Client/server computer systems having control of client-based application programs, and application-program control means therefor
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| Title: | Client/server computer systems having control of client-based application programs, and application-program control means therefor |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 5,689,708 |
| Publication Date: | November 18, 1997 |
| Appl. No: | 08/414,729 |
| Application Filed: | March 31, 1995 |
| Abstract: | A resource manager in a client/server computer network controls the availability of system resources. A system administrator generates a set of profiles which specify which system resources each user may employ for each of multiple application programs. Individual application programs may internally configure their possible choices of such system resources according to the appropriate profile on a dynamic basis. |
| Inventors: | Regnier, Barbara Ann (Mazeppa, MN); Youngers, David Nicholas (Rochester, MN) |
| Assignees: | ShowCase Corporation (Rochester, MN) |
| Claim: | Having described a preferred embodiment and a few of the many variations and alternatives within the scope and spirit of the present invention which may occur to those skilled in the art, we claim |
| Claim: | 1. A method of managing a set of shared system resources in a computer network having at least one server coupled to a plurality of clients each containing a plurality of application programs executable by a plurality of users at said clients, said programs having interfaces for allowing said users to choose dynamically among said shared system resources, said method comprising |
| Claim: | generating in said server a plurality of profiles specifying the allowability of individual ones of said shared system resources within particular ones of said application programs for certain ones of said users; |
| Claim: | identifying one of said users at one of said client computers; |
| Claim: | in response to said identification, selecting certain information from said profiles corresponding to said individual shared system resources for said particular application programs for said one identified user; |
| Claim: | detecting at said one client computer a request for a particular one of said application programs by said one user; |
| Claim: | dynamically modifying at least one of said user interfaces for said particular one application program in response to said certain profile information corresponding to said identified one user for said particular one application program so as to make available to said one user only those of said shared system resources specified by said profile information for said particular one application program for said identified one user. |
| Claim: | 2. A resource manager for a client/server network of computers coupled together by a communications means, said network executing a plurality of application programs having a server portion located in a server computer in said network and having a client portion located in one or more client computers in said network and invoked by one of a number of users, said network further including a plurality of different system resources potentially usable by said application programs and physically shared among said application programs, each said application-program client portion having a user interface from which said one user can select different ones of said system resources during an execution of said client portion, said resource manager comprising |
| Claim: | a set of profiles, each profile specifying said one user and a number of said application programs, and specifying, for individual ones of said number of application programs, a number of particular ones of said shared system resources, and specifying, for each of said particular resources, a number of rights of said one user to each of said particular resources for each of said individual application programs; |
| Claim: | means for detecting the identity of said one user at any one of said one or more client computers, and for selecting that profile corresponding to said one user; |
| Claim: | means for selecting individual portions of said selected profile corresponding to said individual application program; |
| Claim: | means for modifying said user interface for said individual application program in response to said individual portions of said selected profile so as to allow said user at said client computer to choose only those of said shared system resources specified by said individual portions. |
| Claim: | 3. An individual interactive application program executable by a number of users in a client/server computer network having a number of physically shared resources, said network containing a stored profile specifying a particular one of said users, a number of application programs including said individual application program, and specifying, for each of said application programs, a number of selectable ones of said shared system resources, and specifying, for each of said selectable resources for each of said application programs, a number of rights of said particular one user to each of said certain resources, said individual one application program comprising |
| Claim: | means for selecting from said stored profile certain information peculiar to said individual application program for said particular one user; |
| Claim: | means for selecting among a plurality of functions in response to inputs from said one user; |
| Claim: | means responsive to said selecting means for performing said functions; |
| Claim: | a number of user-interface means within said function-performing means, each of said user-interface means presenting to said one user choices among one of said shared system resources; |
| Claim: | interface modifying means coupled to a plurality of said user-interface means for modifying said choices of respective ones of said shared system resources in response to said rights of said particular one user with respect to said individual application program as specified in said profile information. |
| Claim: | 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating, comprises the steps of |
| Claim: | for each user, identifying one or more of said application programs which the user is authorized to execute; and |
| Claim: | for each authorized application program, identifying which shared system resources the user is permitted to access. |
| Claim: | 5. A method of managing a set of shared system resources in a computer network having at least one server coupled to one or more clients, the one or more clients for use by one or more users, the one or more clients capable of executing a plurality of applications, comprising the steps of |
| Claim: | generating a plurality of profiles in a server, the plurality of profiles specifying which shared system resources are available to a particular user for a particular application; |
| Claim: | identifying a user signing onto the computer network using a client; |
| Claim: | associating a profile of the plurality of profiles with the user; |
| Claim: | downloading profile information from the server to the client based on the profile; |
