Proactively communicating information between processes through a message repository

• US 20040193569A1
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Shane, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,235,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/546 Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues

Abstract

A method and apparatus for proactively communicating information between processes through a message repository is provided. To communicate with other processes, a process may post a message to a message repository. Other processes may, at regular or irregular intervals, search the message repository for new messages that have been posted to the repository since the last search, and retrieve those new messages. Processes may post and retrieve messages relative to the message repository by invoking methods provided by an application programming interface (API). By posting a message to the message repository, a particular process can inform other interested processes proactively of actions that the particular process has taken, is taking, or will take. By retrieving messages from the message repository, a process can determine what actions other processes have taken, are taking, or will take, and adjust accordingly.

Claims

1. A method of interprocess communication, the method comprising:

a first process causing a database server to store, in a message database, a message that explicitly identifies an action that said first process has performed, is performing, or will perform;

a second process causing said database server to retrieve, from said message database, said message;

wherein said first process is separate from said second process;

wherein said first process and said second process are separate from said database server; and

wherein said action does not involve said message database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said message contains a timestamp.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said message identifies said first process.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said message identifies a target on which said action has been performed, is being performed, or will be performed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising said second process performing a responsive action based on said action.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising said second process periodically causing said database server to retrieve one or more messages from said message database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said action specifies a quantity.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising said second process performing a responsive action based on a quantity specified in said action.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising said second process displaying a notification based on said action.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first process causing said database server to store said message comprises:

said first process invoking a routine of an application programming interface;

said routine receiving said message as input; and

said routine causing said database server to store said message in said message database.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said second process causing said database server to retrieve said message comprises:

said second process invoking a routine of an application programming interface; and

said routine causing said database server to retrieve, from said message database, messages that said database server has not yet been caused to retrieve by said second process.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first process causing said database server to store said message comprises;

said first process invoking a first routine of an application programming interface,

said first routine receiving said message as input, and

said first routine causing said database server to store said message in said message database;

said second process causing said database server to retrieve said message comprises;

said second process invoking a second routine of said application programming interface, and

said second routine causing said database server to retrieve, from said message database, messages that said database server has not yet been caused to retrieve by said second process;

said first process executes in connection with a first operating system; and

said second process executes in connection with a second operating system that differs from said first operating system.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said database server determining whether said second process has received one or more messages that are stored in said message database; and

said database server providing, to said second process, one or more messages that said second process has not yet received.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said database server updating information that indicates, for each particular process of a plurality of processes, which messages that said particular process has not yet received from said database server.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said first process performing said action after causing said database server to store, in said message database, said message.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said action has not yet been performed by said first process.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said first process encrypting at least a portion of said message with a public key that is associated with said second process.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said second process decrypting at least a portion of said message with a private key that is associated with said second process.

19. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 1.

20. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 2.

21. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 3.

22. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 4.

23. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 5.

24. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 6.

25. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 7.

26. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 8.

27. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 9.

28. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 10.

29. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 11.

30. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 12.

31. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 13.

32. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 14.

33. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 15.

34. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 16.

35. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 17.

36. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 18.