[DESCRIPTION]

[Invention Title]

METHOD FOR INSTALLING ACTIVEX CONTROL

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a method for installing program modules necessary

for operating a webpage, and in particular, to a method for installing ActiveX controls

for operating a webpage.

[Background Art]

An ActiveX control is a control for connecting a typical application program with

the Web, and connects with web sites a variety of typical application programs, created

using development tools, such as Visual C++, Visual Basic, and Java, and standard

programming language. By using various development tools through ActiveX controls,

it is possible to provide more interactive web services.

In prior art, ActiveX control data was inserted in webpage data in the form of

OBJECT tags. An example of ActiveX control data according to prior art inserted in a

webpage is as follows.

OBJECT ID="ChatObj" CLASSID="CLSID:253380F7-lA0F-4Cll-B218-

C0E7E8E8C940" width=0 height=O codebase= "http://220.75.249.252/control/

entoichatctrl.cab #version=l ,0, 1 ,54">

When ActiveX control data is inserted in a webpage as above, the web browser

displays a security warning message and then prompts the user on whether or not to

install the ActiveX control of the data included in the webpage.

These security warning messages were a source of uneasiness for users who were

not experienced in using computers, and in many cases, a user would refuse installation

even for an ActiveX control crucial to the operation of the webpage, to be denied

normal web services.

In particular, as the security warning messages are recently being displayed on the

upper portion of the web browser and not in the form of pop-ups, oftentimes the

ActiveX controls are not installed, even in cases where it is necessary to install the

ActiveX controls, because the security warning messages go unnoticed.

When installing ActiveX controls in the form of OBJECT tags, the web browser

outputs security warning messages for reasons of security, and since a warning message

which requests the user's consent is outputted for each webpage of a service provider,

even for a trustworthy service provider, the user was inconvenienced with clicking the

consent button for each page to install the ActiveX controls.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

The present invention aims to provide a method of installing ActiveX controls

without security warning messages in webpages provided by the same service provider,

by installing an integrated installer ActiveX control for installing ActiveX controls.

Also, the present invention aims to provide a method of installing ActiveX controls

with which web services may be provided to a user in a facilitated manner, by allowing

ActiveX controls to be installed without security warning windows for webpages

provided by certain service providers trusted by the user.

[Technical Solution]

One aspect of the present invention provides a method for installing ActiveX

controls comprising transmitting a webpage to a user client, the webpage containing

information of an ActiveX control necessary for the operation of the webpage in the

form of a parameter; and receiving ActiveX control request information included in the

parameter from the user client; wherein the webpage contains information of an

integrated installer ActiveX control, which includes a module for installing the ActiveX

controls necessary for the operation of the webpage in the form of an OBJECT tag, and

contains script, which calls the module of the integrated installer ActiveX control and

controls the installation of the ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the

webpage; and through the control of the script, the user client determines whether or not

the ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage is installed and

downloads ActiveX controls that need to be installed.

Another aspect of the invention provides a recorded medium containing webpage

data comprising a parameter, containing information of at least one ActiveX control

necessary for the operation of the webpage; information of an integrated installer

ActiveX control, including a plurality of modules which perform the procedures of

determining whether or not the ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the

webpage is installed in a user client, and analyzing the information of the parameter to

receive the ActiveX controls from an address which provides the ActiveX control

necessary for the operation of the webpage; and script, which calls the module of the

integrated installer ActiveX control to control installation procedures of the ActiveX

control necessary for the operation of the webpage.

Still another aspect of the invention provides a method for integrated installation of

ActiveX controls comprising transmitting a webpage to a user client, the webpage

containing information of ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage

in the form of a parameter; and receiving ActiveX control request information included

in the parameter from the user client; wherein in the webpage, information is included

by which a control installation execution file can be installed in the user client, wherein

the control installation execution file analyzes the parameter to perform procedures for

installing the ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage, an integrated

installer ActiveX control is contained in the form of an OBJECT tag, wherein the

integrated installer ActiveX control executes the control installation execution file and

includes a plurality of modules for providing the parameter information to the control

installation execution file, and script is contained, wherein the script calls the modules

of the integrated installer ActiveX control to control the installation of the ActiveX

controls necessary for the operation of the webpage.

