Reliably transferring queued application messages

• US 20060130069A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Krishnan, Geller, Alan S., Limprecht, Rodney Thomas, Hegde, Uday Shanker, Driver, David Owen, Critchley, Craig Andrew, Hill, Richard Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/314
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding

Abstract

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for reliably and securely transferring queued application messages. Application messages are (e.g.,. binary or text) encoded and then encapsulated in transfer messages, enqueue messages, and dequeue responses such that composable protocol elements used in application messages can be reused in the transfer messages, enqueue messages, and dequeue responses. Transfer message headers are encoded and then encapsulated along with encoded application messages such that composable protocol elements used in transfer headers and application messages can be reused in the store and forward messages. Application messages, transfer messages, enqueue messages, dequeue responses, and store and forward messages can all be configured in accordance with the same messaging protocol, such as, for example, Simple Object Access Protocol. Since encapsulated elements are encoded, the encapsulated elements do not interfere with configuration of wrapping messages.

Claims

1. At a computer system that is network connectable along with one or more other computer systems to a network, a method of reliably transferring a queued message, the method comprising:

an act of dequeuing an encoded application message, the encoded application message having been encoded from an application message configured in accordance with a messaging protocol;

an act of configuring a transfer message in accordance with the messaging protocol, the transfer message identifying a message session corresponding to the application message and identifying a receiving computer system that is participating in the message session;

an act of encapsulating the encoded application message in the transfer message; and

an act of sending the transfer message for delivery to the receiving computer system.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of dequeuing an encoded application message comprises an act of dequeueing an encoded SOAP envelope.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of configuring a transfer message in accordance with the messaging protocol comprises an act of configuring a SOAP envelope.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of configuring a transfer message in accordance with the messaging protocol comprises an act of configuring a transfer message that reuses one or more composable protocol elements contained in the application message.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of configuring a transfer message in accordance with the messaging protocol comprises an act of configuring the transfer message to identify a message session corresponding to the application message.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of encapsulating the encoded application message in the transfer message comprises an act of encapsulating an encoded application SOAP envelope in a transfer SOAP envelope.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the act of encapsulating the encoded application message in the transfer message comprises an act of including decoding information for decoding the encoded application SOAP envelope within the transfer SOAP envelope.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an act of performing at least one of encrypting or digitally signing the transfer message prior to sending the transfer message.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an act of receiving an enqueue message that contains the encoded application message prior to dequeueing the encoded application message, the enqueue message being configured in accordance with the messaging protocol; and

an act of enqueueing the encoded application message.

10. At a computer system that is network connectable along with one or more other computer systems to a network, a method of reliably transferring a message, the method comprising:

an act of accessing a transfer message from a sending computer system, the transfer message configured in accordance with a messaging protocol, the transfer message encapsulating an encoded application message, the encoded application message being encoded from an application message also configured in accordance with the messaging protocol;

an act of enqueueing the encoded application message for delivery to an application;

an act of receiving a dequeue message;

an act of configuring a dequeue response in accordance with the messaging protocol;

an act of encapsulating the encoded application message in the dequeue response; and

an act of sending the dequeue response for delivery to the application.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the act of accessing a transfer message from a sending computer system comprises an act of accessing a transfer SOAP envelope that encapsulates an encoded application SOAP envelope.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the act of accessing a transfer SOAP envelope that encapsulates an encoded application SOAP envelope comprises an act of accessing a transfer message that includes decoding information for decoding the encoded application SOAP envelope.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the act of accessing a transfer message comprises an act of accessing a transfer message that reuses one or more composable protocol elements contained in the application message.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

an act of performing at least one of decrypting a portion of the transfer message or validating a digital signature on a portion of the transfer message prior to enqueueing the encoded application message.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the act of enqueueing the encoded application message for delivery to an application comprises an act of retaining queuing headers and the application message for further processing.

16. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the act of configuring a dequeue response in accordance with the messaging protocol comprises an act of configuring a dequeue SOAP envelope.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the act of configuring a dequeue SOAP envelope comprises an act of configuring a dequeue SOAP envelope that reuses one or more composable protocol elements contained in the application message.

18. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the act of encapsulating the encoded application message in the dequeue response comprises an act of encapsulating an encoded application SOAP envelope in a dequeue SOAP envelope.

19. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the act of sending the dequeue response for delivery to the application comprises an act of sending a dequeue response that includes information for decoding the encoded application message.

20. A computer program product for use at a computer system that is network connectable along with one or more other computer systems to a network, the computer program product for implementing a method of reliably transferring a queued message, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the computer system to perform the following:

dequeue an encoded application message, the encoded application message having been encoded from an application message configured in accordance with a messaging protocol;

configure a transfer message in accordance with the messaging protocol, the transfer message identifying a message session corresponding to the application message and identifying a receiving computer system that is participating in the message session;

encapsulate the encoded application message in the transfer message; and

send the transfer message for delivery to the receiving computer system.

21. A computer program product for use at a computer system that is network connectable along with one or more other computer systems to a network, the computer program product for implementing a method of reliably transferring a message, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the computer system to perform the following:

access a transfer message from a sending computer system, the transfer message configured in accordance with a messaging protocol, the transfer message encapsulating an encoded application message, the encoded application message being encoded from an application message also configured in accordance with the messaging protocol;

enqueue the encoded application message for delivery to an application;

send an message available message to indicate that the application message has been queued;

receive a dequeue message;

configure a dequeue response in accordance with the messaging protocol;

encapsulate the encoded application message in the dequeue response; and

send the dequeue response for delivery to the application.