Patent ID: 7111060

Claim:
Apparatus for providing a web-accessible virtual processing environment to a network-connected office server for a remotely connected user computer through which a user stationed at the computer can execute any of a plurality of server-based applications resident at the office server, comprising: a platform, capable of being situated in network communication between the user computer and the office server, having: a processor; a memory connected to the processor and for storing computer executable instructions therein; first and second network interfaces, operable in conjunction with the processor, for interfacing the platform, through the first network interface, to a wide area network (WAN) connection through which the remote user computer obtains connectivity to the platform, and, through the second network interface, to a local area network (LAN) having a server computer electrically communicative thereover, respectively, with the server computer forming the office server; and wherein, in response to the executable instructions, the processor, for each one of the server-based applications: provides, through a corresponding client application module implemented on the platform for each of the server-based applications, bi-directional protocol conversion of messages between the remote user computer and the office server, such that user interaction data, intended for a specific one of the server-based applications and provided by a browser executing on the remote user computer in a first protocol, is converted into a second protocol associated with said one server-based application and then applied to the server-based application at the office server, and output data, provided by said specific one server-based application, is converted from the second protocol to the first protocol for being transmitted to the user computer and graphically rendered thereat, through the browser, to the user; and wherein, in response to the executable instructions, the processor: for messages emanating from the user computer and appearing on the WAN connection: receives, from the browser, a first message containing the user interaction data associated with a specific one server-based application and in the first protocol; converts the user interaction data in the first protocol to the second protocol associated with the specific one server-based application to yield a second message; and applies the second message, as input, to the server computer for processing by the specific one server-based application; and for messages emanating from the server computer and appearing on the LAN: receives, from the server computer and over the LAN connection, a third message containing output data generated by the specific one server-based application and in the second protocol; converts the output data message in the second protocol to the first protocol to yield a fourth message; and applies the fourth message to the WAN connection for transmission to the browser in order to render the output data thereat.