Another aspect of the invention provides a recorded medium containing webpage

data comprising a parameter, containing at least one ActiveX control information

necessary for the operation of the webpage; information for installing a control

installation execution file in a user client, wherein the control installation execution file

analyzes the parameter to perform actions of downloading and installing the ActiveX

controls necessary for the operation of the webpage; information of an integrated

installer ActiveX control, including a plurality of modules which determine whether or

not the ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage are installed in the

user client, provide information of the parameter to the control installation execution

file, and execute the control installation execution file; and script, which calls the

module of the integrated installer ActiveX control to control procedures of installing the

ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage in the client.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides a method for installing ActiveX

controls comprising transmitting a webpage to a user client, the webpage containing a

parameter including identification information of ActiveX controls necessary for the

operation of the webpage and index file address information; providing an index file to

the user client, when a request is received from the user client for index information of

the ActiveX controls; and receiving ActiveX control request information necessary for

the operation of the webpage from the user client; wherein the webpage contains an

integrated installer ActiveX control, which includes a module for installing ActiveX

controls necessary for the operation of the webpage in the form of an OBJECT tag, and

contains script, which calls the module of the integrated installer ActiveX control and

controls the installation of the ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the

webpage; and through the control of the script, the user client receives an index file

including detailed information of ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the

webpage using information of the parameter, extracts detailed information of the

ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage from the index file, and

downloads the ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage using the

extracted information.

Still another aspect of the invention provides a recorded medium containing

webpage data comprising a parameter, containing identification information of at least

one ActiveX control information necessary for the operation of the webpage and address

information of an index file, the index file including detailed information of ActiveX

controls provided by a service provider; information of an integrated installer ActiveX

control, including a plurality of modules for performing the procedures of determining

whether or not the ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage are

installed in a user client, analyzing the information of the parameter to receive the index

file, extracting detailed information of the ActiveX controls necessary for the operation

of the webpage using the ActiveX control identification information and information of

the index file, and receiving the ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the

webpage using the extracted detailed information; and script, which calls the module of

the integrated installer ActiveX control to control installation procedures of the ActiveX

controls necessary for the operation of the webpage.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method for installing ActiveX controls

comprising transmitting a webpage to a user client, the webpage containing a parameter

including identification information of ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of

the webpage and index file address information; providing an index file to the user

client, when a request is received from the user client for index information of the

ActiveX controls; and receiving ActiveX control request information necessary for the

operation of the webpage from the user client; wherein in the webpage, information is

included by which a control installation execution file can be installed, wherein the

control installation execution file analyzes the parameter to perform procedures for

installing the ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage, an integrated

installer ActiveX control is contained in the form of an OBJECT tag, wherein the

integrated installer ActiveX control executes the control installation execution file and

includes a plurality of modules for providing information of the parameter to the control

installation execution file, and script is contained, wherein the script calls the modules

of the integrated installer ActiveX control to control the installation of the ActiveX

controls necessary for the operation of the webpage, and through the control of the

script, the user client receives an index file including detailed information of the

ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage using information of the

parameter, extracts the detailed information of the ActiveX controls necessary for the

operation of the webpage from the index file, and downloads the ActiveX controls

necessary for the operation of the webpage using the extracted information.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides a recorded medium containing

webpage data comprising a parameter, containing identification information of at least

one ActiveX control necessary for the operation of the webpage and address information

of an index file; information for installing a control installation execution file in a user

client, wherein the control installation execution file analyzes the parameter and

receives the index file containing information of ActiveX controls provided by a service

provider, extracts detailed information of the ActiveX controls necessary for the

operation of the webpage from the index file, and downloads and installs the ActiveX

controls necessary for the operation of the webpage using the extracted detailed

information; information of an integrated installer ActiveX control, including a plurality

of modules which determine whether or not the ActiveX controls necessary for the

operation of the webpage are installed in the user client, provide information of the

parameter to the control installation execution file, and execute the control installation

execution file; and script, which calls the module of the integrated installer ActiveX

control to control procedures of installing the ActiveX controls necessary for the

operation of the webpage in the client.

[Description of Drawings]

Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a system to which a method for installing ActiveX

controls based on the present invention may be applied.

