Method of and apparatus for creating a hypermedial interactive page in a computer network

The subject of the invention is a method of creating an interactive hypermedia website in a computer network.

The invention also relates to a device for creating an interactive hypermedia website in a computer network.

Hipermedia is a display graphic environment that contains both text and graphic fields. For example, a hypermedium can be an encyclopedic article on aviation. If the displayed graphic of this article contains a picture of the rocket, and if the user can get information about the engine of this rocket by selecting (for example, using the mouse)

181 472 connection indicator to display information about this engine, this indicator is called a hyperlink, and this part of information about the engine is called a link. Activating the connection indicator activates the hypermedium, which queries the data file from the hypermedium host program for the requested information.

When connecting a hypermedium to a computer network, for example an intemetem or www (world wide web), the user from his node first gets access to the so-called home page or web page (computer network page). A computer network page that is displayed on a user's node through a program called a web browser is obtained from another network node, called a web server. When the user activates the connection indicator, for example the indicator for the rocket engine, the web browser is asked for a data file containing the requested information about the location of the data about the rocket engine, determined by these connection indicators. Then, the web browser sets up the user node to connect to the web server node to get data about the activated pointer from it. The network server node containing information about the rocket engine also contains all the information required by the connection indicator.

The method described above only allows you to get and view information from other sources. However, the above method does not allow the user to launch an application (e.g. database) located on another computer via a hypermedium and control its operation (interactivity).

The object of the invention is to develop a method for creating an interactive hypermedia page in a computer network that will eliminate the disadvantages of the previously known methods for creating a hypermedia page.

This goal was accomplished in the method of creating an interactive hypermedia page in a computer network according to the invention, which consists in the fact that on the hypermedia page in the user node a connection indicator is selected, after which the configuration file of this connection indicator is found in the network server, it launches a program that manages the user's connection to the network, and then, depending on the configuration file data, a communication connection is created between this program and the application, which is then run on the runtime server.

After running the application on the runtime server, it is displayed on the user node, preferably via a communication connection between the user node and the runtime server.

Preferably, the hypermedia page is obtained from the web server before selecting the connection indicator on the user node.

Before establishing a communication connection between the user node and the runtime server, the program that manages the runtime server's connection to the network is preferably run on that server.

The communication connection preferably uses a protocol that allows graphics presentation.

The object of the invention is also a device for creating an interactive hypermedia page in a computer network that will eliminate the drawbacks of the previously known devices for creating a hypermedia page.

This goal was accomplished in the construction of the device for creating an interactive hypermedia page in a computer network according to the invention, which consists of a user node provided with a connection indicator of the displayed hypermedia page, a network server node connected to the user node, provided with a connection indicator configuration file, from a program that manages the user's connection to the network, located on the user's node, from the executive server, connected to the user's node and the network server node, and provided with a program that manages the connection of the executive server to the network, and applications, whereby the program

181 472 that manages the user's connection to the network and the program that manages the connection of the executive server to the network are in mutual communication.

The user node is preferably provided with an application display system.

A hypermedia page is preferably displayed on the user node.

The configuration file preferably contains the name of the application corresponding to the connection indicator, and the address of the server with this application.

An advantage of the method and the device for creating an interactive hypermedia page in a computer network according to the invention is the possibility to run and control any application located on a computer other than a user with which the web server is provided.

The invention is exemplified in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for creating an interactive hypermedia page in a computer network, and Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a method of creating an interactive hypermedia page in a computer network.

The device for creating a hypermedia page in a computer network according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 consists of a user node 10, a network server rod 18, and an executive server node 24 connected to a node 10 and 18 via a communication network connection 32. In fact the device according to the invention consists of a greater number of nodes, both user nodes 10 and network server nodes 18, and executive server nodes 24. Network services run by servers can be implemented by one or more nodes. For example, the executive server node 24 and network server node 18 may form one common node. Although this is not a typical case, all network functions can only be performed by one node. The executive server node 24 is provided with at least one application 36. Each network node is provided with a processor that can differ from the network connection processor 32 in both processing power and computer hardware. A different application may be available at each node 36.

User node 10 uses applications 36 located on executive server 24 node via a hypermedia graphic interface 40 located on node 10 and displayed in a graphic display system 42. All necessary data to run application 36 is entered by the user in via mouse 46 and keyboard 50, located on node 10. The graphic display arrangement 42, or page 44 of the computer network, which the user views through the hypermedia interface 40, applies to both the home page and the application web page 36. Page 44 of the computer network is provided with graphic connection indicators 48 and with text connection indicators 56. Page 44 is displayed by means of a program, e.g. via a web browser 64, located in the user node 10.

