Object-oriented distributed communications directory service
First Claim
1. A computer network system for connecting a client node having a memory to a server node having a memory with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the computer network system comprising:
- a dynamically programmable network stack connecting the client node to the network system;
a directory service program in the client node having means for storing, in the client node memory, stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the network system;
installer apparatus for installing a service program in the server node for providing the service, the installer apparatus using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the client node memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service; and
apparatus located in the client node responsive to the service request for using the directory service to locate and retrieve the stored service object and for using the stack definition referenced therein to dynamically program the network stack to operate with a communication protocol required by the service program so that the client node can receive the service without becoming involved in details of communication protocols.
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Accused Products
Abstract
On a multi-node client server network, a client node obtains access to remote services by means of a communications directory service located in each node of the network. The communications directory service includes a tree structure to which existing directory services and other network services can be added. The tree structure has a plurality of nodes each of which includes specific methods that query and browse the associated directory service if such actions are supported by the underlying service. The communications directory service further includes shared libraries which store a service object associated with each service offered on the network. The service object, in turn, includes the service exchange address and communication link configuration information. A client desiring to access a remote service retrieves the appropriate service object from the communications directory service and uses the service object to set up the communications path.
213 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A computer network system for connecting a client node having a memory to a server node having a memory with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the computer network system comprising:
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a dynamically programmable network stack connecting the client node to the network system; a directory service program in the client node having means for storing, in the client node memory, stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the network system; installer apparatus for installing a service program in the server node for providing the service, the installer apparatus using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the client node memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service; and apparatus located in the client node responsive to the service request for using the directory service to locate and retrieve the stored service object and for using the stack definition referenced therein to dynamically program the network stack to operate with a communication protocol required by the service program so that the client node can receive the service without becoming involved in details of communication protocols. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for connecting a client node having a memory to a server node having a memory with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) connecting the client node to the network system with a dynamically programmable network stack; (b) creating in the client node, a directory service program having means for storing in the client node memory stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the network system; (c) installing a service program in the server node for providing the service and using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the client node memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service; and (d) using the request with the directory service to locate and retrieve the stored service object in order to use the stack definition referenced therein to dynamically program the network stack to operate with a communication protocol required by the service program so that the client node can receive the service without becoming involved in the details of communication protocols. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product for connecting a client node having a memory to a server node having a memory with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, including:
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program code for connecting the client node to the network system with a dynamically programmable network stack; program code for creating in the client node, a directory service program having means for storing, in the client node memory, stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the network system; program code for installing a service program in the server node for providing the service, the program code using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the client node memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service; and program code for using the request with the directory service to locate and retrieve the stored service object in order to use the stack definition referenced therein to dynamically program the network stack to operate with a communication protocol required by the service program so that the client node can receive the service without becoming involved in the details of communication protocols. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A server node for use with a computer network for connecting to a client node with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the server node comprising:
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a memory; a dynamically programmable network stack connecting the server node to the network system; a communications directory service program having means for storing stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the computer network; a service program for providing the service; installer apparatus for installing the service program in the server node, the installer apparatus using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service program and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service; and means for making an entry in the directory service program associating the service with the service object.
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23. A client node for use in a computer network system for connecting to a server node with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the server node having installer apparatus therein for installing a service program in the server node for providing the service, the installer apparatus using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the client node memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service, the client node comprising:
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a memory; a dynamically programmable network stack connecting the client node to the network system; a directory service program having means for storing in the memory stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the network system; and apparatus responsive to the service request for using the directory service to locate and retrieve the stored service object and for using the stack definition referenced therein to dynamically program the network stack to operate with a communication protocol required by the service program so that the client node can receive the service without becoming involved in the details of communication protocols.
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Specification