/2003 Clarisse et al.
`............. 709/205
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`6,604,127 B2 *
`8/2003 Murphyet al. 0.0... 709/203
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`* cited by examiner
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`LGEExhibit-1009/Page 2 of 10
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`LGE Exhibit-1009/Page 2 of 10
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`U.S. Patent Jun. 29,2004—Sheet 1 of 5 US 6,757,729 B1
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`FIG.
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`1
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`SERVICE DIRECTORY MANAGER
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`SERVICE DIRECTORY TABLE
`102
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`ATTRIBUTE|SERVICE PROVIDER
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`He
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`104(2)
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`COMMUNICATION
`NETWORK
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`SERVICE
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`PROVIDER 1
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`~\ SERVICE
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`PROVIDER 2
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`VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT|enue|MANAGER PROVIDER 3
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`SERVICE
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`104(3]
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`CONFIGURED
`SERVICES
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`10611)
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`11004)
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`TABLE OF
`APPLICATIONS
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`BROWSER
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`114(1)
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`NETWORK {COMPUTER
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`112(1)
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`VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT
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`10911)
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`CONFIGURED
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`TABLE OF
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`114(2)
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`104(1)
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`106(2)
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`10812)
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`1012)
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`112(2)
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`109(2)
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`LGEExhibit-1009/Page3 of 10
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`LGE Exhibit-1009/Page 3 of 10
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`U.S. Patent Jun. 29,2004—-Sheet 2 of 5 US 6,757,729 B1
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`FIG. 2
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`206
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`IS THE <USER
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`NAME> AND. PASSWORD
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`VALID?
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`LOAD USER’ S DESKTOP
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`ALONG WITH THE VEM
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`FIG.
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`IDENTIFY THE SERVICE DIRECTORY MANAGER THAT IS
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`RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE LIST OF SERVICES
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`IN QUR NETWORK. CALL THIS MANAGER AS DIRECTORY M
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`3
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`ANY MORE
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`SERVICES IN LIST
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`LGEExhibit-1009/Page4 of 10
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`LGE Exhibit-1009/Page 4 of 10
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 29, 2004
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`Sheet 3 of 5
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`US 6,757,729 B1
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`FIG.
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`SERVICE DIRECTORY MANAGER
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`OTHER STUBS
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`LGEExhibit-1009/Page 5 of 10
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`LGE Exhibit-1009/Page 5 of 10
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 29, 2004
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`Sheet 4 of 5
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`US 6,757,729 BI
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`LGEExhibit-1009/Page6 of 10
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`LGE Exhibit-1009/Page 6 of 10
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 29, 2004
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`Sheet 5 of 5
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`US 6,757,729 B1
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`FIG.
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`6
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`VEM DESKTOP
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`oeveve||PRINT
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`SYSTEM SERVICES
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`NOTESLITE
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`DESKTOP
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`Ly) 6
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`CALENDAR
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`LIST OF APPLICATIONS
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`OFFICE APPLICATIONS
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`PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY APPLICATIONS
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`LGEExhibit-1009/Page7 of 10
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`LGE Exhibit-1009/Page 7 of 10
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`US 6,757,729 B1
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`1
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`VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGER FOR
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`NETWORK COMPUTERS
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`I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`a. Field of the Invention
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`This invention relates to network computing. More
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`specifically, this invention relates to methods and means for
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`providing access to network services (for example, system
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`services such as printing and local storage) to applications
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`executing on network connected computers.
`b. Related Art
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`As the network computing paradigm becomes ubiquitous,
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`simplified inexpensive desktop computers, known as the
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`Network Computers, that have no means of independent
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`existence will become commonplace. Such devices may run
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`a low function operating system (for simplicity) and rely on
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`servers for basic system services including local storage,
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`printing, and monitoring. While traditional clients, such as
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`PCs, provide their own basic system services they are also
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`likely to seek additional services from the network.
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`Existing approaches used to provide these basic system
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`services to applications include the existence of a full-
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`drives) to support a full-feature operating environment(e.g.,
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`in the case of a Network Computer). The latter approach has
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`platform and environmentit can be run underso that it can
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`while the latter approach adds to the complexity in the
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`II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`invention to provide a
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`flexible, powerful, and portable means for enabling network
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`In a preferred embodiment, a downloadable middleware
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`The VEM allowsapplications to be developed completely
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`client computer and the servers it connects to. For a client
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`(i.e., a network computer) to access a service, the VEM
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`queries a Service Directory Table available on one or more
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`III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
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`The present invention will be understood by reference to
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`the drawing, wherein:
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`FIG. 1 depicts a loosely coupled system suitable for use
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`FIG. 2 show the flow chart for the boot phase of the
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`FIG. 3 showsthe flow chart for initial steps taken by each
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`FIG. 4 showsan instance of the system state with the
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`FIG. 5 showsthe flow control process for an application
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`when it wishes to use a network service; and,
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`FIG. 6 shows an example desktop.
