Method and apparatus for using an independent transaction processing application as a service routine

• US 5,586,312 A
• Filed: 10/11/1994
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Kuehn, Scott H., Johnson, Lucinda L., Frank, William D., Peltier, Clayton A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US08/321,347
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/155, 395/157, 395/200.12, 395/200.03, 395/155, 395/157, 364/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/466 Transaction processing

Abstract

A system is disclosed for using an independent transaction processing application as a service routine for a client application where the independent transaction processing application is programmed for independent input and output. The independent transaction processing application does not have be reprogrammed for usage as a service routine. A transaction manager provides transaction control for a service request from the client application. A display processing system manages input and output associated with processing the service request. A database management system that is used by the independent transaction processing application distinguishes whether the transaction manager or the independent transaction processing application is providing transaction control.

Claims

1. A client-server transaction processing system comprising:

a database management system;

an independent transaction processing application coupled to said database management system for providing access to a database and issuing transaction control commands to said database management system for a transaction;

a transaction manager for managing distributed transactions, coupled to said independent transaction processing application and coupled to said database management system for initiating said independent transaction processing application, controlling the processing of a distributed transaction, and providing to said database management system transaction control commands associated with distributed transactions;

a client application coupled to said transaction manager for initiating a distributed transaction with said transaction manager and issuing transaction control commands associated with said distributed transaction to said transaction manager, said distributed transaction resulting in initiation of said independent transaction processing application for processing a subordinate transaction of said distributed transaction, and said transaction control commands of said client application conflicting with transaction control commands of said independent transaction processing application; and

selective control means coupled to said independent transaction processing application, coupled to said transaction manager, and coupled to said database management system for identifying transaction control commands issued from said independent transaction processing application and transaction control commands issued from said client application, and selectively disregarding transaction control commands which are associated with said distributed transaction and which are issued by said independent transaction processing application.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

transaction input-output means coupled to said independent transaction processing application and coupled to said transaction manager for providing input to and directing output from said independent transaction processing application, and for distinguishing whether output data from said independent transaction processing application is directed to said client application, and directing said output data to said transaction manager if said output data is for said client application, wherein said transaction manager provides input from said client application for said independent transaction processing application to said transaction input-output means.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising indicator means coupled to said transaction manager for indicating that input for said service request is from said transaction manager and output of said independent transaction processing application from processing said service request is to said transaction manager.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising access means coupled to said transaction manager and coupled to said transaction input-output means for initiating transaction control by said transaction manager.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

indicator means coupled to said transaction manager for indicating that input for said service request is from said transaction manager and output of said independent transaction processing application from processing said service request is to said transaction manager; and

access means coupled to said transaction manager and coupled to said transaction input-output means for initiating transaction control by said transaction manager.

6. A client-server transaction processing system, comprising:

a database management system;

an independent transaction processing application coupled to said database management system for providing access to a database and issuing transaction control commands to said database management system for a transaction;

initiation means coupled to said independent transaction processing application for initiating said independent transaction processing application;

a transaction manager far managing distributed transactions, coupled to said initiation means and coupled to said database management system for controlling the processing of a transaction and for providing to said database management system transaction control commands associated with distributed transactions;

a client application coupled to said transaction manager for initiating a distributed transaction with said transaction manager and issuing transaction control commands associated with said distributed transaction to said transaction manager, said service request resulting in initiation of said independent transaction processing application for processing a subordinate transaction of said distributed transaction, and said transaction control commands of said client application conflicting with transaction control commands of said independent transaction processing application;

terminal means coupled to said initiation means for initiating a request for processing a transaction and for providing input and receiving output associated with processing said transaction;

selective control means coupled to said independent transaction processing application, coupled to said transaction manager, and coupled to said database management system for identifying transaction control commands issued from said independent transaction processing application and transaction control commands issued from said transaction manager, and for distinguishing whether said independent transaction processing application is processing a subordinate transaction of said distributed transaction, and disregarding transaction control commands from said independent transaction processing application if said independent transaction processing application is processing a subordinate transaction of said distributed transaction; and

