| 摘要 |
A server-centric approach is disclosed for enabling a browser (210) to handle content types that it cannot inherently process. Rather than executing plug-ins on a client (202), pluglets are executed on one or more servers (206). A pluglet (224) can perform any function that a plug-in can perform. Because a pluglet (224) resides and executes on a server (206), the shortcomings of the plug-in approach are overcome. Specifically, a client (202) no longer needs to have large amounts of storage and processing resources since pluglets (224) do not run on clients (202). Also, a user no longer needs to install plug-ins on a client (202). This greatly simplifies maintenance of the overall system. Thus, the server-centric approach enables the benefits of plug-in technology to be realized, but does so without suffering the associated shortcomings.
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