Using the web browser 46, one obtains from the network server node 18 page 44 (for example, of the web type) and displays it in the graphic display layout 42. When the user selects application 36 for work (by selecting using the mouse 46 or keyboard 50 graphic connection indicator 48 or text 56), the web browser 64 searches and receives from the network a configuration file 68 from the network server node 18 that relates to the selected application 36, followed by the program 72 managing the user's connection to the network, which communicates with the selected application 36.

Program 72 reads configuration file 68 and sets up connection with program 80 managing connection of executive server 24 to the network. Configuration file 68 contains the name of the application 36 and the location address of the node with this application 36, which correspond to the indicators of the graphical connection 48 or text 56. The configuration file 68 may also contain additional data, for example, authenticity and authorization information. In order for the program 72 to access the selected application 36, the program 80 performs certain operations (e.g., checking authenticity) and then enables the application 36 to operate. When the application 36 starts running on runtime server 24,

181 472 then it communicates with program 72 directly through program 80, without the need for a web browser 64. To program 72, the user enters his data via mouse 46 and keyboard 50, which program 72 sends them to the 24 application located in the executive server 36. Program 72 is also responsible for receiving data from application 36 and displaying it in window 74 of the graphic display system 42. The edges of the window 74 may be both within and outside the hypermedia interface 40. After application 36 has finished running, program 80 sends program 72 instructions to disconnect it from network connection 32, then waits for the next connection.

Figure 2 shows a method of creating an interactive hypermedia page in a computer network. During operation 1, both program 72 and this browser 64 (Fig. 1) are registered and entered into the registration file 88 located in the browser. This input of data into the registration file 88 allows the program 72 to start operation of program 72 for any type of files required by the graphic connection indicators 48 and text 56 of the hypermedia interface 40. After user registration, program 72 allows him to use and control the application 36, running on runtime server 24. Program 72 and browser 64 can be registered in such a way that running program 72 enabling the use and control of the application 36 is possible only when the indicators of graphical connection 48 and test interface 56 of the hypermedia interface 40 require the browser 64 a specific type of file, for example with the extension RMT.

When the user launches the application from a hypermedia environment, e.g. a database, the hypermedia interface 40 is preferably displayed in a known manner. If the user selects one of the graphical connection indicators 48 or text 56 on page 44 using mouse 46 or keyboard 50 (operation 2), then the web browser 64 is asked about a specific data file (operation 3). For example, this might be a question about the file type with the RMT extension.

Then the web browser 64 receives from the web server 18 the configuration file 68, which is determined by the graphical connection indicators 48 or text 56 (operation 4). Then the web browser 64 compares the configuration file 68 with the registration file 88 of the program 72 (operation 5). If program 72 specified by configuration file 68 is found in registration file 88, then program 72 starts operation (operation 6).

The running program 72 reads the configuration file 68 (operation 7), and based on the data of this file initiates a communication connection with the program 80 of the executive server 24 (operation 8) in order to launch the application 36, e.g. the database of sellers.

After establishing connection with the executive server 24, the program 80 checks the activity of the network connection 32 all the time. At this time , the program 80 does not create new protocols, except for those that are necessary for the transmission of specific data. Also, program 72 does not create any protocols, except for those that are necessary for the transmission of specific data. After establishing a communication connection between program 80 and program 72, program 80 sends to program 72 a message about the possibility of using the services (i.e. from application 36).

In response to this message, program 72 sends program 80 a readiness to interact with the communication protocol. Then program 80 responds to readiness to continue communication according to the specified protocol, and program 72 allows data transmission according to this protocol, which is necessary to run application 36. In response to this message, program 80 also allows data transmission according to the desired protocol . Then program 80 sends the specified message to program 72 using this protocol, which means that program 72 request has been received and accepted.

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In response to the latter message, program 72 and program 80 exchange a set of messages to agree on communication parameters. After completing the parameter matching operation - if it is necessary for the user to use the application 36 - programs 72 and 80 are in mutual communication. After setting the communication protocol and checking the authenticity of program 72 by program 80 (operation 9), for example by checking whether the user has permission to read, writing to the database, application 36 starts operation on executive server 24 (operation 10). Application 36 running on executive server 24 is in constant communication with user node 10 via program 80 and program 72. Program 72 is responsible for transmitting input data to a working application 36, entered by the user using mouse 46 and keyboard 50. Program 72 is also responsible for receiving data from application 36 and displaying it in window 74 of layout 42 of user node 10.

The protocol for data transfer between user node 10 and the network node, such as TCP / IP, must provide graphics transmission. Such a protocol in a hypermedia environment may be, for example, a public domain X-Windows protocol or ICA (Citrix System Inc.).

Thanks to the method and device according to the invention, a user having limited application resources can run and control an application 36, located on another computer, in the executive server 24, and the results of the operation of this application 36 are displayed in the user node 10.

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Fig. 2

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Fig.1

UP Department of Publications. Circulation of 60 copies

Price PLN 2.00