Douglas Cooper Spelce

US Patent:

57296820, Mar 17, 1998

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/484229

Inventors:

Eduardo Omar Marquis - Austin TX
James Randolph Pickering - Austin TX
Douglas Cooper Spelce - Round Rock TX
Russell Arthur Young - Round Rock TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

39520012

Abstract:

A method of sharing network applications in a peer-to-peer computer network environment without use of a centralized repository of network application data. According to the method, a data structure is stored at each of a plurality of computers in the computer network. The data structure contains information on network applications and associated network resources residing elsewhere in the network. In response to a user selection of a network application at a local computer, a connection status of the local computer is stored. The information in the local data structure is then used to establish connections between the local computer and at least one of the plurality of computers where the selected network application resides. The local computer communicates over the connections as required to thereby run the network application. After the network application executes, the local computer is disconnected from the connections and returned to its prior connection status.