Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer data modifying
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-14
2001-05-22
Luu, Le Hien (Department: 2152)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer data modifying
C709S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237041
ABSTRACT:
THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
The present invention refers to a device for and a method of integrating an arrangement of a number of computerised essentially arbitrary client systems, being independent of each other, by permitting communication between the client systems, each client system having a system-specific structure and being adapted to process information in a system-specific native format.
Furthermore, the invention refers to a method of integrating an arrangement of a number of computerised essentially arbitrary client systems, being independent of each other, by permitting communication between the client systems, each client system having a system-specific structure and being adapted to process information in a system-specific native format,
Today, firms and organisations frequently rely for their daily processes on a number of different software applications on one or several hardware structures, i.e. computerised client systems, which are operating independently of each other. There is a need to integrate such client systems to make them co-operate and exchange data. Such integration is provided by connecting pairs of client systems to each other at a low system level by means of translation programs using different communication protocols. However, in order to obtain a global integration of the different client systems a myriad of specialised system-to-system programs is provided. The result is a spaghetti-like tangle of complex system inter-dependencies forming an effective gridlock for any further system development. Moreover, since the different client systems may not operate independently of each other any longer, the performance and the efficiency of each system is significantly reduced.
It has been proposed to integrate a number of independent client systems by the provision of an integrating server to which all of said client systems are connected. However, such an integrating server quickly grows to a very complicated client system which requires a considerable amount of computer programming work. In addition, such an integrating server need to be modified each time a new client system is to be integrated, or when a software application or a hardware structure is upgraded or replaced in any of the client systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to improve the possibilities of integrating different essentially arbitrary computerised client systems. In particular, it is aimed at an integration which permit the client systems to remain independent although integrated with each other, and thus efficient, changeable and replaceable.
This object is obtained by a device for integrating an arrangement of a number of computerised essentially arbitrary client systems, being independent of each other, by permitting communication between the client systems, each client system having a system-specific structure and being adapted to process information in a system-specific native format,
wherein the device comprises an integrating server and a number of communication connections for the exchange of a message, derived from said information, between the client systems and said integrating server, each communication connection being provided to connect a client system to said integrating server and comprising a client adapter adapted to the system-specific format and the system-specific structure of the respective client system for the exchange of said message in the system-specific native format, and a server adapter for the exchange of said message in the respective system-specific native format with said integrating server, said integrating server comprising a transformation means arranged to transform said message published by a client system in the system-specific native format to another system-specific format permitting subscription of said transformed message by any other of the client systems, and
a tool for staging the integration comprising means for inputting a description of each of the client systems, means for storing said description, and
means for generating in an automatic manner with the aid of said description said transformation means of said integrating server, said client adapter and said server adapter.
By such a description of each client system, which is stored in said storing means, for instance a so called repository database forming a meta model of the different client systems, the generating means is realized as a computer program and may generate the source code files forming the transformation means required to permit the exchange of messages between two different client systems. The repository may remain as a description of all client systems during the operation of the integrated systems. Any change, i.e. upgrading, deletion or replacement, of a client system need only be added to the description, whereafter the transformation means is changed accordingly in an automatic manner by the generating means. Said inputting means, said storing means and said generating means may be formed by a conventional separate personal computer, wherein said inputting means may comprise an interface, especially a graphical user interface, GUI, facilitating the use of the tool. It is also possible to let said inputting means, said storing means and said generating means reside on the hardware structure of the integrating server or even any of the client systems. Said client adapter, which may reside on the respective client system, comprises an interface for the respective client system, which enables the system to publish any information to the integrating server or subscribe on any information from the integrating server. Preferably, said interface is an Application Program Interface, API.
The server adapter may reside on the integrating server and is an interface enabling the communication between the respective client adapter and the integrating server. By the definitions contained in the description the client adapter and the server adapter may be generated in advance as source code files which may be implemented on the hardware structure where the client adapter and the server adapter, respectively, are located.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, said client adapter comprises at least one first adapter member for transferring said message in the system-specific native format to a respective client system and at least one second adapter member for transferring said message in the native format from the respective client system. Thus, the first adapter member, which may transfer information in only one direction, is a so called outbound adapter arranged to subscribe on information from the integrating server, and the second adapter member, which also may transfer information in only one direction, is a so called inbound adapter arranged to publish information to the integrating server.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, said server adapter comprises a first adapter member for transferring said message in the system-specific native format from said integrating server and a second adapter member for transferring said message in the system-specific native format to said integrating server. Likewise, the first adapter member, the outbound adapter, is provided to transfer information in only one direction with respect to the integrating server and the second adapter member, the inbound adapter, is provided to transfer information in the other direction with respect to the integrating server. Furthermore, the first adapter member of the server adapter may comprise a filter provided to prevent transfer of the information to a respective client system, which is irrelevant to that system.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, said client adapter and said server adapter of one communication connection are arranged to communicate with each other by means of an arbitrary data protocol. The communication between said adapters may be performed by any conventional communication link.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, each
Håål Anders
Ryeng Torbj{haeck over (o)}rn
Corus Technologies Aktiebolag
Luu Le Hien
Pearne & Gordon LLP
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