With the popularity and wide access of broadband networks, software publishers have made applications available for use on central servers. Indeed, a commercial market segment known as Application Service Providers (ASPs) has recently emerged. Broadband network access facilitates the use (including downloading and execution) of such server-based software applications by providing high speed data connections for distribution of software applications from a server terminal (or from a remote location) to a local client terminal (for example, a personal computer terminal). However, many users consider it troublesome and time consuming to install applications distributed in this manner onto their client terminals because it typically requires accessing the server terminal via the data connection, downloading the desired application, and thereafter installing the downloaded application onto the client terminal for execution.
In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to have a system and method that provides unobtrusive execution of externally delivered applications, without the traditional installation procedure of the application before execution. It is further desired to have secure access to the applications to prevent unauthorized users from executing them.