Fig. 2 illustrates the structure of a system to which a method for integrated

installation of ActiveX controls based on the third embodiment of the present invention

may be applied.

Fig. 3 illustrates the structure of a webpage provided by a web server according to

a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of procedures for installing an integrated installer ActiveX

control in a user client according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the module structure of an integrated installer

ActiveX control according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a method for installing an ActiveX control according to the

first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 illustrates the field structure of an XML parameter according to the first

embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 illustrates the module structure of an integrated installer ActiveX control

according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart of a method for installing an ActiveX control according to the

second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart of the actions of a control installation execution file

according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 illustrates the field structure of an XML parameter according to the third

embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart of a method for installing ActiveX controls when the third

embodiment is applied to the first embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart of a method for installing an ActiveX control when the third

embodiment is applied to the second embodiment.

Fig. 14 illustrates an example of a user interface provided in a control installation

execution file for deleting ActiveX controls.

[Mode for Invention]

Hereinafter, embodiments of a method for installing ActiveX controls according to

the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the

accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a system to which a method for installing ActiveX

controls based on the present invention may be applied.

Referring to Fig. 1, a system to which a method for installing ActiveX controls

based on the present invention is applied may comprise a user client 100, a web server

102, and an ActiveX control server 104. Although Fig. 1 illustrates a structure having

the web server 102 and ActiveX control server 104 implemented separately, functions of

the web server 102 and ActiveX control server 104 may be provided by a single

integrated server.

In the user client 100, a web browser program is installed which displays webpage

data provided by the web server 102. The web browser may include all typical web

browsers such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

The user client 100 may include all digital data processing devices which allow

communication over a network and operation of web browser applications, examples of

which include not only typical PC's but also PDA's, laptops, and cell phones, etc.

In response to request information from the user client, the web server 102

provides webpage data over a network to the user client. The ActiveX control server

104 stores ActiveX control data necessary for the operation of the webpage, and upon a

request from the client, transmits the corresponding ActiveX control data to the client.

As mentioned above, ActiveX control data may also be provided from the web server

without using a separate ActiveX control server.

In prior art, when particular ActiveX controls were needed for the operation of a

webpage, the web server provided for the installation of the corresponding ActiveX

controls by inserting OBJECT tags in the webpage which include information of the

corresponding ActiveX controls and codebase information for receiving the ActiveX

controls.

Thus, in the case where a service provider provided various types of webpages, and

different ActiveX controls were needed for each webpage, OBJECT tags including

codebase information for installing ActiveX controls were inserted for each page, and a

security warning message was displayed on the web browser every time a user installed

an ActiveX control.

However, the present invention proposes a method of minimizing the number of

security warning windows displayed when installing ActiveX controls, by installing in

the user client 100 an ActiveX control (hereinafter referred to as "integrated installer

ActiveX control") which controls the installation of various types of ActiveX controls

provided by a service provider and installing the ActiveX controls needed in each page

by means of the installed integrated installer ActiveX control.

According to the present invention, only the integrated installer ActiveX control is

inserted in the webpage data in the form of an OBJECT tag including the codebase. The

actual ActiveX control necessary for the operation of the webpage is included in the

webpage in the form of an OBJECT tag to be used during the operation of the webpage,

but do not include the codebase. When the web browser reads the OBJECT tag of an

ActiveX control necessary for the operation of the webpage, the necessary ActiveX

control is already installed by the integrated installer ActiveX control, so that the

codebase does not need to be included, and a security warning message is not displayed.

Therefore, only when the integrated installer ActiveX control is installed by the

user is a security warning message displayed on the web browser, and when other

ActiveX controls provided by the same service provider are installed, there are no

security warning messages displayed on the web browser.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the case of a

portal site, although a particular ActiveX control may not be required to operate the

main page, it is preferable to include an OBJECT tag for installing the integrated

installer ActiveX control. Since most users receive the various services provided by the

portal site by first connecting to the main page of the portal site, it is preferable that the

integrated installer ActiveX control be inserted in the main page in the form of an

OBJECT tag including the codebase, so that the ActiveX control required in subpages

may be installed without a security warning window.