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`IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
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`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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`A loosely coupled system suitable for use with the present
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`invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The system includes
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`several computers 102-106 interconnected by way of a
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`communication network 112. Of these computers, some are
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`known as Network Computers 106(1), 106(2), because they
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`rely on services available via the network to provide many
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`of their basic functions. Others are known as service pro-
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`viders 104(1), 104(2), 104(3) because they provide network
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`services, such as basic system services,
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`Computers. Some of the computers are also known as
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`Service Directory Managers (SDMs) 102, because they
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`maintain a list of services that are provided to network
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`computers by the service providers.
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`The Network Computers 106 can be embodied,
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`example, on a JAVA terminal, a personal digital assistant
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`(PDA)or an internet terminal. The communication protocol
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`is HTTP and TCP/IP. The network 112 can be, for example,
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`a token ring. The service systems 102, 104(1), 104(2),
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`104(3) can be embodied, for example, on IBM RISC
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`System/6000 machines using AIX 4.2.
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`A logical organization can be placed on the physical
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`system described above. This organization can be described
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`by a three tier client/server strategy. In this strategy, tier 1
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`represents the client function, tier 2 represents the service
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`provider and tier 3 represents the data object server (ie.,
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`information storage). The system described in the present
`embodiment relates to tiers 1 and 2 and the interface in
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`between. The interface in between tiers 2 and 3 is
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`unrestricted, so users can rely on conventional, tried and true
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`data information access systems. Note that a service pro-
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`vider can be designed to either reside completely on a tier 2
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`server or to allocate its function between tiers 1 and 2 by
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`providing a special service stub.
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`Each Network Computer includes a Virtual Environment
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`Manager (VEM) 108(1), 108(2) that is downloaded from a
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`Service Provider by way of the communication network 112.
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`The VEM is embodied as program code instantiated in the
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`random access memory (not shown) of the Network Com-
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`puter. In particular, the VEM provides a base class called
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`VEMCLASSthat it relies on for defining a collection of
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`objects (in the sense of “object oriented programming”).
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`Oneof the objects included in each VEM is anactive entity
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`called the Virtual Environment Superviser (VES) 109(1),
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`109(2) that is responsible for maintaining the VEM state. In
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`a preferred embodiment, the VES is an active JAVA object
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`andis directly instantiated from the VEMCLASS. The VEM
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`state includes a table of configured services 110(1), 110(2)
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`and a table of active applications 112(2), 112(2). Both the
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`table of configured services and the table of active applica-
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`tions are also instantiated in the random access memory of
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`each Network Computer. Applications inherit from the
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`VEMCLASSin order to interact with the VES. The object
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`class is compiled with the application and boundto the name
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`space of the application.
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`According to an embodiment of the present invention,
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`when a network computer is switched on, it goes through a
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`boot process in whichit readies itself for use. At the end of
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`the boot process, the network computer prompts the user for
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`identification. The identification process can be,
`for
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`example, typing in the user name and a password. After user
`LGEExhibit-1009/Page8 of 10
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`LGE Exhibit-1009/Page 8 of 10
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`

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`US 6,757,729 B1
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`for maintaining the list of services in the network. In step
`identity verification, the network computer presents the user
`306 the Service Provider scans the list of services and
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`with a desktop environment.
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`determines the next service to be registered. If there is
`The desktop environmentis preferably a JAVA container.
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`another service to be registered,
`in step 308 the Service
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`The JAVA container runs on top of a JAVA virtual machine.
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`Provider sends a REGISTER messageto the SDM (directory
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`Both the container and the JAVA virtual machine are pro-
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`M) and then returns to step 306. If there are no more services
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`vided by a program such as a Web Browser 114(1), 114(2)
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`in the list, initialization is completed in step 310. It should
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`(e.g. Netscape Navigator) which executes on the Network
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`be understood that steps 306 and 308 can be replaced with
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`Computer. The browser can be downloaded during the
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`a single step in which the entire list is read only once and
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`Network Computer’s boot sequence or provided as an
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`then sent to the appropriate SDMaspartof a single message
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`integral part of the Network Computer.
`or message sequence.
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`As part of the initialization process, the browser down-
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`An instance of the system state in which various client
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`loads the VES and a configuration file for the user from a
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`stubs are located at the Network Computers is shown in FIG.
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`Service Provider. The VES uses the configuration file to set
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`4. The Figure showsthree Service Providers: a Print Server
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`up the user’s desktop environment (desktop). An example
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`402, a Fax Server 404 and a Mail Server 406. The SDT 408
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`desktop (which can be in the form of a home page) is shown
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`includes information about the three service providers. In
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`in FIG. 6. The configurationfile containsalist of system and
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`particular, the information describes the type (attribute) of
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`application-services that the user accesses most frequently.
`service and the location of the Service Provider which
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`These system and application services can be embodied as
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`provides the particular service. The particular instance of the
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`icons 602 or buttons 604 and/or a textuallist 606 displayed
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`Network Computer 410 includes various applications 412
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`on the desktop. The system and application services can be
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`(AP1-APn), an active VES object 414 which contains a table
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`accessed as hyperlinksor as direct control buttons where the
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`of configured services and passive stub objects 416 (Print
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`appropriate JAVA code has been downloaded. The remain-
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`Client Stub, Fax Client Stub, Mail Client Stub) that provide
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`der of the VEM is downloaded with user applications.
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`connections to the services. The VEM includes the VES, the
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`The initial logging and download of the home page is
`stubs and the VEMCLASSportion of each application.
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`described in FIG. 2. In step 202 the Network Computeris
`The VEM will now be discussed in more detail. For
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`powered onorreset by a user. In response, in step 204 the
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`reference, code definitions for the VEM include the VEM-
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`Network Computer commences its machine specific, con-
`CLASSand the client and server interfaces. FIG. 5 shows
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`ventional boot sequence. This sequence can be extended to
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`the flow control process for an application whenit wishes to
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`include downloading of the Web browser. In step 206, the
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`use a network service. As previously discussed, loading the
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`Network Computer prompts the user for a username and
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`VESinto a client is analogous to looking at an HTML page
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`password. The Network Computer uses conventional meth-
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`in a browser. The VES is downloadedand it’s init(}) method
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`ods to determine if the username and passwordare valid in
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`is called. The init() method synchronizesitself to ensure that
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`step 208. Those of skill in the art will recognize that steps
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`the class variable VE_supervisor is initialized only once.
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`206 and 208 could alternatively be performedas part of step
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`Any subsequent attempts to start a VES are disabled. The
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`204. If step 208 determines that either the username or
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`VESassigns itself id=0 by setting the VEM_id instance
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`passwordare not valid, the method returns to step 206. If the
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`variable. The class variable, num__AFE,
`is then incre-
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`username and password are valid, in step 210 the Network
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`mented. A registry (that contains the Configured Services
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`Computer downloads the VES and the configurationfile.
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`Table 110 and the Table of Applications 112) and a shared__
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`When a VES is downloaded for a user, it initiates con-
`services table are created. Finally, a directory services
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`figuration of all services that are in the configuration file.
`remote object is instantiated, using the DS_server param-
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`The configuration file can be of a conventional flat file
`eters passed in the htmlfile.
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`format. For example, the configuration file can be in the
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`Once the VEM has been downloaded and initialized,
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`form of a Bookmarks file of the type used by Netscape
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`applications (APs) can be downloaded. (Note that APs are
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`Navigator 3.0. This configuration is performed by contacting
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`assumed to be applets in this discussion. The VEM supports
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`the appropriate service providers andinitializing the client’s
`applications,
`though applets are preferred for improved
`table of services 110 with the server information. Stubs are
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`manageability.) In it’s init( ) method, an AP should call the
`also downloaded for those services that reside on both tiers
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`registerAFE( ) method. This call sets the AP’s instance
`1 and 2.
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`variable, VEM_id, to the class variable num__AFE, and
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`increments num_AFE. Since num_AFE is never
`In addition to the currently configured services, the VES
`has access to all services available on the network. This
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`decremented, the AP now has a unique id. The VESis then
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`enablesa userto add any available service to the desktop and
`called to create an entry for the AP in the registry (the Table
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`as a result to the user’s configuration file.
`of Applications 112). At this time, the entry contains only the
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`Service access is provided by a Service Directory Man-
`applet object reference, id and name, but it can be expanded
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`ager (SDM)that maintains a table of services referred to as
`later as needed. The registerAFE( ) methodreturns a unique
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`the Service Directory Table (SDT) 114 (shown in FIG. 1).
