Servicing functions that require communication between multiple servers

• US 20020143865A1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Chi-Cheng, Agarwal, Sachin, Tung Loo, Elise Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Identity Servers issue and respond to requests for performing remote operations. A local Identity Server receives a request to perform a remote operation. The local Identity Server identifies and executes any required local operations. After completing the local operations, the local Identity Server forwards the remote request to a remote Identity Server, which executes the remote operation. An Identity Server includes a management service, management registry, and request handler. The management service identifies and issues remote request to other servers. The request handler receives remote requests from other servers. The management registry maintains an index of function modules for performing local operations.

Claims

1. A method for a set of servers to respond to a request for a remote operation, wherein said request is issued in a local server in said set of servers, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) said local server performing a local operation arising from said request, wherein said step (a) includes the steps of;

(1) said local server blocking new requests in response to said request,

(2) said local server completing service of requests in progress, and

(3) said local server executing said local operation; and

(b) a remote server in said set of servers performing said remote operation arising from said request, wherein said step (b) includes the steps of;

(1) said remote server blocking new requests in response to said request,

(2) said remote server completing service of requests in progress, and

(3) said remote server executing said remote operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) further includes the step of:

(4) issuing said request to said remote server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step (a) further includes the step of:

(5) creating a message channel for issuing said request to said remote server.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said local server includes a set of function modules, and wherein said step (a) includes the step of:

(6) identifying a function module in said set of function modules corresponding to said local operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) further includes the step of:

(4) issuing said request to said remote server and other servers in said set of servers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said local server includes a set of caches and wherein said step (a)(3) includes the step of:

(i) flushing a cache in said set of caches in response to said local operation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said remote server includes a set of function modules, and wherein said step (b) includes the steps of:

(4) receiving said request from said local server; and

(5) identifying a function module in said set of function modules corresponding to said remote operation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said remote server includes a set of caches and wherein said step (b)(3) includes the step of:

(i) flushing a cache in said set of caches in response to said remote operation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said local server is a local Identity Server in communication with a Web Server and said remote server is a remote Identity Server in communication with said Web Server.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said remote Identity Server and said local Identity Server are in communication with an Access System.

11. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method for a set of servers to respond to a request for a remote operation, wherein said request is issued in a local server in said set of servers, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) said local server performing a local operation arising from said request, wherein said step (a) includes the steps of;

(1) said local server blocking new requests in response to said request,

(2) said local server completing service of requests in progress, and

(3) said local server executing said local operation; and

(b) a remote server in said set of servers performing said remote operation arising from said request, wherein said step (b) includes the steps of;

(1) said remote server blocking new requests in response to said request,

(2) said remote server completing service of requests in progress, and

(3) said remote server executing said remote operation.

12. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 11, wherein said step (a) further includes the step of:

(4) issuing said request to said remote server.

13. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 11, wherein said step (a) further includes the step of:

(4) issuing said request to said remote server and other servers in said set of servers.

14. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 11, wherein said local server includes a set of caches and wherein said step (a)(3) includes the step of:

(i) flushing a cache in said set of caches in response to said local operation.

15. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 11, wherein said remote server includes a set of function modules, and wherein said step (b) includes the steps of:

(4) receiving said request from said local server; and

(5) identifying a function module in said set of function modules corresponding to said remote operation.

16. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 11, wherein said remote server includes a set of caches and wherein said step (b)(3) includes the step of:

(i) flushing a cache in said set of caches in response to said remote operation.

17. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 11, wherein said local server is a local Identity Server in communication with a Web Server and an Access System and wherein said remote server is a remote Identity Server in communication with said Web Server and said Access System.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said step (a) further includes the step of:

(4) issuing said request to said remote server.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said step (a) further includes the step of:

(4) issuing said request to said remote server and other servers in said set of servers.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein said local server includes a set of caches and wherein said step (a)(3) includes the step of:

(i) flushing a cache in said set of caches in response to said local operations.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein said remote server includes a set of function modules, and wherein said step (b) includes the steps of:

(4) receiving said request from said local server; and

(5) identifying a function module in said set of function modules corresponding to said remote operation.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein said remote server includes a set of caches and wherein said step (b)(3) includes the step of:

(i) flushing a cache in said set of caches in response to said remote operation.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein said local server is a local Identity Server in communication with a Web Server and an Access System and wherein said remote server is a remote Identity Server in communication with said Web Server and said Access System.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said step (b) includes the steps of:

(1) said local server identifying a local function module in said set of local function modules, wherein said local function module corresponds to a local operation called for by said remote request;

(2) said local server executing said local operation; and

(3) said local server forwarding to said remote server a request for a remote operation called for by said remote request issued in said step (a).

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said step (b)(1) includes the steps of:

(i) said local management service identifying said local operation to said local management registry; and

(ii) said local management registry identifying said local function module that corresponds to said local operation.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said step (b)(2) includes the steps of:

(i) said local server blocking new requests in response to said request;

(ii) said local server completing service of requests in progress; and

(iii) said local server executing said local operation.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said step (b)(2) further includes the steps of:

(iv) said local server unblocking new requests.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said step (b)(2)(iii) includes the step of flushing a cache in said local server.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said step (c) includes the steps of:

(1) said remote server identifying a remote function module in said set of remote function modules, wherein said remote function module corresponds to said remote operation called for by said remote request; and

(2) said remote server executing said remote operation.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said step (c)(1) includes the steps of:

(i) said remote management service identifying said remote operation to said remote management registry; and

(ii) said remote management registry identifying said remote function module that corresponds to said remote operation.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said step (c)(2) includes the steps of:

(i) said remote server blocking new requests in response to said remote request;

(ii) said remote server completing service of requests in progress; and

(iii) said remote server executing said remote operation.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said step (c)(2) further includes the steps of:

(iv) said remote server unblocking new requests.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said step (c)(2)(iii) includes the step of:

flushing a cache in said remote server.

36. The method of claim 25 wherein said local server is a local Identity Server in communication with a Web Server and an Access System and wherein said remote server is a remote Identity Server in communication with said Web Server and said Access System.

38. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 37, wherein said step (b) includes the steps of:

(1) said local server identifying a local function module in said set of local function modules, wherein said local function module corresponds to a local operation called for by said remote request;

(2) said local server executing said local operation; and

(3) said local server forwarding to said remote server a request for a remote operation called for by said remote request issued in said step (a).

39. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 38, wherein said step (b)(1) includes the steps of:

(i) said local management service identifying said local operation to said local management registry; and

(ii) said local management registry identifying said local function module that corresponds to said local operation.

40. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 39, wherein said step (b)(2) includes the steps of:

(i) said local server blocking new requests in response to said request;

(ii) said local server completing service of requests in progress;

(iii) said local server executing said local operation; and

(iv) said local server unblocking new requests.

41. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 40, wherein said step (b)(2)(iii) includes the step of:

flushing a cache in said local server.

42. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 38, wherein said step (c) includes the steps of:

(1) said remote server identifying a remote function module in said set of remote function modules, wherein said remote function module corresponds to said remote operation called for by said remote request; and

(2) said remote server executing said remote operation.

43. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 42, wherein said step (c)(2) includes the steps of:

(i) said remote server blocking new requests in response to said remote request;

(ii) said remote server completing service of requests in progress;

(iii) said remote server executing said remote operation; and

(iv) said remote server unblocking new requests.

44. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 43, wherein said step (c)(2)(iii) includes the step of:

flushing a cache in said remote server.

45. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 37, wherein said local server is local Identity Server in communication with a Web Server and an Access System and wherein said remote server is a remote Identity Server in communication with said Web Server and said Access System.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein said step (b) includes the steps of:

(1) said local server identifying a local function module in said set of local function modules, wherein said local function module corresponds to a local operation called for by said remote request;

(2) said local server executing said local operation; and

(3) said local server forwarding to said remote server a request for a remote operation called for by said remote request issued in said step (a).

