Communication Protocol for a Containment-Aware Discovery Service

• US 20130007847A1
• Filed: 12/28/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Softwaresystemtechnik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Hasso-Plattner-Institut Fur Softwaresytemtechnik GmbH
• Inventors: Plattner, Hasso, Zeier, Alexander, Juergen, Mueller
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

In general, methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing a discovery service in a unique identifier network are described. Said discovery service is suitable for tracking and tracing a query item represented by a unique identifier in a unique identifier network. In particular, a communication protocol for a containment-aware discovery service is described.

Claims

1. A communication protocol method for tracking and tracing a query item represented by a unique identifier in a unique network, using a discovery service, wherein the discovery service comprises a database for storing event notifications, wherein each event notification comprises an event server address for an event server that comprises the corresponding event, wherein the communication protocol method comprises the following steps:

receiving event notifications from event servers;

storing the event notifications in the database;

receiving an item query from a client, wherein the item query includes the unique identifier representing the query item; and

identifying from the stored event notifications a filtered set of event notifications relevant for the query item.

2. The communication protocol method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining, from the filtered set, relevant events and relevant event server addresses of relevant event servers, wherein each event server storing one or more relevant events is a relevant event server.

3. The communication protocol method according to claim 2, wherein the communication protocol method further comprises the steps of:

submitting event queries for the relevant events to the relevant event servers in parallel;

receiving the relevant events from the relevant event servers;

aggregating the relevant events; and

submitting the relevant events to the client in an aggregated form.

4. The communication protocol method according to claim 1,

wherein each event notification is either an aggregation event notification or an object event notification;

wherein each aggregation event notification comprises an event server address, a parent identifier, and a child identifier,

wherein each object event notification comprises an event server address and an object identifier; and

wherein event notifications relevant for the query item consist of;

each object event notification having the unique identifier of either the query item or a container containing the query item as an object identifier; and

each aggregation event notification having the unique identifier of either the query item or a container containing the query item as a child identifier.

5. The communication protocol method according to claim 1, wherein each event notification entry stored in the discovery service database comprises a timestamp, and wherein the step of identifying employs a search method and/or a filter method.

6. The communication protocol method according to claim 1, wherein each event server comprises:

an event database for storing events; and

a communication interface for submitting event notifications to the discovery service, and for receiving event queries from the discovery service, and for submitting events to the discovery service.

7. The communication protocol method according to claim 1, wherein each event server comprises:

an access controller for performing access control for each event query received from the discovery service.

8. The communication protocol method according to claim 7, wherein the item query comprises an authentication certificate, wherein each event query includes the authentication certificate of the corresponding item query, and wherein access control for the event queries is performed by the access controllers of the event servers on the basis of the authentication certificate.

9. The communication protocol method according to claim 1, wherein the item query comprises an authentication certificate, wherein access control for the event queries is performed by the discovery service on the basis of the authentication certificate.

10. The communication protocol method according to claim 1, wherein the discovery service stores item query information regarding each item query.

11. A system for running a discovery service for tracking and tracing a query item represented by a unique identifier in a unique identifier network, comprising:

an event server communication interface for receiving events and event notifications from event servers, wherein each event notification comprises an event server address;

a query interface for receiving an item query, wherein a unique identifier representing the query item in the unique identifier network is included in the item query; and

an application logic comprising;

a persistency manager for storing and retrieving the event notifications in a discovery service database; and

a containment solver for identifying all relevant events from the stored event notifications, and for determining, from the filtered set, relevant events and relevant event server addresses of relevant event servers, wherein each event server storing one or more relevant events is a relevant event server.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the application logic further comprises:

a response query aggregator for submitting event queries for the relevant events to the corresponding event servers in parallel, and for receiving the relevant events from the relevant event servers, and for aggregating the relevant events, wherein the query interface is suitable for submitting the relevant events to the client in an aggregated form.

13. The system according to claim 11,

wherein the discovery service database is a main memory database.