| Claim: | detecting a request for execution of an application by the user; |
| Claim: | identifying available shared system resources based on the user and the application using the profile information; and |
| Claim: | dynamically modifying a user interface to reflect the available shared system resources, to control access of the user to the set of shared system resources. |
| Claim: | 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of dynamically modifying comprises the step of editing an external initialization file associated with the application according to the profile information, to control system resource options presented to the user by the application. |
| Claim: | 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of dynamically modifying comprises the step of controlling system resource options presented to the user by the application using a formal application program interface. |
| Claim: | 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of generating a plurality of profiles comprises the step of |
| Claim: | constructing a profile for each user, the profile including definitions of which applications the user is authorized, and for each authorized application, a definition of which shared system resources the user is permitted to access. |
| Claim: | 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of detecting a request for execution of an application by the user, comprises the steps of |
| Claim: | comparing the application to the definitions in the profile for the user to determine if the user is authorized to execute the application; and |
| Claim: | if the user is authorized to execute the application, executing the application. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 395/682; 395/683; 395/674; 39520/001 |
| Current International Class: | G06F 946 |
| Patent References Cited: | 5187790 February 1993 East et al. 5432899 July 1995 Jwatani et al. |
| Primary Examiner: | Heckler, Thomas M. |
| Assistant Examiner: | Banankhah, Majid A. |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A. |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.05689708 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 CustomLinks: – Url: https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(%225%2C689%2C708%22).pn.&db=USPAT&type=ids Name: EDS - USPTO Patent Grants (s4221598) Category: fullText Text: View record in USPTO Patent Grants |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Client/server computer systems having control of client-based application programs, and application-program control means therefor – Name: DocumentID Label: Patent Number Group: Patent Data: 5,689,708 – Name: DateEntry Label: Publication Date Group: Patent Data: November 18, 1997 – Name: DocumentID Label: Appl. No Group: Patent Data: 08/414,729 – Name: DateFiled Label: Application Filed Group: Patent Data: March 31, 1995 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: A resource manager in a client/server computer network controls the availability of system resources. A system administrator generates a set of profiles which specify which system resources each user may employ for each of multiple application programs. Individual application programs may internally configure their possible choices of such system resources according to the appropriate profile on a dynamic basis. – Name: Author Label: Inventors Group: Patent Data: <searchLink fieldCode="ZA" term="%22Regnier%2C+Barbara+Ann%22">Regnier, Barbara Ann</searchLink> (Mazeppa, MN); <searchLink fieldCode="ZA" term="%22Youngers%2C+David+Nicholas%22">Youngers, David Nicholas</searchLink> (Rochester, MN) – Name: OtherAuthors Label: Assignees Group: Patent Data: <searchLink fieldCode="ZS" term="%22ShowCase+Corporation%22">ShowCase Corporation</searchLink> (Rochester, MN) – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: Having described a preferred embodiment and a few of the many variations and alternatives within the scope and spirit of the present invention which may occur to those skilled in the art, we claim – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: 1. A method of managing a set of shared system resources in a computer network having at least one server coupled to a plurality of clients each containing a plurality of application programs executable by a plurality of users at said clients, said programs having interfaces for allowing said users to choose dynamically among said shared system resources, said method comprising – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: generating in said server a plurality of profiles specifying the allowability of individual ones of said shared system resources within particular ones of said application programs for certain ones of said users; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: identifying one of said users at one of said client computers; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: in response to said identification, selecting certain information from said profiles corresponding to said individual shared system resources for said particular application programs for said one identified user; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: detecting at said one client computer a request for a particular one of said application programs by said one user; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: dynamically modifying at least one of said user interfaces for said particular one application program in response to said certain profile information corresponding to said identified one user for said particular one application program so as to make available to said one user only those of said shared system resources specified by said profile information for said particular one application program for said identified one user. – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: 2. A resource manager for a client/server network of computers coupled together by a communications means, said network executing a plurality of application programs having a server portion located in a server computer in said network and having a client portion located in one or more client computers in said network and invoked by one of a number of users, said network further including a plurality of different system resources potentially usable by said application programs and physically shared among said application programs, each said application-program client portion having a user interface from which said one user can select different ones of said system resources during an execution of said client portion, said resource manager comprising – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: a set of profiles, each profile specifying said one user and a number of said application programs, and specifying, for individual ones of said number of application programs, a number of particular ones of said shared system resources, and specifying, for each of said particular resources, a number of rights of said one user to each of said particular resources for each of said individual application programs; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: means for detecting the identity of said one user at any one of said one or more client computers, and for selecting that profile