Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the number of clients that can access a server in a server-client network are described. A communications filter driver resides on the server and monitors network communications to determine a unique network address of each client that attempts to access the server. When a client attempts to access the server, the server allows the client to access the server if the network address of the client is listed in a table. If the network address of the client is not listed in the table, the server determines if a client limit has been met or exceeded. If the limit has been reached, the server determines if the client is a client that has previously accessed the server under a different network address. This is accomplished by sending a signal to each network address listed in the table and requesting a response.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the number of clients that can access a server in a server-client network are described. A communications filter driver resides on the server and monitors network communications to determine a unique network address of each client that attempts to access the server. A table of clients that have accessed the server is stored at the server. When a client attempts to access the server, the server allows the client to access the server if the network address of the client is listed in the table. If the network address of the client is not listed in the table, the server determines if a client limit has been met or exceeded. If the limit has not been met, the client is allowed to access the server and the Internet address of the client is added to the table.

Abstract: The invention includes method and apparatus for updating a configuration of a client computer coupled by means of a network to a server computer. The updating process begins with a change in the status of a server computer. This change can be necessitated by addition of hardware such as an additional hard drive or the addition of an additional service such as shared Internet access. A status message is transmitted by means of the network between the server computer and the client computer regarding the changed status of the server computer. This message can be either an alert message from the server to all connected client computer nodes or can be accomplished by client polling for an updated status of the server. A message is displayed at the client computer to apprise a user that a status of the server computer has changed.

Abstract: Application program caching and execution is disclosed. An application program component, which may constitute the only component of an application program, is cached by a computing device from an original computing device. The computing device executes the cached component in lieu of its execution by the original computing device. The computing device may be a client computing device, where the client device executes the cached component for itself. The computing device may also be a caching computing device, where the caching device executes the cached component for the client computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the number of clients that can access a server in a server-client network are described. A communications filter driver resides on the server and monitors network communications to determine a unique network address of each client that attempts to access the server. A table of clients that have accessed the server is stored at the server. When a client attempts to access the server, the server allows the client to access the server if the network address of the client is listed in the table. If the network address of the client is not listed in the table, the server determines if a client limit has been met or exceeded. If the limit has not been met, the client is allowed to access the server and the Internet address of the client is added to the table. If the limit has been reached, the server determines if the client is a client that has previously accessed the server under a different network address.

Abstract: Application program caching and execution is disclosed. An application program component, which may constitute the only component of an application program, is cached by a computing device from an original computing device. The computing device executes the cached component in lieu of its execution by the original computing device. The computing device may be a client computing device, where the client device executes the cached component for itself. The computing device may also be a caching computing device, where the caching device executes the cached component for the client computing device.