Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-05
2001-01-16
Heckler, Thomas M. (Department: 2787)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
C709S222000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175918
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a client computer which downloads programs and data necessary for data processing from a server computer (server) via a network, an initialization processing method applied to the client computer, and a computer program product used in the client computer.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. P09-216733 filed on Aug. 11, 1997, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
In recent years, new computer architectures called network computers are being developed instead of personal computers.
The network computer is designed to use a network. Resources such as programs and data necessary for data processing are downloaded from a server via the network. For this reason, each client computer functioning as a network computer need not have programs and data and can flexibly cope with, e.g., updating of an Operating System (OS) and application programs. As a result, total cost of ownership can be drastically reduced.
However, when the client computer is used as a mobile device, it must be connected to the network such as a public network. This results in high communication cost.
More specifically, to use the client computer in a mobile environment where the computer is disconnected to the network, the client computer must remote-access the server via a public network whenever programs and data are downloaded, or a file is updated. Consequently, the processing speed of the client computer decreases, and the communication cost increases.
As described above, a conventional client computer is unsuitable for use in the mobile environment. Using the client computer in the mobile environment, higher communication cost is required due to remote-access to the server. The processing speed decreases by the time required for remote-access.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the first object of the present invention to provide a client computer suitable for mobile usage which can be used by selectively switching between an operation mode in which the client computer does not access the server and an operation mode in which the client computer accesses the server, in accordance with a use environment or the like.
It is the second object of the present invention to provide an initialization processing method applied to the client computer.
It is the third object of the present invention to provide a computer program used in the client computer.
The first object is achieved by the following client computer. That is, the client computer downloads a program and data necessary for data processing from a server computer via a network and operates in a first operation mode while accessing the server computer connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) or in a second operation mode while accessing the server computer via a network, comprising operation mode selection means for selecting one of the first and second operation modes at the time of initialization processing in accordance with a use environment of the client computer or a user instruction made by designating in a displayed mode selection menu, and means for controlling an operation of the client computer in the operation mode selected by the operation mode selection means.
The second object is achieved by the following initialization processing method applied to the client computer. That is, the initialization processing method of the present invention comprises a step of selecting one of the first and second operation modes at the time of initialization processing in accordance with one of a use environment of the client computer or a user instruction made by designating in a displayed mode selection menu and a step of controlling an operation of the client computer in the selected operation mode.
The third object is achieved by the following computer program product used in the client computer. That is, the computer program product of the present invention comprises computer readable program code means for causing the client computer to select one of the first and second operation modes in accordance with a use environment of the client computer or a user instruction made by designating in a displayed mode selection menu at the time of initialization processing, and computer readable program code means for causing the client computer to control an operation of the client computer in the selected operation mode.
In the present invention, in order to apply the client computer to mobile usage, the second operation mode in which the client computer can operate accessing server via a network is prepared as a new operation mode.
The second operation mode or a general network operation mode (first operation mode) in which the client computer operates while accessing the server connected to a LAN must be selected at the time of initialization processing of the client computer. For this purpose, according to the present invention, the function for selecting one of the first operation mode requiring a LAN environment and the second operation mode requiring a network environment is set in an OS initialization processing routine. The two modes can be selectively switched in accordance with the use environment or a user instruction in the login of the client computer.
The local storage device for storing the program and data downloaded from the server is arranged in the client computer. The client computer can operate without accessing the server by using the local storage device.
With this arrangement, different operation modes can be used in accordance with, e.g., a LAN usable environment and an unusable environment. A client computer suitable for mobile usage can be realized.
The client computer can display a mode selection menu for causing a user to select an operation mode to be used at the time of initialization processing of the client computer, and the operation mode can be selected from a displayed mode selection menu.
At the time of initialization processing of the client computer, whether the client computer is connected to the LAN may be checked, the operation mode may be selected on the basis of the determination result, and the selected operation mode may be presented to the user as a default mode on the displayed mode selection menu. When the default mode is presented, an operation mode intended by the user can be automatically predicted, and user operation in login processing can be simplified.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5568612 (1996-10-01), Barrett et al.
patent: 5647056 (1997-07-01), Barrett et al.
patent: 5862052 (1999-01-01), Nixon et al.
patent: 5978912 (1999-11-01), Rakavy et al.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Heckler Thomas M.
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
LandOfFree
Client computer, initialization processing method applied to... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Client computer, initialization processing method applied to..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Client computer, initialization processing method applied to... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2520101