48. The system of claim 47, wherein said step (b)(2) includes the steps of:

(i) said local server blocking new requests in response to said request;

(ii) said local server completing service of requests in progress;

(iii) said local server executing said local operation; and

(iv) said local server unblocking new requests.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein said step (b)(2)(iii) includes the step of:

flushing a cache in said local server.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein said step (c) includes the steps of:

(1) said remote server identifying a remote function module in said set of remote function modules, wherein said remote function module corresponds to said remote operation called for by said remote request; and

(2) said remote server executing said remote operation.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein said step (c)(2) includes the steps of:

(i) said remote server blocking new requests in response to said remote request;

(ii) said remote server completing service of requests in progress;

(iii) said remote server executing said remote operation; and

(iv) said remote server unblocking new requests.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein said step (c)(2)(iii) includes the step of:

flushing a cache in said remote server.

53. The system of claim 46, wherein said local server is a local Identity Server in communication with a Web Server and an Access System and wherein said remote server is a remote Identity Server in communication with said Web Server and said Access System.

18. A system, comprising:

one or more communication interfaces;

one or more storage devices; and

one or more processors in communication with said one or more storage devices and said one or more communication interfaces, said processor performs a method for a set of servers to respond to a request for a remote operation, wherein said request is issued in a local server in said set of servers, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) said local server performing a local operation arising from said request, wherein said step (a) includes the steps of;

(1) said local server blocking new requests in response to said request,

(2) said local server completing service of requests in progress, and

(3) said local server executing said local operation; and

(b) a remote server in said set of servers performing said remote operation arising from said request, wherein said step (b) includes the steps of;

(1) said remote server blocking new requests in response to said request,

(2) said remote server completing service of requests in progress, and

(3) said remote server executing said remote operation.

25. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a remote request within a local server in a set of servers, wherein said local server includes a local request handler adapted to receive remote requests, a local set of function modules, a local management service in communication with said local set of function modules, and a local management registry in communication with said local management service and said local request handler, wherein a local function module in said local set of function modules generates said remote request;

(b) said local server performing local operations in response to said remote request; and

(c) a remote server in said set of servers performing operations in response to said remote request, wherein said remote server includes a remote request handler adapted to receive remote requests, a remote set of function modules, a remote management service in communication with said remote set of function modules, and a remote management registry in communication with said remote management service and said remote request handler.

37. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a remote request within a local server in said set of servers, wherein said local server includes a local request handler adapted to receive remote requests, a local set of function modules, a local management service in communication with said local set of function modules, and a local management registry in communication with said local management service and said local request handler, wherein a local function module in said set of function modules generates said remote request;

(b) said local server performing local operations in response to said remote request; and

(c) a remote server in said set of servers performing operations in response to said remote request, wherein said remote server includes a remote request handler adapted to receive remote requests, a remote set of function modules, a remote management service in communication with said remote set of function modules, and a remote management registry in communication with said remote management service and said remote request handler.

46. A system comprising:

a local server including a local request handler adapted to receive remote requests, a local set of function modules, a local management service in communication with said local set of function modules, and a local management registry in communication with said local management service and said local request handler;

a remote server in communication with said local server, said remote server including a remote request handler adapted to receive remote requests, a remote set of function modules, a remote management service in communication with said remote set of function modules, and a remote management registry in communication with said remote management service and said remote request handler;

one or more communication interfaces;

one or more storage devices; and

one or more processors in communication with said one or more storage devices, said one or more communication interfaces, said local server, and said remote server, said one or more processors causing said system to perform a method comprising the steps of;

(a) a function module in said set of local function modules issuing a remote quest to said local management service;

(b) said local server performing operations in response to said remote request; and

(c) said remote server performing operations in response to said remote request.