Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer data routing – Least weight routing
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-24
2001-04-10
Banankhah, Majid (Department: 2151)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer data routing
Least weight routing
C709S201000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216150
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates, in general, to application programming interfaces, and, in particular, to an application programming interface that unifies a plurality of mechanisms into a single, easy to understand protocol.
BACKGROUND ART
Typically, an application programming interface provides a user with the ability to perform a certain protocol. For example, a user may be provided with the ability to atomically broadcast messages to all of the other users in the computer system or the user may be provided with the ability to synchronize events.
Each protocol typically has its own application programming interface. Thus, the user needs to be familiar with various interfaces in order to perform various techniques. This proves cumbersome to the user. Thus, a need exists for an application programming interface that can unify multiple protocols into one integrated and easy to use framework. In particular, a need exists for a single application programming interface that can unify communications protocols and synchronization protocols.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a single application programming interface, which includes means for communicating between a member of a process group of related processes and another member of the process group, and means for synchronizing the related processes of the process group.
In a further embodiment, the single application programming interface includes means for managing membership of the process group or a processor group of processors. In yet a further embodiment, the single application programming interface includes means for controlling a group state value for the process group.
The single application programming interface of the present invention advantageously unifies a plurality of mechanisms into a single, unified framework. This provides an easy to understand and versatile protocol.
Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4569015 (1986-02-01), Dolev et al.
patent: 4644542 (1987-02-01), Aghili et al.
patent: 4718002 (1988-01-01), Carr
patent: 5212788 (1993-05-01), Lomet et al.
patent: 5638431 (1997-06-01), Everett et al.
patent: 5680551 (1997-10-01), Martino, II
patent: 6026426 (2000-02-01), Badovinatz et al.
“Group Communication in the Amoeba Distributed Operating System”, M. F. Kaashoek and A. S. Tanenbaum, Proc. of the IEEE 11th International Conf. on Distributed Computing Systems, pp 222-230.
“Efficient Reliable Group Communication for Distributed Systems”, M. F. Kaashoek and A. S. Tanenbaum, Ph.D. thesis at the Vrije Universiteit, 1992, pp. 1-50.
Kenneth P. Birman, “The Process Group Approach to Reliable Distributed Computing,” pp. 1-35 (Jul. 3, 1991).
K. P. Birman, R. Cooper and B. Gleeson, “Design Alternatives for Process Group Membership and Multicast,” pp. 1-31 (Dec. 18, 1991).
B. Oki, M. Pfuegl, A. Siegel and D. Skeen, “The Information Bus®-An Architecture for Extensible Distributed Systems,” Teknekron Software Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, pp. 58-68 (©1993).
David Powell, “Group Communcation,”Communications of the ACM, vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 50-96 (Apr. 1996).
Shun Yan Cheung, Mustaque Ahamad, Mostafa H. Ammar, Multi-Dimensional Voting: A General Method for Implementing Sychronization in Distributed Systems, IEEE Computer Soceity Press, p. 362-369, Jun. 1, 1990.*
“Efficient Reliable Group Communication for Distributed Systems”, M.F. Kaashoek et al, Phd. Thesis at the Vrije Universiteit , pp. 1-50, 1992.
Badovinatz Peter Richard
Blount Marion Lee
Brenner Larry Bert
Chandra Tushar Deepak
Gopal Ajei Sarat
Banankhah Majid
Cutter, Esq. Lawrence D.
Gonzales, Esq. Floyd A.
Heslin & Rothenberg, P.C.
International Business Machines - Corporation
LandOfFree
Program product for an application programming interface... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Program product for an application programming interface..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Program product for an application programming interface... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2494020