Data processing: structural design – modeling – simulation – and em – Emulation – Compatibility emulation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-29
2001-05-15
Stamber, Eric W. (Department: 2123)
Data processing: structural design, modeling, simulation, and em
Emulation
Compatibility emulation
C709S241000, C710S105000, C370S466000, C370S469000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233541
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to the field of electronic systems, and more particularly to a server and a web browser terminal emulator for persistent connection to a legacy host system and a method of operation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many organizations operate computer network environments that include legacy host systems which store data and provide applications important to the operation of the organization. Such legacy host systems can include IBM mainframes (MVS, VM and VSE environments), IBM AS/400 systems and UNIX host systems.
It is desirable for such organizations to provide connection to the legacy host systems through terminal sessions on distributed client systems such as personal computers and computer workstations. This connection to the legacy host system provides access for users of the client systems to the data and applications on the legacy host system. These terminal sessions can include 3270, 5250, NVT and VT220 type terminal sessions.
One conventional method for providing terminal sessions is to execute a terminal emulator application on the client systems that connects directly to a host legacy system using a TCP/IP socket connection. Another conventional method is to provide connection through a web browser application by translating standard legacy data flows into HTML pages. However, such conventional web browser methods suffer from an inability to handle real-time host updates to user screens as well as other significant problems. For example, forms-based HTML/TN3270 packages are unable to overcome a range of problems associated with common HTML implementations such as real-time host updates to user screens or finding a user's browser platform address on the network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a server and a web browser terminal emulator for persistent connection to a legacy host system and a method of operation are provided that substantially eliminate or reduce disadvantages and problems associated with previously developed methods.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer network environment allowing connection of a client system to a legacy host system using a server is provided. The computer network environment includes a legacy host system having TCP/IP connectivity. The legacy host system is operable to support a terminal session for access to the legacy host system. The computer network environment also includes a server system executing a client thread under a server. The client thread is operable to communicate with the legacy host system across a persistent TCP/IP socket connection. The computer network environment further includes a client system executing an applet process under a web browser. The applet process is operable to communicate with the client thread across another persistent TCP/IP socket connection and is operable to provide a terminal session to a user of the client system. This terminal session is supported by a persistent connection allowing real-time bidirectional communication with the legacy host system.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a server for providing a persistent connection between a client system and a legacy host system is provided. The server includes a client thread operable to communicate with a legacy host system across a persistent TCP/IP socket connection. The server also includes applet code operable to create an applet process executing under a web browser on a client system. When executed, the applet process is operable to communicate with the client thread across another persistent TCP/IP socket connection and to provide a terminal session to a user of the client system. The server is operable to download the applet code to a client system in response to receiving a uniform resource locator associated with the legacy host system.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for connecting a client system to a legacy host system using a server. A uniform resource locator associated with a legacy host system is selected from a web browser executing on a client system. The uniform resource locator is received by a server executing on a server system. Executable code for an applet process is then downloaded to the client system, and the applet process is executed under the web browser on the client system. The applet process is connected to a client thread executing under the server via a persistent TCP/IP socket connection. The client thread is connected to a legacy host system associated with the uniform resource locator via another persistent TCP/IP socket connection. The client thread and the legacy host system communicate across the first persistent TCP/IP socket connection, and the client thread and the applet process communicate across the second persistent TCP/IP socket connection. A terminal session is provided by the applet process to a user of the client system which allows real-time bidirectional communication with the legacy host system across a persistent connection to the legacy host system.
A technical advantage of the present invention is the ability to allow users to access legacy host system data, such as IBM mainframe data, from client systems, such as desk top personal computers and computer workstations, using a web browser where the access is provided through a persistent TCP/IP socket connection to the legacy host system. This ensures a persistent bidirectional connection to the legacy host system such that real-time host updates, security, encryption, help-desk support, and other real-time features can be supported. One embodiment of the present invention uses SUN MICROSYSTEMS' JAVA technology and includes JAVA-capable web browsers and embedded JAVA applet processes to provide terminal session connectivity to the distributed client systems.
Another technical advantage of the present invention is the provision of connectivity to a legacy host system through web browsers without the need for specialized emulation software to be manually loaded on each client computer system and without the need for user programming.
A further technical advantage of the present invention is allowing the expansion of access to existing data and applications on legacy host systems from existing client systems using existing network capabilities. The present invention provides a network environment that allows the use of a web browser environment, having web browser tools, such as JAVA tools, and web-serving, to incorporate Internet-type technologies, through the Internet or an intranet, with existing network architectures.
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“Multiple Service Integration Confronted with Leg
Armstrong Eric P.
Burris, Jr. Stuart H.
Butts Thomas H.
Clark Stephen J.
Kuhn Daniel B.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Frejd Russell W.
Openconnect Systems Incorporated
Stamber Eric W.
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