Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Distributed data processing – Processing agent
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-20
2001-09-18
Lim, Krisna (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Distributed data processing
Processing agent
C709S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292824
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to client-server computer relationships and more particularly to a framework for facilitating rapid development and enhancement of client-server applications without requiring re-programming at the server.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The trend in the computer industry has been toward client-server systems whereby a plurality of independent computers (clients) can connect to a remote server in order to obtain access to a host of applications, stored data, etc., thereby eliminating the need to store all applications at the independent computers. Most application developers create each client-server application anew, without building on any previous work. After development, the server applications are generally provided at the server, with concurrent uploading of corresponding client applications on the client systems. Such efforts consume a great amount of time and effort, some of which is repetitive from one application to another. Moreover, many functions which are desirably included as classes of operations for a given application are commonly duplicated in many, if not all, other resident applications. It would be desirable to provide base functionality for all applications to be developed for the client-server environment.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a framework for facilitating development and enhancement of client-server applications.
It is another objective of the invention that the framework allow for development and enhancement of client-server applications without the need for re-programming the framework.
It is yet another objective of the invention to provide the foregoing framework with base classes to use for implementing specific functions of new applications without the need for coding in new classes for those functions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objectives of the invention are realized by the present invention wherein a method and framework for client-server interactions are provided. The method and framework allow for rapid development of client-server applications using any language that supports polymorphism and overloading, such as C++, Java, Smalltalk or OOPLX. The inventive framework provides the tools for management of requests for service by clients, including assigning the request to the right service-providing entity in the server. In addition, the framework allows a two-tiered view into the functions of the server. The invention also provides the means to start (or, boot) the server from a client location, and/or to start other remotely-located partner applications from a client location. Most significantly, the framework allows virtually any type of function (e.g., database management and lookups, file transfers, graphical status displays, etc.) to be implemented in the client-server code without the need for changing the code in the framework itself.
An application level language is optionally provided which can be enhanced or replaced by the user. The inventive framework is independent of the implementation language of the client; the location of the client (i.e., remotely located or local to the server location); and the means of communication between the client and the server (e.g., TCP/IP, Novell LAN protocols, IPC, etc.). While the base classes and abstract interfaces are provided in an implementation language such as C++, it is not necessary to write the client in the same language, thereby providing greater flexibility across a myriad of systems.
The inventive system additionally provides default functions such as error handling, problem tracing, a client request queue, and a sub-framework for building output services (e.g., to be used to respond to a client, log information, and/or communicate with yet another application), any of which can be implemented in the application or overridden by the programmer. Interprocess communications can also be readily achieved using the subject framework, once again without altering the framework code itself.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5822585 (1998-10-01), Noble et al.
patent: 5850517 (1998-12-01), Verkler et al.
patent: 5881230 (1999-03-01), Christensen et al.
patent: 6047311 (2000-04-01), Ueno et al.
patent: 6065039 (2000-05-01), Paciorek
Crockatt JoAnn Kealy
Dougherty Anne Vachon
International Business Machines - Corporation
Lim Krisna
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