output direction means coupled to said independent transaction processing application, coupled to said terminal means, and coupled to said transaction manager for directing output from said independent transaction processing application to said terminal means if said independent transaction processing application is processing a transaction, and to said client application if said independent transaction processing application is processing a subordinate transaction of said distributed transaction.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

transaction input-output means coupled to said independent transaction processing application and coupled to said transaction manager for providing input to and directing output from said independent transaction processing application, and for distinguishing whether output dam from said independent transaction processing application is directed to said client application, and directing said output data to said transaction manager if said output data is for said client application, wherein said transaction manager provides input from said client application for said independent transaction processing application to said transaction input-output means.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising indicator means coupled to said transaction manager and coupled to said initiation means for indicating to said initiation means that input for the said service request is from said transaction manager and output of said independent transaction processing application from processing said service request is to said transaction manager.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising access means coupled to said transaction manager and coupled to said transaction input-output means for initiating transaction control by said transaction manager.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

indicator means coupled to said transaction manager and coupled to said initiation means for indicating to said initiation means that input for said service request is from said transaction manager and output of said independent transaction processing application from processing said service request is to said transaction manager; and

access means coupled to said transaction manager and coupled to said transaction input-output means for initiating transaction control by said transaction manager.

11. In a transaction processing system having an independent transaction processing application programmed for issuing transaction control commands to a database management system, a display processing system coupled to the independent transaction processing application for receiving input to and directing output from the independent transaction processing application, a transaction manager coupled to a client application and coupled to the display processing system for managing control of and input and output for a distributed transaction initiated by the client application, a method for using the independent transaction processing application as a server for the client application, where the client application and the independent transaction processing application issue conflicting transaction control commands, comprising the steps of:

initiating a distributed transaction from a client application with a transaction manager, wherein said distributed transaction includes a subordinate transaction to be processed by the independent transaction processing application;

establishing with the display processing system that input for said distributed transaction is provided by the transaction manager and the transaction manager is to receive output associated with processing said distributed transaction;

establishing with the database management system transaction control of said distributed transaction by the transaction manager;

starting the independent transaction processing application to process said subordinate transaction;

obtaining input for said distributed transaction from the transaction manager;

selectively disregarding transaction control commands issued to the database management system from the independent transaction processing application for said subordinate transaction;

processing transaction control commands issued to the database management system from the transaction manager;

providing output from the independent transaction processing application to the transaction manager.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said establishing with the display processing system step includes the step of providing a transaction manager terminal-type to the display processing system to indicate that input for said service request is provided by the transaction manager and the transaction manager is to receive output associated with processing said service request.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said establishing transaction control step includes the step of providing a control-source indicator to the database management system from the transaction manager.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein,

said establishing with the display processing system step includes the step of providing a transaction manager terminal-type to the display processing system to indicate that input for said service request is provided by the transaction manager and the transaction manager is to receive output associated with processing said service request;

and

said establishing transaction control step includes the step of providing a control-source indicator to the database management system from the transaction manager.

15. In a transaction processing system having an independent transaction processing application programmed for issuing transaction control commands to a database management system, a terminal for providing input to and receiving output from the independent transaction processing application for a transaction initiated at the terminal, a display processing system coupled to the terminal and coupled to the independent transaction processing application for providing input to and directing output from the independent transaction processing application, a transaction manager coupled to a client application and coupled to the display processing system for managing control of and input and output for a distributed transaction initiated by the client application, a method for using the independent transaction processing application as a server for the client application while the independent transaction processing application is available to process transactions initiated at the terminal, where the client application and the independent transaction processing application issue conflicting transaction control commands for the distributed transaction, comprising the steps of:

(a) initiating a distributed transaction from a client application with a transaction manager, wherein said distributed transaction includes a subordinate transaction to be processed by the independent transaction processing application;

