Software component execution management using context objects for tracking externally-defined intrinsic properties of executing software components within an execution environment

• US 20050015775A1
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gray, Jan Stephen, Helland, Patrick J., Russell, Wilfred G., Limprecht, Rodney, Hope, Greg, Al-Ghosein, Mohsen
• Granted Patent: US 7,389,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/315
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/466 Transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A run-time executive of an object management system for managing execution of software components in an object execution environment uses a component context object to store intrinsic context properties related to an associated component. The run-time executive maintains an implicit association of the component context object with the application component. For example, the context properties can include a client id, an activity id, and a transaction reference. The component context object also provides an interface accessible to the associated component, with member functions for use in transaction processing, in creating additional other application components inheriting component'"'"'s context properties, and in access control based on abstract user classes (roles).

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon programming code for a component context object to accompany a software component instance in an object execution environment, the component context object storing a set of immutable context properties pertaining to management of the software component instance in the object execution environment by system management code, the properties comprising a client identifier, an activity identifier, and a transaction indicator, where the client identifier is indicative of a base client that initiated creation of a set of software components in the object execution environment inclusive of the software component instance to perform a data processing activity, the activity identifier is indicative of the set of software components in the object execution environment inclusive of the software component instance all engaged in the data processing activity, the transaction indicator is indicative of a transaction encompassing data processing work of at least some of the set of software components in the object execution environment inclusive of the software component instance.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the component context object exposes an interface having method members for invocation by the software component instance, the method members comprising a create instance request method member for invocation by the software component instance to cause creation of a descendant software component instance accompanied in the object execution environment by a second component context object whose context properties are inherited from those stored in the component context object of the software component instance.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the component context object exposes an interface having method members for invocation by the software component instance, the method members comprising:

a transaction completion indication method member for invocation by the requested software component instance prior to return from data processing work for a client to indicate to the system management code that the data processing work has been successfully completed so that committal of a transaction encompassing the data processing work can be initiated; and

a transaction abort indication method member for invocation by the requested software component instance prior to return from the data processing work to provide an indication to the system management code that the data processing work has been unsuccessfully completed so that the transaction should abort.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3 wherein the invocation of the transaction completion indication method member or the transaction abort indication method member by the software component instance further indicates the software component instance is to be deactivated.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the component context object exposes an interface having method members for invocation by the software component instance, the method members comprising:

a transaction disable indication method member for invocation by the software component instance prior to return from data processing work for a client to provide an indication to the system management code to disable transactional processing involving the data processing work of the requested software component instance from committal of a transaction encompassing the data processing work; and

a transaction enable indication method member for invocation by the software component instance prior to return from the data processing work to provide an indication to the system management code to again enable transactional processing involving the data processing work of the requested software component instance to commit the transaction.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the component context object exposes an interface having method members for invocation by the software component instance, the method member comprising a query transaction participation method member for invocation by the software component instance to obtain information whether data processing work of the requested software component instance forms part of a transaction.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the component context object exposes an interface having method members for invocation by the software component instance, the method member comprising a query role membership method member for invocation by the software component instance to programmatically control access based on information of whether a user on whose behalf the software component instance is executing is associated in a specified role, wherein the role is an abstract class of users defined for a component-based application program.

8. A computer system including a processor coupled to memory comprising programming code for a component context object to accompany a software component instance in an object execution environment, the component context object storing a set of immutable context properties pertaining to management of the software component instance in the object execution environment by system management code, the properties comprising a client identifier, an activity identifier, and a transaction indicator, where the client identifier is indicative of a base client that initiated creation of a set of software components in the object execution environment inclusive of the software component instance to perform a data processing activity, the activity identifier is indicative of the set of software components in the object execution environment inclusive of the software component instance all engaged in the data processing activity, the transaction indicator is indicative of a transaction encompassing data processing work of at least some of the set of software components in the object execution environment inclusive of the software component instance.

9. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the component context object exposes an interface having method members for invocation by the software component instance, the method members comprising a create instance request method member for invocation by the software component instance to cause creation of a descendant software component instance accompanied in the object execution environment by a second component context object whose context properties are inherited from those stored in the component context object of the software component instance.

10. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the component context object exposes an interface having method members for invocation by the software component instance, the method members comprising:

a transaction completion indication method member for invocation by the requested software component instance prior to return from data processing work for a client to indicate to the system management code that the data processing work has been successfully completed so that committal of a transaction encompassing the data processing work can be initiated; and

a transaction abort indication method member for invocation by the requested software component instance prior to return from the data processing work to provide an indication to the system management code that the data processing work has been unsuccessfully completed so that the transaction should abort.

11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the invocation of the transaction completion indication method member or the transaction abort indication method member by the software component instance further indicates the software component instance is to be deactivated.

12. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the component context object exposes an interface having method members for invocation by the software component instance, the method members comprising:

a transaction disable indication method member for invocation by the software component instance prior to return from data processing work for a client to provide an indication to the system management code to disable transactional processing involving the data processing work of the requested software component instance from committal of a transaction encompassing the data processing work; and

a transaction enable indication method member for invocation by the software component instance prior to return from the data processing work to provide an indication to the system management code to again enable transactional processing involving the data processing work of the requested software component instance to commit the transaction.

13. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the component context object exposes an interface having method members for invocation by the software component instance, the method member comprising a query transaction participation method member for invocation by the software component instance to obtain information whether data processing work of the requested software component instance forms part of a transaction.

14. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the component context object exposes an interface having method members for invocation by the software component instance, the method member comprising a query role membership method member for invocation by the software component instance to programmatically control access based on information of whether a user on whose behalf the software component instance is executing is associated in a specified role, wherein the role is an abstract class of users defined for a component-based application program.

15. A computer implemented method of managing a software component instance in an object execution environment, the method comprising storing by a component context object associated with the software component instance, a set of immutable context properties pertaining to management of the software component instance in the object execution environment by system management code, the properties comprising a client identifier, an activity identifier, and a transaction indicator, where the client identifier is indicative of a base client that initiated creation of a set of software components in the object execution environment inclusive of the software component instance to perform a data processing activity, the activity identifier is indicative of the set of software components in the object execution environment inclusive of the software component instance all engaged in the data processing activity, the transaction indicator is indicative of a transaction encompassing data processing work of at least some of the set of software components in the object execution environment inclusive of the software component instance.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the component context object exposes an interface having method members for invocation by the software component instance, the method members comprising:

a transaction completion indication method member for invocation by the requested software component instance prior to return from data processing work for a client to indicate to the system management code that the data processing work has been successfully completed so that committal of a transaction encompassing the data processing work can be initiated; and

a transaction abort indication method member for invocation by the requested software component instance prior to return from the data processing work to provide an indication to the system management code that the data processing work has been unsuccessfully completed so that the transaction should abort.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the invocation of the transaction completion indication method member or the transaction abort indication method member by the software component instance further indicates the software component instance is to be deactivated.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the component context object exposes an interface having method members for invocation by the software component instance, the method members comprising:

a transaction disable indication method member for invocation by the software component instance prior to return from data processing work for a client to provide an indication to the system management code to disable transactional processing involving the data processing work of the requested software component instance from committal of a transaction encompassing the data processing work; and

a transaction enable indication method member for invocation by the software component instance prior to return from the data processing work to provide an indication to the system management code to again enable transactional processing involving the data processing work of the requested software component instance to commit the transaction.