Method and apparatus for requesting and processing services from a plurality of nodes connected via common communication links
First Claim
1. A method for requesting and processing services from a plurality of object-based nodes connected to a communication medium which operates under a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) based, connection-oriented network protocol, the method comprising:
- (a) classifying the nodes into classes of resources, each class of resource providing a type of service;
(b) requesting a service from any node in a class of resource by broadcasting a service request via the communication medium to the nodes of the class of resource providing the service;
(c) for each node of the identified class,assigning a priority in which the service is to be processed by the node to the service request;
(d) for a first node of the class to process the service request,(i) broadcasting a message to the other nodes of the class indicating that the service is being performed;
(ii) processing the requested service; and
(iii) sending at least one of the service and a confirming message to the node requesting the service; and
(e) for each of the other nodes of the class reassigning the priority assigned to the service request in which the service is to be processed in response to the message broadcast from the first node.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for requesting and processing services from a plurality of workstations (30), remote computers (28) or electronic devices (34), i.e., "nodes," connected via the Internet (20) is provided. The nodes are categorized into classes of resources according to the type of resource or resources that node can provide. When an application run by a node requires a service from a resource, the node broadcasts a request for the service via Internet (20). The service request is received and stored by the nodes comprising the class of resource providing the requested service. The first node capable of processing the service request does so, and then broadcasts a message to the remaining nodes of the class indicating that the service request is in process. Consequently, the remaining nodes of the class defer processing the service request until they receive confirmation that the requested service has been performed. If no such confirmation is received, the next node in the class capable of processing the service request does so, and so on.
74 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for requesting and processing services from a plurality of object-based nodes connected to a communication medium which operates under a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) based, connection-oriented network protocol, the method comprising:
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(a) classifying the nodes into classes of resources, each class of resource providing a type of service; (b) requesting a service from any node in a class of resource by broadcasting a service request via the communication medium to the nodes of the class of resource providing the service; (c) for each node of the identified class, assigning a priority in which the service is to be processed by the node to the service request; (d) for a first node of the class to process the service request, (i) broadcasting a message to the other nodes of the class indicating that the service is being performed; (ii) processing the requested service; and (iii) sending at least one of the service and a confirming message to the node requesting the service; and (e) for each of the other nodes of the class reassigning the priority assigned to the service request in which the service is to be processed in response to the message broadcast from the first node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus, included in each of the nodes of a plurality of object-based nodes communicating with one another via common communication links which operate under a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) based connection-oriented network protocol, for processing services from the plurality of nodes in response to service requests, comprising:
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(a) a storage medium for storing program instructions for requesting and processing services; (b) an input/output device for communicating via the communication links; and (c) a processing unit electronically coupled to the storage medium and the input/output device for executing the program instructions that cause the node to; (i) determine if the node requires a service, and if so, causing the node to broadcast a service request to the other nodes connected to the common communication links that are capable of providing the service; (ii) for each service request to be processed, broadcasting a priority message to each of the other nodes connected to the common communication links that are capable of providing the service, wherein the priority message causes each of the nodes to redefine the order in which the node processes received service requests; (iii) process received service requests in a defined order; and (iv) for each service performed, broadcasting a confirmation message to each of the other nodes connected to the common communication links that are capable of providing the service, wherein the confirmation message causes each of the nodes to delete the service request from the storage medium of the node. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for requesting services from a plurality of object-based nodes interconnected by common communication links which operate under a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) based, connection-oriented network protocol, wherein each node is capable of providing at least one resource of services to the other nodes via the common communication links, the method comprising:
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(a) organizing each node capable of providing the same at least one resource into a class of resource; (b) requesting a service by broadcasting a service request via the common communication links that identifies the class of resource for the service; and (c) for each node in the class of resource for the service, (i) adding the service request to a queue of service requests; (ii) as each service request is processed, broadcasting an process message to the other nodes in the class of resource for the service, wherein the process message indicates that the service is being processed by the node; (iii) processing each service request in the queue in a predefined order; and (iv) if the service is performed by the node, broadcasting a confirmation message to the other nodes in the class of resource for the service, wherein the confirmation message indicates that the service has been performed by the node. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer readable medium having an executable component for requesting services from a plurality of object-based nodes interconnected by common communication links which operate under a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) based, connection-oriented network protocol, wherein each node is capable of providing at least one resource of services to the other nodes via the common communication links, and wherein the executable computer component requests services by:
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(a) organizing each node capable of providing the same at least one resource into a class of resource; (b) requesting a service by broadcasting a service request via the common communication links which identifies the class of resource for the service; and (c) for each node in the class of resource for the service, (i) adding the service request to a queue of service requests; (ii) as each service request is processed, broadcasting a process message to the other nodes in the class of resource for the service, wherein the process message indicates that the service is being processed by the node; (iii) processing each service request in the queue in a predefined order; and (iv) if the service is performed by the node, broadcasting a confirmation message to the other nodes in the class of resource for the service, wherein the confirmation message indicates that the service has been performed by the node.
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Specification