Of course, since users may directly connect to subpages requiring the installation

of ActiveX controls without passing through the main page, the integrated installer

ActiveX control should be inserted in each webpage reqμiring the installation of

ActiveX controls in the form of an OBJECT tag including the codebase.

Thus, when the integrated installer ActiveX control is installed through the main

page or other webpages requiring ActiveX controls, and ActiveX controls necessary for

the operation of the webpage are installed by the integrated installer ActiveX control,

the OBJECT tag for an ActiveX control required by each webpage does not have to

include codebase information, and when the web browser reads the corresponding

OBJECT tag, no security warning message is displayed, since the ActiveX controls are

already installed.

The method by which the integrated installer ActiveX control installs ActiveX

controls necessary for the operation of the webpage without security warning messages

will later be described in detail with reference to separate drawings.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, ActiveX controls are

installed without security warning messages displayed, by means of script which

controls the installation procedures of ActiveX controls necessary in individual pages

using the integrated installer ActiveX control and the modules (functions) included in

the integrated installer ActiveX control.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, ActiveX controls are

installed without security warning messages displayed, by means of script which

controls the installation procedures of ActiveX controls necessary in individual pages

using the integrated installer ActiveX control, the control installation execution file

installed in the user client by the integrated installer ActiveX control, and the functions

included in the integrated installer ActiveX control.

Fig. 3 illustrates the structure of a webpage provided by a web server according to

a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 3, a webpage provided by a web server based on the present

invention includes an OBJECT tag, for installing the integrated installer ActiveX control,

and script, which controls installation procedures of ActiveX controls necessary in

individual pages by means of modules included in an integrated installer if the

integrated installer is installed.

The OBJECT tag for installing the integrated installer ActiveX control may be

written in the same manner as conventional OBJECT tags.

As an example, the OBJECT tag for installing the integrated installer ActiveX

control may be as follows.

OBJECT ID="installer" CLASSID="CLSID:323380F7-lA0F-4Cll-B218-

C0E7E8E8C940" width=0 height=0 codebase

"http://220.75.249.252/control/installer.cab #version=l,0,l,54"></OBJECT>

If the integrated installer ActiveX control is not installed in the user client, the

integrated installer ActiveX control is installed by means of the above OBJECT tag, and

in this case, a security warning message is displayed on the web browser. On the other

hand, the OBJECT tag of an ActiveX control necessary for the operation of the webpage,

as discussed above, does not have to include codebase information.

If the integrated installer ActiveX control is already installed in the user client, the

ActiveX controls necessary for individual pages are installed by the script using

modules (functions) of the integrated installer ActiveX control.

Although it is not illustrated in Fig. 3, a webpage contains a parameter including

information of the ActiveX controls necessary in individual pages, where the

information of the ActiveX controls in the individual pages are checked through the

information of the parameter, and the procedures are performed of downloading and

installing the corresponding ActiveX controls.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the parameter

including information of ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage is

preferably in an XML format. However, the format of the parameter is not limited to

XML, and it is to be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a parameter of different

format may also be used. For convenience, the present disclosure will refer to the case

in which an XML parameter is used.

The foregoing descriptions discussed the systems to which the present invention

may be applied and the structure of a webpage based on the present invention. The

method for installing ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage

without security warning messages by means of the integrated installer ActiveX control

may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and below are a few embodiments of

the present invention, any of which may be modified as needed.

First Embodiment

The first embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for installing

ActiveX controls necessary in a webpage by means of script which calls the integrated

installer ActiveX control and its modules (functions).

As described above, the integrated installer ActiveX control is inserted in a

webpage in the form of an OBJECT tag.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of procedures for installing an integrated installer ActiveX

control in a user client according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 4, the user client first transmits webpage request information to

the web server (step 400). Here, the webpage is a webpage providing the integrated

installer ActiveX control. As described above, it is preferable that the main page of a

portal site include the integrated installer ActiveX control in the webpage data, even

though it may not require separate ActiveX controls for its operation. The integrated

installer ActiveX control is also included for a webpage requiring separate ActiveX

controls for operation.

In response to the user's webpage request information, the web server transmits

webpage data including the integrated installer ActiveX control in the form of an

OBJECT tag to the user client (step 402).

