Method for managing globally distributed software components
First Claim
1. A method for managing software components in a network of computers, each software component referring to at least one class definition, the network including at least one class loader computer capable of loading such a software component, the network also including at least one component server computer distinct from the class loader computer, the method comprising the steps of:
- accessing a synchronized-partition database which associates software component identifiers with software component locators;
selecting a software component which is identified in the database as a result of the accessing step;
determining an initial location of the software component selected during the selecting step, the initial location being outside the synchronized-partition database; and
loading the selected software component onto the class loader computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided which make security, licensing, and browsing capabilities of directory services available for use with the Java language and environment, and thus provide an alternative to security restrictions imposed on Java applets. A Java component type is created in a directory services schema. The Java component type specifies where a Java class can be found in a LAN or on the Internet. The key attributes of the Java component type are its common name (specifying a Java class) and either a reference to the file containing the Java class'"'"'s byte codes or a binary stream attribute containing the byte codes. The loadClass( ) method is extended to look for Java classes within a directory services database. The directory services features thus made available include support for securing, metering, and licensing individual Java classes.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for managing software components in a network of computers, each software component referring to at least one class definition, the network including at least one class loader computer capable of loading such a software component, the network also including at least one component server computer distinct from the class loader computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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accessing a synchronized-partition database which associates software component identifiers with software component locators; selecting a software component which is identified in the database as a result of the accessing step; determining an initial location of the software component selected during the selecting step, the initial location being outside the synchronized-partition database; and loading the selected software component onto the class loader computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for managing Java classes in a network of computers, the network including at least one class loader computer capable of loading a Java class, the network also including at least one class server computer distinct from the class loader computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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accessing a hierarchical synchronized-partition database which associates Java class identifiers with Java class locators; selecting a Java class which is identified in the database as a result of the accessing step; determining an initial location of the Java class selected during the selecting step; and loading the selected Java class from the class server computer onto the class loader computer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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- 20. A computer storage medium configured by storage therein of a directory services database object, the database object corresponding to a software component in a network of computers, each software component referring to a Java class, the database object capable of residing in a hierarchical, synchronized-partition database and having a plurality of attributes, each attribute having a name, a syntax, and a current value, the syntax limiting the values assumed by the attribute, the plurality of attributes comprising an identifier attribute having a current value which identifies a Java software component, and a locator attribute having a current value corresponding to the location of the Java software component.
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26. A system for managing Java classes in a network of computers, the system comprising:
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a class loader computer capable of loading a Java class; a class server computer connected to the class loader computer by a network connection; means for accessing a hierarchical synchronized-partition database which associates Java class identifiers with Java class locators; means for selecting a Java class which is identified in the database as a result of the accessing step; means for determining an initial location of the Java class selected during the selecting step; and means for loading the selected Java class from the class server computer onto the class loader computer. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification