Method for locating and retaining new software on a local server

• US 20050021759A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Gupta, Abhay K., Abdelnur, Alejandro
• Granted Patent: US 7,206,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/541 Client-server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

A method for distributing code resident on a remote application server to a local server. When a client requests information, a request handler on the local server handles the request. If the information is available on the local server, the request handler satisfies the request using this information. If the information is not available locally, the request handler accesses the remote application server to obtain the requested information. The request handler forwards the information to the client and caches it on the local server. Where the information cannot be transferred to the local application server, the request handler establishes a proxy to the remote application server that forwards a client request to the remote application server and a response from the remote application server to the client. The client communicates transparently with the remote application server via the proxy on the local application server.

Claims

1. A method of computing in a networked environment comprising:

receiving, at a request handler on a local server in a local server tier, a request from a client tier;

the request handler determining whether the request can be satisfied using software resident on the local server in the local server tier;

performing the following if the request cannot be satisfied by software resident on the local server in the local server tier;

the request handler consulting an information base to determine the location of new software to satisfy the request, wherein the new software is located on two or more application servers located in an application tier;

the request handler choosing the new software from one of the application servers based on a load for each of the application servers;

the request handler acquiring the new software from the chosen application server; and

the request handler loading and retaining a copy of the new software on a local server in the local server tier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is for application software, the method further comprising generating a persistent copy of the application software on the local server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the software from a local server to the client.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a Castanet tuner on a local server and a Castanet transmitter on an application server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request handler automatically maintains a most recent version of the software on the local server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the new software is acquired using one of a group consisting of a Castanet product and DRP protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the local server consults a directory that contains information indicating whether the application software on the local server is the most recent version of the application software.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the application server automatically notifies the local server of any changes to software downloaded from the application server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the request handler acquiring the new software from an application server located in an application tier to the local server from the location further comprises acquiring any dependencies for the new software.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the new software is not used to modify preexisting software on the local server.

11. A configurable server comprising:

a processor; and

a request handler coupled to the processor configured to manage resources needed to satisfy a request by a client using local information and information residing on a remote server, wherein the request handler determines whether the request can be satisfied using software resident on a local server in a local server tier;

wherein if the request cannot be satisfied by software resident on a local server in a local server tier, the request handler performs the following;

consults an information base to determine the location of new software to satisfy the request;

determines whether any additional software is needed for the new software to run properly;

acquires the new software and said any additional software from an application server located in an application tier; and

dynamically loads and retains a copy of the new software and said any additional software on the configurable server.

12. The server of claim 11 wherein the request is for application software, and wherein the request handler generates a persistent copy of the application software on the local server.

13. The server of claim 11, wherein the local server transmits the software to the client.

14. The server of claim 11, wherein the local server comprises a Castanet tuner and the application server comprises a Castanet transmitter.

15. The server of claim 11, the request handler further configured to automatically maintain a most recent version of the new software on the local server.

16. The server of claim 11, wherein the new software is acquired using one of a group consisting of a Castanet product and DRP protocol.

17. The server of claim 11, wherein the local server consults a directory that contains information indicating whether the application software on the local server is the most recent version of the application software.

18. The server of claim 11, wherein the application server automatically notifies the local server of any changes to software downloaded from the application server.

19. The server of claim 11, wherein the new software is not used to modify any preexisting software.

20. The server of claim 11, wherein the new software is located on two or more application servers, and the request handler acquires the new software for one of the application servers based on a load for each of the application servers.

21. The server of claim 11, wherein the request handler automatically maintains a most recent version of the additional software on the local server.

22. A method of computing in a networked environment comprising:

receiving at a server an application request from a client, the server being local to the client;

determining whether an application specified in the application request is available locally on the local server;

satisfying the application request if the application request can be satisfied by the local server with a locally available application; and

performing the following if the application request cannot be satisfied with the locally available application;

consulting an information base to determine whether the specified but not locally available application is available remotely and if so, determining a location of the specified but not locally available application;

obtaining the specified but not locally available application from an application server identified by the location, the application server being located remote to the local server in an application server tier;

saving the obtained application returned from the application server in storage associated with the local server; and

satisfying with the local server the application request by the client.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the obtaining of the specified application comprises obtaining a properties file for the specified application, the properties file comprising additional information and dependencies useful in running the specified application, and wherein the method further comprises examining the properties file and based on the examining, retrieving a resource for use by the local server in running the specified application.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the resource comprises an additional application.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising loading the additional application on the local server prior to the satisfying the application request.

26. A local server for use in a multi-tiered network computing environment that includes an application server tier with at least one network application server for routing requests to a database tier, the local server comprising:

a cache of network application software and data received from the network application server in response to previous requests for the network application software and data;

an application locator configured to use a name of a network application software specified by a client to locate from a directory one of the network application servers capable of providing the network application software and downloading the network application software when the network application software is not in the cache;

wherein the application locator also functions to verify that the cache contains a current version of the network application software.

27. The local server of claim 26, wherein the local server further comprises a login service configured to accept login information from said client and to perform verification of said client.

28. The local server of claim 27, wherein the login service is configured to generate a credential for use by the client to access multiple applications and services.

29. The local server of claim 26, wherein the local server is configured to acquire a proxy service, the proxy service being configured to forward network messages between said client and a service executing on said network application server.

30. The local server of claim 26, wherein the local server is configured to acquire a service from said application server tier in response to a request for said service.

31. The local server of claim 30, wherein the local server further comprises a service locator configured to identify a location of said service using a name of said service specified by said client.