The web browser of the user client, on receiving the webpage data, reads the

webpage data (step 404), and performs procedures for determining whether or not the

integrated installer ActiveX control is installed in the client by means of the OBJECT

tag included in the webpage (step 406). The OBJECT tag may include the title, file size,

version information, and class ID information, etc. of a control, and the web browser

performs a search on whether or not there is a control which coincides with the

conditions included in the OBJECT tag.

If the integrated installer ActiveX control is already installed in the user client, the

web browser loads the webpage (step 408).

If the integrated installer ActiveX control is not installed in the user client, the web

browser requests the integrated installer ActiveX control (step 410). The OBJECT tag

includes the address information of the integrated installer ActiveX control, and the web

browser requests the control through the included address. Although Fig. 4 illustrates

the case of requesting an ActiveX control through the web server, it is to be appreciated

by those skilled in the art that the ActiveX control may be requested through a different

server, when the address included in the OBJECT tag is an address of a server different

from the web server.

The web server receiving the client's request information, or a different server

storing the ActiveX control, responds to the client's request information to transmit

integrated installer ActiveX control data (step 412).

On receiving the integrated installer ActiveX control data, the user client installs it

in the client (step 414).

Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the module structure of an integrated installer

ActiveX control according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 5, an integrated installer ActiveX control according to the first

embodiment of the present invention may comprise an update determination module

500, an installation control list determination module 502, an ActiveX control receiver

module 504, and an ActiveX control installation module 506.

In Fig. 5, the update determination module 500 determines the information of the

ActiveX controls required by a webpage provided to the client, and determines whether

or not the corresponding ActiveX controls are installed in the client.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the update determination

module 500 determines the information of an ActiveX control necessary for the

operation of the webpage through an XML parameter included in the webpage. As

described above, the information of an ActiveX control necessary for the operation of

the webpage does not have to be an XML parameter, and may be included in the

webpage in various forms.

Fig. 7 illustrates the field structure of an XML parameter according to the first

embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 7, the XML parameter according to the first embodiment of the

present invention may comprise the control title field 700, category field 702, file name

field 704, address field 706, installation path field 708, version field 710, size field 714,

and time field 716.

The control title field 700 contains the title of the ActiveX control to be installed.

For example, if the ActiveX control to be installed is a player for replaying music, the

title "music player" may be recorded in the control title field 700.

The category field 702 contains the category information to which the ActiveX

control belongs. In general, in the case of a webpage related to music, a plurality of

ActiveX controls are needed, and the plurality of ActiveX controls are managed in the

music category. That is, the category field 702 contains the higher category information

of the ActiveX controls managed by category. If the ActiveX controls are not managed

by category, the category field may be omitted.

The file name field 704 contains the file name information of the ActiveX control

to be installed, and the address field 706 contains the address information by which the

ActiveX control to be installed may be downloaded.

The installation path field 708 contains the path information at the local client to

which the ActiveX control to be received will be installed.

The version field 710, size field 712, and time field 714 contain the version, size,

and time information of the ActiveX control file, respectively.

It is to be appreciated by those skilled in the art that besides the fields such as

described in Fig. 7, information may further be included on a field regarding whether or

not a file is registered, an option field relating to file execution, or a field relating to the

parameter while executing a file, etc.

If the update determination module 500 outputs the determination information that

an ActiveX control necessary for the operation of the webpage is not installed, the

installation control list determination module 502 extracts ActiveX control list

information from the XML parameter.

The ActiveX control receiver module 504 requests and receives the ActiveX

controls that are to be installed. The address information by which to request the

ActiveX controls that are to be installed is included in the XML parameter.

The ActiveX control installation module 506 installs the received ActiveX controls

in the client. The ActiveX control installation module 506 installs the ActiveX controls

in their corresponding paths according to the installation path field information of the

XML parameter, and performs the procedures of registering on the client registry if a

registration is required.

The modules (functions) included in the integrated installer ActiveX control

described above are called by the script, where the script calls the appropriate modules

according to the output information of the ActiveX control modules, and controls the

installation of ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a method for installing ActiveX controls according to the

first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 6, if particular ActiveX controls are necessary for the operation of

the webpage and an integrated installer ActiveX control is installed, the script calls the

update determination module of the integrated installer ActiveX control, and the update

determination module analyzes the XML parameter included in the webpage (step 600).

