Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-30
2001-07-10
Olms, Douglas W. (Department: 2732)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S221000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259700
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to the field of electronic commerce, and more particularly to an electronic commerce distributed network and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Organizations in various industries use electronic commerce for communicating business information including purchase order and order supply information. One method for communicating electronic commerce information uses a value added network as a clearing house for messages between organizations. The value added network thereby allows organizations to participate in electronic commerce in an efficient and cost effective manner. Such a value added network provides connectivity for participating organizations and, in general, can receive messages from originator organizations, process the messages, and forward appropriate messages to recipient organizations. Since many organizations have dissimilar computer environments, the value added network provides advantages to the participating organizations by interfacing with and between the dissimilar environments. An organization that is an originator of a message need only transmit its message to the value added network and is not forced to worry about communicating directly with intended recipient organizations.
However, value added networks can suffer from a number of problems. For example, conventional value added networks are typically architected to have geographically centralized processing which can increase costs of connection for geographically remote organizations. In addition, conventional value added networks can suffer from a susceptibility to catastrophic failure produced by exterior causes such as power failure or problems with public communication networks. Also, where a global public data network, such as the Internet, is used to provide the backbone for communications, additional problems with security, reliability and performance are introduced into the network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an electronic commerce distributed network and method are disclosed that substantially eliminate or reduce disadvantages and problems associated with previously developed electronic commerce networks.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an electronic commerce distributed network is provided that includes a plurality of interconnected processing nodes. Each processing node includes a first sub-node and a second sub-node. The first and second sub-nodes of each processing node are connected to communicate information and are in geographically remote locations. The first sub-node of each processing node has an active state in which the first sub-node communicates with other processing nodes and processes electronic commerce messages communicated with originator/recipient organizations. The second sub-node of each processing node has a mirror state in which the second sub-node mirrors the first sub-node as well as an active state in which the second sub-node communicates with other processing nodes and processes electronic commerce messages communicated with originator/recipient organizations. The first sub-node of each processing node is initially in the active state, and the second sub-node is initially in the mirror state. The second sub-node is operable to switch to the active state if the first sub-node fails, such that each processing node in the electronic commerce distributed network can maintain operation in the event the first sub-node of that processing node experiences failure.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a processing engine for a processing node of an electronic commerce distributed network is provided. The processing engine includes a plurality of communication units operable to communicate with participating organizations in a plurality of communication protocols. The plurality of communication units are further operable to receive electronic commerce messages from originator organizations and communicate electronic commerce messages to recipient organizations. The processing engine also includes an engine that is operable to process an electronic commerce message received from an originator organization and to build an outgoing electronic commerce message for transmission to a recipient organization. The engine accomplishes processing and building by accessing profiles that define characteristics for the originator organization and the recipient organization and by invoking selected functions from a matrix of functions where the selected functions are chosen based upon the profiles for the originator organization and the recipient organization. An interface unit is coupled to and communicates with the plurality of communication units and the engine to allow incoming and outgoing electronic commerce messages to be communicated between the plurality of communication units and the engine. In this manner, the processing engine provides electronic commerce interconnectivity for participating organizations that have different computer and communication environments.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method of operation for an electronic commerce distributed network is provided that includes forming a processing node having a first sub-node and a second sub-node in geographically remote locations where the first and second sub-nodes are connected to communicate information. The first sub-node is operated in an active state to communicate with other processing nodes and to process electronic commerce messages communicated with originator/recipient organizations. The second sub-node is operated in a mirror state to mirror the first sub-node while the first sub-node is operated in the active state. The second sub-node is switched, if the first sub-node fails, to operate in an active state to communicate with other processing nodes and to process electronic commerce messages communicated with originator/recipient organizations. The operation of the electronic commerce distributed network is thereby maintained in the event the first sub-node experiences failure.
A technical advantage of the present invention is an architecture for an electronic commerce network that includes multiple processing nodes so that processing of electronic commerce messages is distributed to the various processing nodes. This distributed network provides increased access speed and service for participating organizations at reduced connectivity costs.
Another technical advantage of the present invention is that the processing nodes of the electronic commerce distributed network each includes an active sub-node and a mirror sub-node where the mirror sub-node maintains an accurate copy of the state of the active sub-node. In addition, the roles of the active sub-node and the mirror sub-node can be switched such that the mirror sub-node becomes active and the active sub-node becomes the mirror. This aspect of the present invention allows each processing node, and thus the network to be robust in sustaining operation through a loss of a sub-node.
A further technical advantage of the present invention is the provision of processing node in an electronic commerce network that can process incoming and outgoing electronic commerce messages based upon a profile of the originator/recipient organizations and by using a function matrix within the processing node. The processing node can thereby interface between originator/recipient organizations according to the particular characteristics of each organization as defined in its profile. The function matrix allows the processing node to invoke only those message processing functions appropriate for the specific originator/recipient organizations.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5008814 (1991-04-01), Mathur
patent: 5835696 (1998-11-01), Hess
patent: 5950173 (1999-09-01), Perkowski
patent: 5964831 (1999-10-01), Kearns
Hsieh Francis
Manring Brad
Baker & Botts L.L.P
Olms Douglas W.
Pizarro Ricardo M.
Sterling Commerce Inc.
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