Method, apparatus and program product for interfacing a multi-threaded, client-based API to a single-threaded, server-based API

• US 6,260,077 B1
• Filed: 10/24/1997
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Krivopaltsev, Eugene, Moran, Michael A., Shahriary, Sassan, Scarpelli, Joe, Rangarajan, Govindarajan, Bapat, Subodh, Sondur, Raghavendra
• Primary Examiner(s): COURTENAY III, ST JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/957,794
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 709/300, 709/304, 709/107, 709/108, 709/310-332
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/544 Remote
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/548 Object oriented; Remote method invocation [RMI] non-remote method invocation G06F9/449

Abstract

Apparatus, methods and computer program products are disclosed for interfacing a client based, multi-threaded API that is written in a first programming language (such as JAVA) with a server based, single-thread API that is written in a second programming language (such as C or C++). The invention uses an object factory to generate a server object for each client. Programmed-method invocations performed on logical objects at the client are communicated to the server object. The server object processes the programmed-method invocation to perform the requested service such as providing network management information services.

Claims

1. A computer controlled method for interfacing a multi-threaded application programmer interface (API), written in a first programming language and executing in a client, to a single-threaded API written in a second programming language and executing in a server, the second programming language being different from the first programming language, said method comprising steps of:

(a) registering said client with an object factory in said server;

(b) instantiating, by the object factory, a server object in the server, the server object configured to serialize access to the single threaded API using a lock to ensure serialized access;

(c) invoking all operation provided by the multi-threaded API;

(d) communicating the operation to the server object from the multi-threaded API; and

(e) invoking the single threaded API to effectuate the operation by the server.

2. The computer controlled method of claim 1 further comprising returning an operation result to said multi-threaded API from said single threaded API.

3. The computer controlled method of claim 1 further comprising:

(f) registering said multi-threaded API with an event dispatch mechanism;

(g) receiving, by said event dispatch mechanism, an event from said single threaded API; and

(h) distributing said event to said multi-threaded API.

4. The computer controlled method of claim 3 wherein step (g) further comprises:

(g1) generating said event by said single threaded API; and

(g2) sending said event to said event dispatch mechanism.

5. The computer controlled method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises:

(a1) locating said server; and

(a2) locating said object factory in said server.

6. The computer controlled method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises:

(e1) acquiring a lock on said single threaded API;

(e2) invoking said single threaded API to effectuate said operation by said server; and

(e3) releasing said lock on said single threaded API.

7. An apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory coupled to said CPU for interfacing a multi-threaded application programmer interface (API), written in a first programming language and executing in a client, to a single threaded API, written in a second programming language, the second programming language being different from the first programming language and executing in a server, said apparatus comprises:

a registration mechanism configured to register said client with an object factory in said server;

an instantiation mechanism configured to instantiate a server object in said server by said object factory, said server object configured to access said single threaded API using a lock to ensure safe access by said multi-threaded API to said single threaded API;

a first invocation mechanism configured to invoke an operation provided by said multi-threaded API;

a communication mechanism configured to communicate said operation to said server object from said multi-threaded API; and

a second invocation mechanism configured to invoke said single threaded API to effectuate said operation by said server.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a return mechanism configured to return an operation result to said multi-threaded API from said single threaded API.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

an event registration mechanism configured to register said multi-threaded API with an event dispatch mechanism;

an event reception mechanism configured to receive an event generated by said single threaded API; and

an event distribution mechanism configured to distribute said event to said multi-threaded API.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the registration mechanism further comprises:

a server lookup mechanism configured to locate said server; and

an object factory lookup mechanism configured to locate said object factory in said server.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second invocation mechanism comprises:

a lock acquisition mechanism configured to acquire a lock on said single threaded API to serialize access to said single threaded API;

a server operation mechanism configured to invoke said single threaded API to effectuate said operation by said server; and

a lock release mechanism configured to release said lock on said single threaded API.

12. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to interface a multi-threaded application programmer interface (API), written in a first programming language and executing in a client, to a single threaded API, written in a second programming language and executing in a server, the second programming language being different from the first programming language, said computer readable code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to cause the computer to effect a registration mechanism configured to register the client with an object factory in said server;

computer readable program code configured to cause the computer to effect an instantiation mechanism configured to instantiate a server object in the server by the object factory, the server object configured to serialize access to the single threaded API using a lock to ensure serialized access;

computer readable program code configured to cause the computer to effect a first invocation mechanism configured to invoke an operation provided by the multi-threaded API;

computer readable program code configured to cause the computer to effect a communication mechanism configured to communicate said operation to said server object from said multi-threaded API; and

computer readable program code configured to cause the computer to effect a second invocation mechanism configured to invoke the single threaded API to effectuate the operation by the server.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a return mechanism configured to return an operation result to said multi-threaded API from said single threaded API.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect an event registration mechanism configured to register said multi-threaded API with an event dispatch mechanism;

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect an event reception mechanism configured to receive an event generated by said single threaded API; and

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect an event distribution mechanism configured to distribute said event to said multi-threaded API.

15. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the registration mechanism further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a server lookup mechanism configured to locate said server; and

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect an object factory lookup mechanism configured to locate said object factory in said server.

16. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the second invocation mechanism comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a lock acquisition mechanism configured to acquire a lock on said single threaded API to serialize access to said single threaded API;

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a server operation mechanism configured to invoke said single threaded API to effectuate said operation by said server; and

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a lock release mechanism configured to release said lock on said single threaded API.

17. A method for providing a multi-threaded client application running on a client with access to services provided by a single-threaded server application running on a server, the multi-threaded client application being written in a first programming language, the single-threaded server application being written in a second programming language which is different than the first programming language, said method comprising:

registering said multi-threaded client application with said server;

requesting by said multi-threaded client application, an operation provided by said single-threaded server application running on said server;

instantiating a server object, in response to said requesting by said multi-threaded client application, said server object configured to provide a lock to serialize access to said single-threaded server application running on said server on behalf of said multi-threaded client application; and

invoking said operation provided by said single-threaded server application running on said server by using said instantiated server object to serialize access to said single-threaded server application on the server.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said server object is configured to serialize access to said single-threaded server application running on the server by using a software lock.

19. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

registering said multi-threaded client application with an event handler associated with said server.

20. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said instantiated server object includes an event handler object.

21. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said instantiated server object includes an exclusion lock object.

22. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the instantiated server object includes a lock, a controlling thread, an operational thread, and a server event handler.