The script may also perform procedures of determining whether or not the

integrated installer ActiveX control has been installed and is working normally, before

step 600.

If the result of analyzing the XML parameter shows that ActiveX controls

necessary for the operation of the webpage are already installed, the script ends the

installation procedures of the ActiveX controls, and the webpage is loaded (step 604).

If the result of analyzing the XML parameter shows that ActiveX controls

necessary for the operation of the webpage are not installed, the script calls the

installation control list determination module and determines the information of

ActiveX controls requiring updates (step 606).

If the information of ActiveX controls requiring updates is determined, the script

calls the module for downloading the corresponding ActiveX controls, and the

procedures are performed for downloading the corresponding ActiveX controls (step

608). The called modules download the corresponding ActiveX controls using the

address information included in the XML parameter.

The received ActiveX controls are installed in the installation paths included in the

XML parameter (step 610).

According to the procedures illustrated in Fig. 6, the information of ActiveX

controls necessary for the operation of the webpage is not included in the webpage in

the form of an OBJECT tag, but is included in the webpage in the form of an XML

parameter or in another format. Also, the script calls the modules (functions) of the

installed integrated ActiveX control, and controls the procedures of installing the

required ActiveX controls.

According to the method described above, a security warning message is displayed

on the web browser only when installing the integrated installer ActiveX control, and

later when installing other ActiveX controls provided by the same service provider, the

ActiveX controls can be installed without any security warning messages displayed.

Second Embodiment

The first embodiment related to the case of installing ActiveX controls required in

a webpage through an integrated installer ActiveX control, and script which calls

modules of the integrated installer ActiveX control.

In the case of the first embodiment, all of the modules for ActiveX control

installation are included in the integrated installer ActiveX control, so that the size of

the webpage data is increased.

Also, when the logic for installing ActiveX controls is updated, so must the

integrated installer ActiveX control also be updated, in which case a security warning

message is unavoidably displayed.

As a solution to the above problems, the second embodiment proposes a method

for installing ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage by

cooperating the integrated installer ActiveX control and the control installation

execution file installed in the client.

In the case of the second embodiment, the logic for managing and executing the

control installation execution file is included in the integrated installer ActiveX control,

and the logic for actually downloading and installing ActiveX controls is included in the

control installation execution file.

The structure and actions of the second embodiment are explained in detail with

reference to the drawings as follows.

Fig. 8 illustrates the module structure of an integrated installer ActiveX control

according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 8, an integrated installer ActiveX control according to the second

embodiment of the invention may comprise a control installation execution file

check/installation module 800, an update determination module 802, an execution file

execution module 804, and an execution file status information receiver module 806.

In Fig. 8, the control installation execution file check/installation module 800

determines whether or not the control installation execution file is normally installed in

the client, and if it is not, installs the control installation execution file in the client. The

address information by which the control installation execution file may be received

may be coded within the integrated installer ActiveX control, or may be included in the

webpage data.

The update check module 802 determines whether or not ActiveX controls

necessary for the operation of the webpage are installed. In the case of the first

embodiment, the update check module determined whether or not updates were required

using the information of the XML parameter. In the case of the second embodiment also,

the update check module 802 may determine whether or not updates are required using

the XML parameter. More preferably, however, concise information of the ActiveX

controls that need to be installed may recorded in the script or in another part of the

webpage, and the determining of whether or not updates are required may be performed

using the recorded information. In this case, a more detailed determination of whether

or not updates are required may be performed by the control installation execution file.

The execution file execution module 804 is called when it is needed to install an

ActiveX control, and executes the control installation execution file installed in the

client. The execution file execution module 804 provides the XML parameter included

in the webpage to the execution file, when executing the control installation execution

file.

The executed execution file determines the ActiveX control information that will

be installed using the information included in the XML parameter, and downloads and

installs the corresponding ActiveX controls.