(b) initiating from a terminal a terminal-transaction to process by the independent transaction processing application;

(c) establishing with the display processing system that input for said distributed transaction is provided by the transaction manager and the transaction manager is to receive output associated with processing said distributed transaction;

(d) establishing with the display processing system that input for said terminal-transaction is provided by the terminal and the terminal is to receive output associated with processing said terminal-transaction;

(e) establishing with the database management system transaction control of said distributed transaction by the transaction manager;

(f) establishing with the database management system transaction control of said terminal-transaction by the independent transaction processing application;

(g) starting the independent transaction processing application to process said distributed transaction;

(h) starting the independent transaction processing application to process said terminal-transaction;

(i) obtaining input for said distributed transaction from the transaction manager;

(j) obtaining input for said terminal-transaction from the terminal;

(k) selectively disregarding transaction control commands issued to the database management system from the independent transaction processing application for said distributed transaction;

(l) processing transaction control commands issued to the database management system from the transaction manager for said distributed transaction;

(m) processing transaction control commands issued to the database management system from the independent transaction processing application for said terminal-transaction;

(n) providing output associated with processing said distributed transaction to the transaction manager; and

(o) providing output associated with processing said terminal-transaction to the terminal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein,

said establishing step (c) includes the step of providing a transaction manager terminal-type to the display processing system to indicate that input for said service request is provided by the transaction manager and the transaction manager is to receive output associated with processing said service request;

and

said establishing step (d) includes the step of providing a terminal terminal-type to the display processing system to indicate that input for said transaction is provided by the terminal and the terminal is to receive output associated with processing said transaction.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein,

said establishing transaction control step (e) includes the step of providing a transaction manager control-source indicator to the database management system from the transaction manager.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein,

said establishing step (c) includes the step of providing a transaction manager terminal-type to the display processing system to indicate that input for said service request is provided by the transaction manager and the transaction manager is to receive output associated with processing said service request;

said establishing step (d) includes the step of providing a terminal terminal-type to the display processing system to indicate that input for said transaction is provided by the terminal and the terminal is to receive output associated with processing said transaction; and

said establishing transaction control step (e) includes the step of providing a transaction manager control-source indicator to the database management system from the transaction manager.

19. In a transaction processing system having an independent transaction processing application programmed for issuing transaction control commands to a database management system, a transaction manager for managing distributed transactions and coupled to a client application for managing control of and input and output for a distributed transaction initiated by the client application, the distributed transaction comprised of one or more subordinate transactions, a method for usage of the independent transaction processing application to process a subordinate transaction of the distributed transaction, where the transaction control commands far the distributed transaction which are issued by the client application conflict with the transaction control commands for the subordinate transaction which are issued by the independent transaction processing application, comprising the steps of:

establishing with the database management system that transaction control for a distributed transaction is controlled by the transaction manager;

selectively disregarding transaction control commands that are associated with the subordinate transaction and that are issued to the database management system from the independent transaction processing application; and

processing transaction control commands that are associated with the distributed transaction and that are issued to the database management system from the transaction manager.

20. In a transaction processing system having an independent transaction processing application programmed for issuing transaction control commands to a database management system, a transaction manager for managing distributed transactions and coupled to a client application for managing control of and input and output for a distributed transaction initiated by the client application, the distributed transaction comprised of one or more subordinate transactions, an apparatus permitting usage of the independent transaction processing application to process a subordinate transaction of the distributed transaction, where the transaction control commands for the distributed transaction which are issued by the client application conflict with the transaction control commands for the subordinate transaction which are issued by the independent transaction processing application, comprising:

means for establishing with the database management system that transaction control for a distributed transaction is controlled by the transaction manager;

means for selectively disregarding transaction control commands that are associated with the subordinate transaction and that are issued to the database management system from the independent transaction processing application; and

means for processing transaction control commands that are associated with the distributed transaction and that are issued to the database management system from the transaction manager.