Patent ID: 8799852

Claim:
A non-transitory computer-accessible memory medium that stores: a plurality of graphical data flow programs (GDFPs), wherein each GDFP comprises a respective plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate the functionality of the program, and is accessible and useable via web browsers executing on client computers, and wherein the GDFPs are in accordance with a data flow model of computation in which program functions execute whenever their necessary input data are available; a graphical data flow program execution engine (GDFP execution engine), wherein the GDFPs require the GDFP execution engine to execute; and program instructions executable by a processor to: establish a network connection with a client computer over a network; receive a universal resource identifier (URI) from the client computer over the network, wherein the URI indicates a GDFP of the plurality of GDFPs; send the GDFP and the GDFP execution engine to the client computer over the network in response to the URI, wherein the GDFP execution engine is entirely executable in a web browser on the client computer to: execute the GDFP entirely in the web browser on the client computer in accordance with the data flow model of computation via the GDFP execution engine, including executing program functions of the GDFP whenever their required input data are available, wherein the GDFP execution engine displays a front panel in the web browser during execution of the GDFP, wherein the front panel comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising one or more output indicators for displaying results of the GDFP execution, and/or one or more input controls for receiving user input specifying input to the GDFP; and assess a charge for use of the GDFP on the client computer.