The execution file provides status information related to ActiveX installation to the

integrated ActiveX control, and through the provided status information, the execution

file status information receiver module 806 checks whether or not the ActiveX controls

are installed normally by the execution file.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart of a method for installing ActiveX controls according to the

second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 9, the script calls the update determination module of the

integrated installer ActiveX control, and the update determination module determines

the information of the ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage

using information contained in the webpage or in the XML parameter (step 900). As

described above, it is preferable, in order to simplify the actions of the ActiveX control,

to determine whether or not to update through the information of the required ActiveX

controls contained in the webpage rather than through the XML parameter. Here, the

information contained in the webpage may include the file name, version, and size

information of the ActiveX controls.

If an update is not required for the ActiveX controls, the webpage is loaded (step

904).

If ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage are not installed,

the script calls the module which deals with checking and installing the control

installation execution file from the integrated installer ActiveX control. The called

module determines whether or not the control installation execution file is normally

installed in the local client (step 906).

If the control installation execution file is not installed in the client, the process is

performed of receiving and installing the control installation execution file using the

address contained in the webpage (step 908).

If the control installation execution file is already installed, or has been installed by

step 908, the control installation execution file is executed (step 910), and the control

installation execution file performs the operation of receiving and installing the required

ActiveX controls. As described above, the integrated installer ActiveX control provides

information of the XML parameter to the execution file, when executing the control

installation execution file.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart of the actions of the control installation execution file

according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 10, the control installation execution file determines the

information of ActiveX controls that require updates, using the XML parameter

provided from the integrated installer ActiveX control (step 1000). The second

embodiment may also use an XML parameter having the same field structure as that of

the first embodiment.

When the information of ActiveX controls is determined for updates, the execution

file determines the address information for the ActiveX controls to be requested, using

the address information included in the XML parameter (step 1002), and receives the

ActiveX controls from the corresponding addresses (step 1004).

The execution file installs the received files in the corresponding paths, using the

information of the installation path field of the XML parameter (step 1006).

When the installation of ActiveX controls is complete, the execution file returns

the information that the installation was successful to the integrated installer ActiveX

control (step 1008). Preferably, the execution file provides not only the information

related to successful installation but also status information of operation to the

integrated installer ActiveX control, so that the integrated installer ActiveX control may

check the status of the execution file.

Although it is not illustrated in Fig. 10, operations of recording information for

deleting installed ActiveX controls may additionally be performed.

According the second embodiment set forth above, the integrated installer ActiveX

control provides only the XML parameter to the control installation execution file, and

the actual ActiveX control installation procedures are performed by the control

installation execution file.

Therefore, when the logic for installing controls is modified, only a new control

installation execution file may be installed, while the integrated installer ActiveX

control does not have to be renewed, so that the number of security warning messages

displayed on the web browser may be minimized.

Also, since the webpage does not have to include a module for installing ActiveX

controls, the data of the webpage may be reduced compared to the case of the first

embodiment.

Third Embodiment

The third embodiment relates to a method of minimizing the data size of the XML

parameter included in the webpage, during the integrated installation of ActiveX

controls.

In the first and second embodiments, the XML parameter having a field structure

such as that shown in Fig. 7 is included in the webpage data. Also, the XML parameter

may further include fields other than those illustrated in Fig. 7. Since ActiveX controls

are downloaded at the first time that a user visits the corresponding webpage or when

the ActiveX controls of the corresponding webpage are renewed, it may be

uneconomical to include an XML parameter having several fields such as those shown

in Fig. 7 in the webpage.

Fig. 2 illustrates the structure of a system to which a method for integrated

installation of ActiveX controls based on the third embodiment of the present invention

may be applied.

Referring to Fig. 2, a system to which a method for integrated installation of

ActiveX controls based on the third embodiment of the present invention may be

applied, may comprise a user client 200, a web server 202, an ActiveX control server

204, and an index server 206. Although Fig. 2 illustrates the web server 202, ActiveX

control server 204, and index server 206 as independent servers, it is to be appreciated

by those skilled in the art that they may also be implemented as a single server.

Compared with Fig. 1, Fig. 2 additionally includes the index server 206. The index

server 206 is a server storing indexes of all or some of the ActiveX controls provided by

the service provider.