`key, called a “cookie”, to the AP to ensure that access to the
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`The Service Directory Table contains information about
`AP information in the registry is controlled. The AP is now
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`system and application services offered by the Service
`fully integrated into the VEM environment and is now
`Providers on the network. It should be understood that there
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`capable of VEM function.
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`can be a plurality of SDMson the network, each maintaining
`When the AP needsa service,it first requests the VEM to
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`a SDTor accessing a single instance of the SDT.
`register the service using one of the registerService(_ )
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`Whena Service Provider is connected to the network,it
`methods. On service registration the VES checks the direc-
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`tory service (the SDM) using the LookupService( ) method
`announcesthe set of servicesit offers to the SDM. The steps
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`taken by each Service Provider in announcing the set of
`to get the handle to the service and to see if the service has
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`a stub. If it does, the stub is downloaded. The VEM then
`servicesit offers are shownin FIG. 3. In step 302 the Service
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`adds a service entry to the registry (the Configured Services
`Provider generatesa list of servicesthatit offers. In step 304,
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`Table 112)
`that
`includes the service’s handle and,
`if
`the Service Provider identifies the SDM that is responsible
`LGEExhibit-1009/Page 9 of 10
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`LGE Exhibit-1009/Page 9 of 10
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`US 6,757,729 B1
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`5
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`appropriate, a reference to the stub. A cookie is passed back
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`to the AP. Oncethe service is in the registry, both the AP and
`the VES can access it as needed.
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`The choice of which registerService( ) method is called
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`depends on: (1) whether a generic service is needed(i.e. one
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`identifiable with just a name), or whether a more custom
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`service is needed (e.g. one that is identified with a list of
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`attributes as well as a name); and (2) whether the service
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`shared. If the service is not shared, then the AP registering
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`the service is the only one that gets access to the cookie.
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`Otherwise, if the service is present, a cookie is passed back
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`that is the same as those given to other APs for the service.
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`If a shared service is not yet available in the VEM,the
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`shared_service variable is updatedto reflect the availability
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`of a new,shared service, and a new cookieis passed back to
`the AP.
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`Access to shared services can be controlled using an
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`access control
`list. Alternatively, shared services can be
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`globally available, i.e. any AP can receive the cookie for the
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`service just by asking for the service. Shared services are
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`useful for minimizing the numberofserver stubs resident on
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`a client. They can also be useful if service behavior changes
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`caused by one AP are used by another interactively.
`Shared services can be removed from the VEM in various
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`ways. According to a first embodiment, a reference count is
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`kept for each service. The reference indicates how many APs
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`currently have access to the service. When the reference
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`count reaches zero,
`the service is removed by the VES.
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`According to an alternative embodiment, only the AP that
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`originally brought in the service is allowed to removeit.
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`Once the VEM state has been updated to include the
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`service,
`the AP can get
`the handle by issuing the
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`getServiceHandle( ) method, or get the stub by using the
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`getServiceInstance( ) method. The AP is then free to make
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`a connection of any sort and use the service. The VEM can
`be embodiedto restrict how an AP and service communicate.
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`When the service is no longer needed,
`the AP calls the
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`RevokeService( ) method that updates the VEM state as
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`follows:if the service is unique to the AP then the service is
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`removed; if the service is a shared service then it is removed
`in accordance with the rules discussed above.
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`Nowthat the invention has been described by way of the
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`preferred embodiment, various modifications and improve-
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`ments will occur to those of skill in the art. Thus, it should
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`be understood that
`the preferred embodiment has been
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`provided as an example andnotasa limitation. The scope of
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`the invention is defined by the appended claims.
`Whatis claimedis:
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`1. A method for dynamically providing access to and
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`interaction with a plurality of network system and applica-
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`tion services to an application executing on a networkclient,
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`said network client having an environment management
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`software system, comprising the stepsof:
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`automatically dynamically determining when the appli-
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`cation requires access to at least one of a plurality of
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`remote network system and application services;
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`in response to a determination that
`the application
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`requires access to at least one of a plurality of remote
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`network system and application services said environ-
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`ment management software system of said network
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`client performing the steps of:
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`identifying a plurality of different potential service pro-
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`viders for each particular one of the at least one remote
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`network system and application services;
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`locating at least one potential service provider from said
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`plurality of different potential remote service providers
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`for the at least one remote network service required by
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`the application on demand; and
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`downloading at least one object comprising executable
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`code into the