System and method for specifying application services and distributing them across multiple processors using XML

• US 20040230587A1
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Doddington, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/226 Validation

Abstract

A system and method that uses XML schemas to specify the set of allowed calls, to invoke multiple function calls, either hierarchically or sequentially, and to specify the calls in such a way that they can be distributed across multiple processors. An XML schema mechanism defines the format of permitted requests and, importantly, validates the requests to ensure that they match the published signature of the functions provided by the service application. Additionally, the schema mechanism validates the request to ensure that they match the published signature of any further service application that it may need to employ. In addition, supplementary information added either within the schema itself or in supporting documents may be processed programmatically. A request may consist of a hierarchy of function calls, either nested within one another or executing in series.

Claims

1. A method for use in a distributed processing system to specify an application service comprising:

defining a schema comprising an operation having a plurality of arguments;

validating said schema; and

executing said operation in said distributed processing system.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein defining a schema comprising an operation having a plurality of arguments comprises defining a schema having a nested operation.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein defining a schema comprising an operation having a plurality of arguments comprises defining a schema having a plurality of nested operations.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein defining a schema comprising an operation having a plurality of nested operations comprises defining a schema having one or more nested operations in one or more of said nested operations.

5. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein validating said schema further includes validating said nested operation.

6. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein validating said schema further includes validating said plurality of nested operations.

7. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein validating said schema further includes validating said one or more nested operations in one or more of said nested operations.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 further including the step of generating a program to perform the defined operations.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 further including the step of distributing operations to one or more members of the distributed system.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said step of defining a schema includes indicating one or more points where distributing operations is beneficial.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of defining a schema comprises defining a schema in XML.