Universal adapter

• US 20060136601A1
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Arora, Ashutosh, Klets, Gregory Leonidovich, Kaipa, Sam Prasad, Bollineni, Pradeep Chand
• Granted Patent: US 7,644,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

Techniques are provided for application integration. Data is received at a universal adapter, wherein the universal adapter executes as a single process. One or more data transformers to be used to convert the data are identified. The data is converted using the identified one or more data transformers. Then, the data is routed to one of an application or integration engine.

Claims

1. A method for application integration, comprising:

receiving data at a universal adapter, wherein the universal adapter executes as a single process;

identifying one or more data transformers to be used to convert the data;

converting the data using the identified one or more data transformers; and

routing the data to one of an application or integration engine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application comprises a first application and wherein the received data is received from the integration engine and is routed to the first application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the application comprises a first application and wherein the received data is received from a second application and is routed to the integration engine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more data transformers are identified using one or more data transformation rules.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein protocol specific information is propagated during the conversion of the data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the received data and the routed data are in different data formats.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the received data and the routed data are transferred over different protocols.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the received data comprises data in multiple data formats, and wherein each of the multiple data formats is processed by a different data transformer.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more configuration files;

storing the one or more configuration files persistently; and

instantiating any protocol listeners and protocol handlers defined in the one or more configuration files.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an implementation of an interface for a new protocol listener;

receiving property values for the new protocol listener; and

instantiating the new protocol listener.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an implementation of an interface for a new protocol handler;

receiving property values for the new protocol handler; and

instantiating the new protocol handler.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an implementation of an interface for a new data transformer;

receiving data format information that the data transformer supports; and

enabling the data transformer to be used.

13. An article of manufacture including a program for application integration, wherein the program is capable of causing operations to be performed, the operations comprising:

receiving data at a universal adapter, wherein the universal adapter executes as a single process;

identifying one or more data transformers to be used to convert the data;

converting the data using the identified one or more data transformers; and

routing the data to one of an application or integration engine.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the application comprises a first application and wherein the received data is received from the integration engine and is routed to the first application.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the application comprises a first application and wherein the received data is received from a second application and is routed to the integration engine.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the one or more data transformers are identified using one or more data transformation rules.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein protocol specific information is propagated during the conversion of the data.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the received data and the routed data are in different data formats.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the received data and the routed data are transferred over different protocols.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the received data comprises data in multiple data formats, and wherein each of the multiple data formats is processed by a different data transformer.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving one or more configuration files;

storing the one or more configuration files persistently; and

instantiating any protocol listeners and protocol handlers defined in the one or more configuration files.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an implementation of an interface for a new protocol listener;

receiving property values for the new protocol listener; and

instantiating the new protocol listener.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an implementation of an interface for a new protocol handler;

receiving property values for the new protocol handler; and

instantiating the new protocol handler.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an implementation of an interface for a new data transformer;

receiving data format information that the data transformer supports; and

enabling the data transformer to be used.

25. A system for application integration, comprising:

circuitry capable of causing operations to be performed, the operations comprising;

receiving data at a universal adapter, wherein the universal adapter executes as a single process;

identifying one or more data transformers to be used to convert the data;

converting the data using the identified one or more data transformers; and

routing the data to one of an application or integration engine.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the application comprises a first application and wherein the received data is received from the integration engine and is routed to the first application.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the application comprises a first application and wherein the received data is received from a second application and is routed to the integration engine.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the one or more data transformers are identified using one or more data transformation rules.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein protocol specific information is propagated during the conversion of the data.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the received data and the routed data are in different data formats.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the received data and the routed data are transferred over different protocols.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the received data comprises data in multiple data formats, and wherein each of the multiple data formats is processed by a different data transformer.