Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-16
2001-01-30
Alam, Hosain T. (Department: 2771)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C709S227000, C709S230000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182075
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to client server information handling networks having one or more database server systems in which a method and means are provided for database clients to identify and access database servers which are on the network or interconnected therewith in such, a manner that they are accessible from the network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In client server networks having database servers, when a client desires to access one or more of the database servers the client requires communications information for each server. This communications information includes the protocols supported by the server and the protocol specific address information, which may include one or more items of data. For instance in networks using the TCP/IP protocol, the address includes a port number or service name and host name or IP address. Using the NETBIOS protocol, an Nname (workstation name) and local adapter is required. Using the IPX/SPX protocol, an internetwork address is required comprising an <8 byte net ID>·<12 byte node ID>·<4 byte socket #>. Using the APPC protocol, a significant amount of complex information is required for accessing databases connected to a network.
Considering the DB2 database management products introduced by IBM several years ago the establishment of a client server connection to access a database requires a user of a database client to have knowledge of a number of items of information. Before a connection can be established, the user must catalog a node and database directory. To catalog a node directory the user must have an intersection of the protocols supported by both the database client and database server, and enough protocol-specific communications information to communicate from the database client to database server. For example to connect to a DB2 server by using the TCP/IP protocol, the user must specify a host name or IP address, and a service name or port number in the node directory entry. To catalog a database directory the user must specify the database name. One of the problems inherent in this procedure is that it requires the user to know which databases are available and to have sufficient skill and communications information to catalog the entries required to access the database. It would be preferable for the database client to be able to simply identify the databases to which the user can have access and to simplify the mode by which the user can connect to those databases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention herein provides these and other advantages over prior systems. One implementation of the invention provides a client server information handling network having at least one database server system controlling at least one database, at least one database client and a communications link between the servers and the client; the network including:
discovery module for the database client to identify database servers accessible with the network. The discovery module includes:
a search discovery module associated with the database client for generating a database discovery inquiry including a database search discovery request to identify the database server systems;
a database discovery manager module associated with the database servers, the database discovery manager module being adapted to respond to the search discovery request by returning addressing information to permit access to the database servers by the database client.
The network may include a module for the client to respond to receive the addressing information provided by the database discovery manager module and to display the information to a user of the client.
The network of claim may include a known discovery module for the client for generating a database know; discovery request to a selected database server system previously identified to determine detailed database server system information.
The database connection manager module associated with the selected database server system may be adapted to respond to the known discovery request by packaging detailed database server system information relating to the selected database server system to permit access to databases on the system.
A module may be provided for the client to respond to receive the detailed database server system information and to display the information to a user of the client.
A graphical display interface (GUI) is preferably used to display server system information to a user, the GUI being adapted to respond to user input to initiate the search discovery request and the known discovery request.
The GUI should be responsive to the selection by a user, to initiate the search discovery request, and display server system names returned, and be further responsive to the selection of a database server system displayed on the GUI to expand the display of the selected database server system by initiating the generation of a known search request and depicting the detailed server system information returned in treelike fashion identifying the databases controlled by the selected database server system.
The GUI is responsive to user selection of an identified database by auto-configuring for a database access request.
The database server system may control a plurality of database server instances, and wherein each of the database server instances controls at least one database.
The database server system may include:
discovery manager and connection manager module adapted to listen for discovery requests on the network, and comprised of:
request receiver module to receive the discovery requests,
request parser module to parse the requests for processing,
request service module for responding to the parsed requests, and in response to:
(a) the receipt of a search discovery request obtains and packages database server system name and protocol - specific addressing information, and
(b) the receipt of a known discovery request for a specified database server system, obtains and packages detailed information for any database server instances associated with the specified database server system and databases controlled by the database server instances; and
communications response module adapted to transmit the packaged database server system addressing information and the packaged detailed database server system information to any database client requesting the information.
The modules mentioned above preferably are embodied in software routines. Modules identified singularly can be replaced by multiple modules and conversely multiple modules could be replaced by singular modules.
Another aspect of the invention is embodied in the method of operation of the client server network described for identifying (and then accessing databases as desired) including:
generating a database discovery inquiry for the client including a database search discovery request to identify the database server systems;
using database discovery manager module associated with the database server system to respond to the search discovery request by returning addressing information to permit access to the database servers by the database client.
The database client responds to receive the addressing information provided by the database discover manager module to display the information to a user of the database client.
The method preferably includes generating a database known discovery request for the client to a selected database server system previously identified to determine detailed database server system information.
The selected database server responds to the known discovery request by packaging detailed database server system information relating to the selected database server system to permit access to databases on the system.
The client responds to receive the detailed database server system information and displays the info ration to a user of the client.
A graphical display interface module (GUI) responds to user input to initiate the search discovery request and the known discovery request.
The GUI responds to selection by a user to initiate the search discovery r
Alam Hosain T.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Ray-Yarletts Jeanine S.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for discovery of databases in a client... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for discovery of databases in a client..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for discovery of databases in a client... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2499959