Fig. 11 illustrates the field structure of the XML parameter according to the third

embodiment of the present invention, and the XML parameter included in the webpage

in the third embodiment include only the category (title) of the ActiveX controls

necessary for the operation of the webpage and the address information of an index file

provided by the index server.

With the third embodiment, detailed information of ActiveX controls necessary for

the operation of the webpage are provided from the index server as an index file, and

the ActiveX controls to be installed can be determined after analyzing the index file.

The index file provided by the index server may preferably be data in the form of

XML, and the field structure may be identical to the structure in Fig. 7. That is, the

index file may include field information data such as that in Fig. 7 for all or some

ActiveX controls provided by the service provider.

Therefore, the address information of ActiveX controls that need to be installed

may be obtained from the index file through the category (title) information, and the

ActiveX controls may be downloaded and installed from the corresponding addresses.

Thus, according to the third embodiment, which minimizes the data size of the

XML parameter and determines the required ActiveX controls through index file, the

installation procedures of ActiveX controls may become more complicated.

However, since ActiveX controls are installed only at the first visit to the

corresponding page or when the ActiveX control version of the corresponding page is

renewed, it may be more economical in the long run, compared to the first and second

embodiments, in spite of the fact that the installation procedures of ActiveX controls

may become more complicated.

The method of determining ActiveX controls that need to be installed through an

index file may be applied to both the first and second embodiments.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart of a method for installing ActiveX controls when the third

embodiment is applied to the first embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 12, it is first determined whether or not ActiveX controls

necessary for the operation of the webpage are installed in the client (step 1200). If an

XML parameter is included in the webpage, it may be determined whether or not

ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage are installed, using the

information of the XML parameter.

With the third embodiment, since the XML parameter does not include detailed

information of ActiveX controls that need to be installed, concise information (file name,

size, and version, etc.) of the ActiveX controls that need to be installed may be recorded

in the script or in other parts of the webpage data, and the determining of whether or not

ActiveX controls necessary for the operation of the webpage are installed may be

performed using the recorded information.

If the required ActiveX controls are installed, the webpage is loaded (step 1202),

and if not, the XML parameter included in the webpage is analyzed (step 1204).

The integrated installer ActiveX control receives the index file using the index file

address of the XML parameter (step 1206).

The integrated installer ActiveX control determines the ActiveX control files

corresponding to the categories (titles) of the XML parameter, using the category (title)

information in the XML parameter (step 1208). For example, if an ActiveX control

category in the XML parameter is music, those ActiveX control files whose category

information is music is found from the index file.

The integrated installer ActiveX control finds the ActiveX controls that require

updates from the index file, and then receives the corresponding ActiveX control data

(step 1210) and installs the received ActiveX controls (step 1212) using the information

of the address field in the corresponding ActiveX control.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart of a method for installing ActiveX controls when the third

embodiment is applied to the second embodiment.

Fig. 13 relates to the operation of the control installation execution file, and since

the operation of the control installation execution file is identical to the operation of the

integrated installer ActiveX control of Fig. 12, detailed descriptions are omitted.

However, the control installation execution file may additionally perform a step of

recording information for deleting installed ActiveX controls (step 1310), so that the

deleting of installed ActiveX controls may be performed by the control installation

execution file.

In prior art, to delete an installed ActiveX control, the corresponding file itself had

to be found and deleted. However, by installing an ActiveX control using a control

installation execution file as in the second embodiment, the information for deleting the

control may be recorded in the program, so that the installed ActiveX control may be

deleted in a much simpler manner.

Fig. 14 illustrates an example of a user interface provided in a control installation

execution file for deleting ActiveX controls.

As shown in Fig. 14, by providing a list of installed controls and a button for

requesting deletions of the controls, a user may readily delete the installed ActiveX

controls.

While the spirit of the invention has been described in detail with reference to

preferred embodiments, it is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or

modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

[Industrial Applicability]

As described above, with preferred embodiments of the present invention, ActiveX

controls may be installed without security warning messages in webpages provided by

the same service provider, by installing an integrated installer ActiveX control for

installing ActiveX controls.

Also, with preferred embodiments of the present invention, web services may be

provided to a user in a facilitated manner, by allowing ActiveX controls to be installed

without security warning windows for webpages provided by certain service providers

trusted by the user.