Interface for providing access to external data sources/sinks
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for enabling an application program to connect to a selected one or more of a plurality of external data sources/sinks, said application program running on a computer having active memory, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of driver means, each of said driver means corresponding to a different subgroup of said plurality of external data sources/sinks;
in response to an inquiry from said application program, reporting to the application program the identity of each of the driver means of said plurality of driver means;
in response to the application program, selecting one of the plurality of driver means previously identified to the application program;
loading the selected driver means into active memory; and
reporting to the application program a first plurality of entry points in said loaded driver means for a first plurality of function calls that said application program can make to said loaded driver means, said first plurality of entry points for use by said application program to make said first plurality of function calls directly to said loaded driver means, said first plurality of function calls including function calls for establishing and/or terminating connectivity to said loaded driver means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interface for enabling an application program to connect to a selected one or more of a plurality of external data sources/sinks, the application program running on a computer having active memory, the interface including a plurality of driver means, each of said drivers corresponding to a different subgroup of the plurality of external data sources/sinks; a name manager for identifying the drivers to the application; a selector for selecting one of the identified external data sources/sinks; a loader for loading the drivers corresponding to the selected external data source/sink into active memory; and an identifier for identifying a first plurality of entry points to a first plurality of function calls that said application can make to the loaded drivers, the plurality of function calls including function calls for establishing and/or terminating connectivity to the loaded drivers.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for enabling an application program to connect to a selected one or more of a plurality of external data sources/sinks, said application program running on a computer having active memory, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of driver means, each of said driver means corresponding to a different subgroup of said plurality of external data sources/sinks; in response to an inquiry from said application program, reporting to the application program the identity of each of the driver means of said plurality of driver means; in response to the application program, selecting one of the plurality of driver means previously identified to the application program; loading the selected driver means into active memory; and reporting to the application program a first plurality of entry points in said loaded driver means for a first plurality of function calls that said application program can make to said loaded driver means, said first plurality of entry points for use by said application program to make said first plurality of function calls directly to said loaded driver means, said first plurality of function calls including function calls for establishing and/or terminating connectivity to said loaded driver means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-implemented method for enabling an application program to access functionality of a selected external data source/sink, the method comprising:
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in response to a connectivity request from said application program, establishing connectivity of the application program to said selected external data source/sink; and after said application program establishes connectivity with said external data source/sink, causing said selected external data source/sink to make available to said application program a browsing function for use by said application program to discover information about capabilities of said external data source/sink; in response to use of said browsing function by the application program, reporting to the application program an array of capabilities that are supported by said external data source/sink, said capabilities being available to be directly utilized by said application program. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer-implemented method for enabling an application program to connect to an external data source/sink, said application program supporting a first plurality of data types, said external data source/sink supporting a second plurality of data types, the method comprising:
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establishing connectivity of said application program to said data source/sink through a driver; once connectivity between said application program and said data source/sink is established, negotiating a mutually supported data type for transferring data between said application and said external data source/sink, said negotiating taking place between the application program and said driver; and adopting the mutually supported data type for transferring data between said application and said external data source/sink. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification