Abstract: A method and system for streaming software applications to a client uses an application server having a library with the application files stored therein. A streaming manager is configured to send the application files to a client as a plurality of streamlets, each streamlet corresponding to a particular data block in a respective application file. A streaming prediction engine is provided to identify at least one streamlet which is predicted to be most appropriate to send to a given client at a particular time in accordance with a prediction model reflecting the manner in which the application files are loaded and used by the application. In the preferred implementation, the application files are preprocessed and stored as a set of compressed streamlets, each of which corresponds to a file data block having a size equal to a code page size, such as 4k, used during file reads by an operating system expected to be present on a client system.

Abstract: A client on a network includes a file system that includes various non-streamable software applications. A streaming support system in the client enables a streamable software application to be located in the file system and executed in a streaming mode without being isolated from the non-streamable software applications in the file system. Non-streamable software applications can invoke the streamable software application, and vice versa. Multiple streamable software applications can be concurrently located throughout the file system and can be executed in the client in the streaming mode without restriction to any particular portion of the main file system. Streamable applications can be located anywhere in the file system that the corresponding non-streamable versions of the applications would be able to be located. The main file system does not need to contain complete copies of the required files for any streamable applications.

Abstract: A software application streamed from a host system to a target system comprises the installation or configuration logic for another software application. In certain embodiments, the installation logic conforms to a well-known installation standard. The described technique allows the use and/or execution of installation logic or other related objects when these objects do not exist in their entirety on the target system. The application installation that results from this process may configure the subsequent application to be delivered only in part (in streamed mode) or in its entirety.

Abstract: A method for determining an order in which to stream modules of an application from a server to a client, where the application uses modules in an execution-time dependent order, employs a predictive model to determine which module transitions are most likely to occur in the future in view of the clients present state in the application and then stream the modules to the client in the determined order. Different sets of transition weights can be used for clients falling into different categories, such as time of application use and age of the user at the client. Additional factors which can be used to select the order to stream the modules include cache utilization at the client and customized streaming orders specified by the user.

Abstract: A method and system for executing a streamed application on a client system utilizes a virtual file system installed in the client which is configured to appear to the operating system as a local storage device containing all of the application files required by the application. Prior to streaming, the application files are broken up into streamlets corresponding generally to various portions of the application files and these streamlets are delivered to the client by the server, preferably using a predictive algorithm to determine an optimal transmission order. After an initial set of streamlets is received, the application is executed from the virtual file system. File loads issued by the operating system to the virtual file system are translated to determine which streamlets correspond to the load request and the appropriate data is returned.

Abstract: An improved system for streaming a software application to a plurality of clients comprises a principal server having the software stored thereon as a plurality of blocks and a plurality of intermediate servers between the principal server and the clients. The principal server is configured to stream program and data blocks to downstream devices in accordance with a dynamic prediction of the needs of those devices. The intermediate servers are configured to cache blocks received from connected upstream devices and service requests for blocks issued from downstream devices. In addition, the intermediate servers are further configured to autonomously predict the needs of downstream devices, stream the predicted blocks to the downstream devices, and if the predicted blocks are not present in the intermediate server cache, request those blocks from upstream devices.

Abstract: Archive files can be streamed from a server to a client device by extracting individual files from the archive and streaming the extracted files from the server to the client device. The received files can then be stored at the client device for access by an application. A new archive file may be formed at the client device to contain the received streamed files. Predictive critiera may be used to determine the order in which the extracted files are streamed from the server to the client device.

Abstract: A method for determining an order in which to stream modules of an application from a server to a client, where the application uses modules in an execution-time dependent order, employs a predictive model to determine which module transitions are most likely to occur in the future in view of the clients present state in the application and then stream the modules to the client in the determined order. Different sets of transition weights can be used for clients falling into different categories, such as time of application use and age of the user at the client. Additional factors which can be used to select the order to stream the modules include cache utilization at the client and customized streaming orders specified by the user.

Abstract: In an improved method and system for decreasing the user-perceived system response time when accessing web sites, the server is configured to service the initial web page request and then identify a set of N web site elements which are likely to be subsequently requested by the client. This set of resources is then streamed to the client. When the server determines that the client has accessed a sufficient number of the streamed elements or reached another threshold, a subsequent set of N site elements is identified and streamed to the server.

Abstract: A method and system for streaming software applications to a client uses an application server having a library with the application files stored therein. A streaming manager is configured to send the application files to a client as a plurality of streamlets, each streamlet corresponding to a particular data block in a respective application file. A streaming prediction engine is provided to identify at least one streamlet which is predicted to be most appropriate to send to a given client at a particular time in accordance with a prediction model reflecting the manner in which the application files are loaded and used by the application. In the preferred implementation, the application files are preprocessed and stored as a set of compressed streamlets, each of which corresponds to a file data block having a size equal to a code page size, such as 4k, used during file reads by an operating system expected to be present on a client system.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods of transmitting modules between a first computer and a second computer are disclosed. At the first computer, a module set is formed by selecting a sequence of modules from a collection of available modules. Each of the selected modules are associated with an application executing at the second computer. The selected modules may then be transparently streamed from the first computer to the second computer. The selection of modules is made in accordance with predetermined selection criteria and is independent of the second computer's execution environment. At the second computer, received modules may be integrated with the executing application. Systems for transmitting modules between a first computer and a second computer are also featured. The disclosed systems include a first computer and a second computer.

Abstract: A method and system for executing a streamed application on a client system utilizes a virtual file system installed in the client which is configured to appear to the operating system as a local storage device containing all of the application files required by the application. Prior to streaming, the application files are broken up into streamlets corresponding generally to various portions of the application files and these streamlets are delivered to the client by the server, preferably using a predictive algorithm to determine an optimal transmission order. After an initial set of streamlets is received, the application is executed from the virtual file system. File loads issued by the operating system to the virtual file system are translated to determine which streamlets correspond to the load request and the appropriate data is returned.

Abstract: An information transfer network, comprising: a plurality of client terminals which comprise a presentation system having a control and management agent system; a plurality of servers which comprise a database system and an application system, and a control and management agent system; a request broker system which permits the exchange of information between said client terminals and said servers through a communication path between said terminal and said server, and an information management system for dynamically controlling the location, access and transfer of information between said client terminals and said servers through a plurality of communication paths connecting said control and management agent system of each of said client terminals and servers to said information management system.