System, method and computer program for application support in a data processing system

• US 20020178303A1
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Robinson, Ian, Colby, Logan, Beaven, John Anthony, Mulholland, Alexandra
• Granted Patent: US 6,766,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/332
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/465 Distributed object oriented systems remote method invocation [RMI] G06F9/548
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/466 Transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A data processing system comprising an object framework, and a plurality of components for supporting an application program utilizing the plurality of components. In the object framework, each of the plurality of components registers with the object framework. Then, in response to the registering, each of the plurality of components is associated with one of a plurality of context groups. Furthermore, each of the plurality of components creates an instance of itself. A first instance is associated with a first context group of a first respective component and a second instance is associated with a second context group of a second respective component. The first instance and the second instance operate independently of each other.

Claims

1. A data processing system comprising:

an object framework, and a plurality of components for supporting an application program utilising said plurality of components,

said object framework further comprising;

means for registering each of said plurality of components with said object framework;

means, responsive to said means for registering, for associating each of said plurality of components with one of a plurality of context groups;

in which each of said plurality of components comprises means for creating an instance of itself, in which a first instance is associated with a first context group of a first respective component and a second instance is associated with a second context group of a second respective component, in which said first instance and said second instance operate independently of each other.

2. A data processing system as claimed in claim 1, in which a plurality of instances are associated with one context group.

3. A data processing system as claimed in claim 2, whereby an instance has an associated context, in which a plurality of associated contexts may be nested into a context hierarchy.

4. A data processing system as claimed in claim 3, whereby a plurality of associated contexts are nested into a context hierarchy and are associated with one of a plurality of context groups, in which if a first of said plurality of associated contexts is suspended, all further plurality of associated contexts, beneath said first of said plurality of associated contexts in said context hierarchy, are also suspended.

5. A data processing system as claimed in claim 4, in which if said first of said plurality of associated contexts is resumed, said all further plurality of associated contexts, beneath said first of said plurality of associated contexts in said context hierarchy, are also resumed.

6. A data processing system as claimed in claim 1, in which, in operation, one or more of said plurality of components is a service.

7. A data processing system as claimed in claim 1, in which, in operation, one or more of said plurality of components is a transaction.

8. A data processing system as claimed in claim 1, in which one or more of said plurality of components is represented by a unit of work.

9. A data processing system as claimed in claim 1, in which one of said plurality of context groups is a default context group.

10. A data processing system as claimed claim 1, in which said object framework is a CORBA Activity Service.

11. In a data processing system comprising:

an object framework, and a plurality of components for supporting an application program utilising said plurality of components,

a method of supporting such an application program, said method comprising the steps of;

registering each of said plurality of components with said object framework;

in response to said registering, associating each of said plurality of components with one of a plurality of context groups;

in which said application program creates an instance of two or more of said plurality of components, in which a first instance is associated with a first context group of a first respective component and a second instance is associated with a second context group of a second respective component, in which said first instance and said second instance operate independently of each other.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which one or more instances are associated with a context group.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, whereby an instance has an associated context, in which a plurality of associated contexts may be nested into a context hierarchy.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, whereby a plurality of associated contexts are nested into a context hierarchy and are associated with one of a plurality of context groups, in which if a first of said plurality of associated contexts is suspended, all further plurality of associated contexts, beneath said first of said plurality of associated contexts in said context hierarchy, are also suspended.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, in which if said first of said plurality of associated contexts is resumed, said all further plurality of associated contexts, beneath said first of said plurality of associated contexts in said context hierarchy, are also resumed.

16. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which, in operation, one or more of said plurality of components is a service.

17. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which, in operation, one or more of said plurality of components is a transaction.

18. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which one or more of said plurality of components is represented by a unit of work.

19. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which one of said plurality of context groups is a default context group.

20. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which said object framework is a CORBA Activity Service.

21. A computer program product for supporting an application program, running in a data processing system, said system comprising an object framework, and a plurality of components for supporting an application program utilising said plurality of components, said computer program product being stored on a computer readable storage medium and comprising instructions which when executed in said data processing system, carry out the steps of:

registering each of said plurality of components with said object framework;

in response to said registering, associating each of said plurality of components with one of a plurality of context groups;

in which said application program creates an instance of two or more of said plurality of components, in which a first instance is associated with a first context group of a first respective component and a second instance is associated with a second context group of a second respective component, in which said first instance and said second instance operate independently of each other.