Interactive computer network and method of operation

Abstract

A method is described for operating a distributed processing, interactive computer network. The network is intended to provide very large numbers of simultaneous users access to large numbers of applications which include pre-created, interactive text/graphic sessions. The network includes one or more servers, interactive applications, and one or more user reception systems. The respective reception systems are designed to and are capable of communicating with the respective servers and receiving applications from them. The respective reception systems feature a display interface, as well as reception system software, operating system software and CPU for executing the applications and presenting applications to respective users. The method features steps for preparing the applications in a high-level programing language so that the applications may be executed at the respective reception systems independently of the reception system CPU type and operating system type by interpreting the respective applications at runtime with an interpreter available at the respective reception systems. In accordance with the method, the applications are divided into sections and structured with objects of multiple types containing application display data and/or program code. The objects are distributed in the network and provided at run time at a reception system at which the respective applications are requested. The method further features steps for providing the respective application programs with a structure that features a header section, data structure section and code section implemented in objects. In this arrangement, method steps are provides to enable respective application programs code section to include one or more procedures for supporting system services, the procedures including a key word for identifying the respective procedures. Additionally, the method includes steps for enabling application program data structure section to identifying the data structure for the respective application programs. Further, the method includes steps for enabling the respective application program structure to include a header section that identifies the respective application program names.