Network with storage of all client computer programs in server computer having customized client graphical user interfaces with maximum sharing of stored portions of interfaces common to a plurality of clients

Abstract

A network for small businesses is provided which is easy to install, configure and operate and still provides users of the client computers in the network with the same degree of flexibility in configuring graphical user interfaces to operating systems and application programs as do present stand alone personal computers. All of the software to be used by the client computers: operating systems and application programs is stored on the network server computer. The graphical user interfaces to the operating systems and application programs are customized in the conventional manner by the users of the client computers, usually at the client computer through a conventional interactive display. In the customization of a program, the data representative of an initial user interface is stored. The system provides means for determining the differences between said subsequent user customized interface and said initial user interface, means for storing data representative of the differences of said subsequent interface from said initial interface and means for displaying said subsequent user interface by modifying the data representative of said initial interface with the data representative of said differences.