Method and System for Retrieval and Usage of Remote Entry Points

Abstract

A method for communicating between a client application and one or more servers is disclosed. In one embodiment, it is first determined whether a particular client application operation is the type of operation that requires a remote entry point. If a remote entry point is needed, the client application obtains a remote entry point file from a remote server computer and retrieves the remote entry point required by the client application operation such that it can direct the operation to the proper remote server.

1 . A computer-implemented method for communicating between a client application operating on a client computer and a plurality of remote server computers, comprising:
 determining if a client application operation requires a remote entry point;   determining whether the client application operation requires a secure entry point;   if it is determined that the client application operation requires a remote entry point and it is determined that a secure entry point is not required, then:
 requesting a non-secure entry point file from a remote server computer; 
 receiving the non-secure entry point file from the remote server computer; and 
 storing the non-secure entry point file on the client computer; 
   if it is determined that the client application operation requires a remote entry point and it is determined that a secure entry point is required, then:
 requesting a secure entry point file from the remote server computer; 
 receiving the secure entry point file from the remote server computer; and 
 storing the secure entry point file on the client computer. 
   
   
   
       2 . A computer-implemented method of claim  27 , further comprising:
 accessing the stored secure or non-secure remote entry point file;   retrieving the remote entry point or the secure entry point associated with the client application operation; and   directing the client application operation to a remote server computer in accordance with the remote entry point or the secure entry point.   
   
   
       3 . A computer implemented method for securely communicating between a client application operating on a client computer and a plurality of server computers, comprising:
 determining if a client application operation requires a secure remote entry point;   obtaining, at the client computer, a set of secure remote entry points for at least one remote server computer;   retrieving a particular secure remote entry point from the set of secure remote entry points, the particular secure remote entry point being associated with the client application operation; and   directing the client application operation to the remote server in accordance with the particular secure remote entry point.   
   
   
       4 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the secure remote entry points in the set of secure remote entry points pertaining to different operations that are able to be performed at the least one remote server computer. 
   
   
       5 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said obtaining comprises:
 requesting the set of secure remote entry points from a remote server computer; and   receiving the set of secure remote entry points from the remote server computer.   
   
   
       6 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said obtaining further comprises:
 storing the set of secure remote entry points on the client computer.   
   
   
       7 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said storing operates to store the set of secure remote entry points in volatile memory at the client computer. 
   
   
       8 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said obtaining further comprises:
 determining whether the set of secure remote entry points is already stored in the volatile memory at the client computer; and   receiving the set of secure remote entry points from the volatile memory at the client computer when said determining determines that the set of secure remote entry points is already stored in the volatile memory at the client computer.   
   
   
       9 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said obtaining further comprises:
 determining whether the set of secure remote entry points is already stored at the client computer and is valid; and   receiving the set of secure remote entry points from the client computer when said determining determines that the set of secure remote entry points is already stored and is valid at the client computer.   
   
   
       10 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the set of secure remote entry points is provided as an entry point file. 
   
   
       11 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the set of secure remote entry points includes at least a list of URLs. 
   
   
       12 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the client application operation is a secure operation. 
   
   
       13 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the client application is a media management application. 
   
   
       14 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said retrieving comprises:
 searching through the set of secure remote entry points to locate the particular secure remote entry point that has an attribute that matches the client application operation; and   retrieving the particular secure remote entry point that has been identified by said searching.   
   
   
       15 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said searching uses text string matching to locate the particular secure remote entry point. 
   
   
       16 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the set of secure remote entry points is provided as an entry point file. 
   
   
       17 . A computer-implemented method for delivering a set of remote entry points from a server computer to a client computer, comprising:
 receiving, at the server computer, a request from a client computer for a set of secure remote entry points;   retrieving, at the server computer, the set of secure remote entry points; and   transmitting the set of secure remote entry points to the client computer.   
   
   
       18 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the client computer operates a media management application that utilizes the set of secure remote entry points to interact with one or more server computers. 
   
   
       19 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the set of remote entry points is provided as an entry point file, and wherein the set of remote entry points includes at least a list of URLs. 
   
   
       20 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said retrieving comprises dynamically generating the set of secure remote entry points at the server computer upon receiving the request for the set of remote entry points. 
   
   
       21 . A system for communicating between a client computer and a plurality of server computers, comprising:
 a client computer including at least a processor, volatile memory and a storage disk drive; and   a plurality of server computers,   wherein said client computer can communicate with said server computer via a data network, and   wherein said client computer performs a client application and in doing so said processor executes computer program code, said computer program code operates to at least:
 determine if a client application operation requires a secure remote entry point; 
 obtaining, at said client computer, a set of secure remote entry points for at least one remote server computer; 
 retrieve a particular secure remote entry point from the set of secure remote entry points, the particular secure remote entry point being associated with the client application operation; and 
 direct the client application operation to the remote server in accordance with the particular secure remote entry point. 
   
   
   
       22 . A system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the set of secure remote entry points is stored at said client computer only in the volatile memory. 
   
   
       23 . A computer readable medium including at least executable computer program code stored thereon for communicating between a client application operating on a client computer and at least one server computer, comprising:
 computer code for receiving, at a server computer, a request from a client computer for at least one secure remote entry point;   computer code for retrieving, at the server computer, the at least one secure remote entry point; and   computer code for transmitting the at least one secure remote entry point to the requesting client computer.   
   
   
       24 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the at least one remote entry point being at least one of a plurality of remote entry points pertaining to different operations that are able to be performed at the server computer.