My company wants a new option to down loading apps to remote computers.

They want to be able to run an app online, so it can be distributed for home use via the internet, but HAS to be run online so it "can't" be stolen and redistributed as easily as a purchased CD can be ripped off. (this I have no clue how to do)

The application would store parameters on the local computer so the computer can be shut down, but the next day restarted and continue the simulation where it left off, but the app needs to load and run only in memory via the internet.

My quesiton is, where are some good sources of info to come up to speed on this new-to-me paradigm. And does anyone have any better ideas on how to securely, do education remotely for fee and keep control of your software secure.

In order for the program to run... I believe it must be copied to the local PC.... the only way around it I think would be so that the local PC would have a direct link (via a shortcut) that "ran" the program directly on the companies site...

It'd be much easier to let the program exist on the client's PC, but have it require a connection to your servers before it runs, or during its run.

Or... just to have the program completely browser based (ie: php, asp, jsp or other language).

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