corresponding to said one user; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: means for selecting individual portions of said selected profile corresponding to said individual application program; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: means for modifying said user interface for said individual application program in response to said individual portions of said selected profile so as to allow said user at said client computer to choose only those of said shared system resources specified by said individual portions. – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: 3. An individual interactive application program executable by a number of users in a client/server computer network having a number of physically shared resources, said network containing a stored profile specifying a particular one of said users, a number of application programs including said individual application program, and specifying, for each of said application programs, a number of selectable ones of said shared system resources, and specifying, for each of said selectable resources for each of said application programs, a number of rights of said particular one user to each of said certain resources, said individual one application program comprising – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: means for selecting from said stored profile certain information peculiar to said individual application program for said particular one user; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: means for selecting among a plurality of functions in response to inputs from said one user; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: means responsive to said selecting means for performing said functions; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: a number of user-interface means within said function-performing means, each of said user-interface means presenting to said one user choices among one of said shared system resources; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: interface modifying means coupled to a plurality of said user-interface means for modifying said choices of respective ones of said shared system resources in response to said rights of said particular one user with respect to said individual application program as specified in said profile information. – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating, comprises the steps of – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: for each user, identifying one or more of said application programs which the user is authorized to execute; and – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: for each authorized application program, identifying which shared system resources the user is permitted to access. – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: 5. A method of managing a set of shared system resources in a computer network having at least one server coupled to one or more clients, the one or more clients for use by one or more users, the one or more clients capable of executing a plurality of applications, comprising the steps of – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: generating a plurality of profiles in a server, the plurality of profiles specifying which shared system resources are available to a particular user for a particular application; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: identifying a user signing onto the computer network using a client; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: associating a profile of the plurality of profiles with the user; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: downloading profile information from the server to the client based on the profile; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: detecting a request for execution of an application by the user; – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: identifying available shared system resources based on the user and the application using the profile information; and – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: dynamically modifying a user interface to reflect the available shared system resources, to control access of the user to the set of shared system resources. – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of dynamically modifying comprises the step of editing an external initialization file associated with the application according to the profile information, to control system resource options presented to the user by the application. – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of dynamically modifying comprises the step of controlling system resource options presented to the user by the application using a formal application program interface. – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of generating a plurality of profiles comprises the step of – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: constructing a profile for each user, the profile including definitions of which applications the user is authorized, and for each authorized application, a definition of which shared system resources the user is permitted to access. – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of detecting a request for execution of an application by the user, comprises the steps of – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: comparing the application to the definitions in the profile for the user to determine if the user is authorized to execute the application; and – Name: Comment Label: Claim Group: Patent Data: if the user is authorized to execute the application, executing the application. – Name: CodeClass Label: Current U.S. Class Group: Patent Data: 395/682; 395/683; 395/674; 39520/001 – Name: CodeClass Label: Current International Class Group: Patent Data: G06F 946 – Name: Ref Label: Patent References Cited Group: Patent Data: <searchLink fieldCode="RF" term="%225187790%22">5187790</searchLink> February 1993 East et al.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="RF" term="%225432899%22">5432899</searchLink> July 1995 Jwatani et al. – Name: AuthorEditor Label: Primary Examiner Group: Patent Data: <searchLink fieldCode="ZE" term="%22Heckler%2C+Thomas+M%2E%22">Heckler, Thomas M.</searchLink> – Name: AuthorEditor Label: Assistant Examiner Group: Patent Data: <searchLink fieldCode="ZE" term="%22Banankhah%2C+Majid+A%2E%22">Banankhah, Majid A.</searchLink> – Name: AuthorCorporate Label: Attorney, Agent or Firm Group: Patent Data: <searchLink fieldCode="ZG" term="%22Schwegman%2C+Lundberg%2C+Woessner+%26+Kluth%2C+P%2EA%2E%22">Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.</searchLink> – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: edspgr.05689708 |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English Titles: – TitleFull: Client/server computer systems having control of client-based application programs, and application-program control means therefor Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Regnier, Barbara Ann – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Youngers, David Nicholas IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 18 M: 11 Text: November 18, 1997 Type: published Y: 1997 |
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