Distributed processing systems having self-advertising cells

• US 6,272,526 B1
• Filed: 01/07/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IQ Net Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IQ Net Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Robinson, Jeffrey I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/227,005
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/203, 709/208
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A distributed processing system includes a plurality of cells where each cell processes information in response to a type of event, and cells communicate with each other according to an (asynchronous) event-reaction protocol. According to one embodiment, each cell is responsive to a single type of event and includes a plurality of scripts which are executed upon the occurrence of an event of the appropriate type. At least some scripts include directions to send information to one or more scripts in another cell. According to another embodiment, some cells communicate with other cells according to a (synchronous) streaming protocol and other cells communicate according to an (asynchronous) event-reaction protocol. The cells communicate with each other via a shared memory or via a communications bus. The communications protocol utilized by the cells enables the use of virtually any networking medium. Thus, cells may reside in the same chip or may be separated from each other by thousands of miles.

Claims

1. A distributed processing system, comprising:

a first plurality of processing cells, each cell being responsive to an event and each cell including at least one executable script which is executed upon the occurrence of the event; and

a first communications means coupled to each of said cells in said first plurality of cells for exchanging messages between cells, wherein

at least one of said processing cells includes an executable script which periodically advertises its presence in the system such that when said at least one of said processing cells is added to the system, it advertises its presence to the other processing cells in the system.

2. A distributed processing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second plurality of cells; and

a second communications means coupled to said first and second pluralities of cells for exchanging messages between said first and second pluralities of cells, wherein

at least one of said cells in said first plurality of cells periodically advertises the presence of said first plurality of cells in the system, and

at least one of said cells in said second plurality of cells periodically advertises the presence of said second plurality of cells in the system.

3. A distributed processing system according to claim 2, wherein:

said second communications means includes a transmitter cell and a receiver cell.

4. A distributed processing system according to claim 3, wherein:

said transmitter cell includes a queue manager script.

5. A distributed processing system according to claim 1, wherein:

at least some of said first plurality of cells acts as master to one process and a slave to another process.

6. A distributed processing system according to claim 1, wherein:

each cell in said first plurality of cells periodically advertises its presence in the system.

7. A distributed processing system according to claim 2, wherein:

each cell in said second plurality of cells periodically advertise their presence in the system.

8. A distributed processing system according to claim 1, wherein:

each cell maintains a database of all of the scripts in the system.

9. A distributed processing system according to claim 8, wherein:

each cell periodically advertises its presence in the system, and

said databases are updated in response to advertising by said cells.

10. A distributed processing system according to claim 4, wherein:

said queue manager manages data transfer according to an event reaction protocol requiring that receipt of data be acknowledged.

11. A distributed processing system according to claim 10, wherein:

said queue manager also manages data transfer according to a streaming protocol in which receipt of data is not acknowledged.

12. A distributed processing system according to claim 11, wherein:

said queue manager has means for determining which data to transfer according to a streaming protocol and which data to transfer according to an event reaction protocol.

13. A distributed processing system according to claim 4, wherein:

said queue manager manages data transfer according to mailing lists.

14. A distributed processing system according to claim 13, wherein:

said mailing lists are subscribed to by scripts.

15. A distributed processing system according to claim 13, wherein:

said mailing lists are subscribed to by cells.

16. A distributed processing system, comprising:

a) a plurality of processing zones, each processing zone being responsive to an event and each processing zone executing at least one script in response to the event;

b) communication means coupled to each of said processing zones for exchanging messages between processing zones, wherein

at least one of said processing zones includes a script which periodically advertises its presence in the system such that when said at least one of said processing zones is added to the system, it advertises its presence to the other processing zones in the system.

17. A distributed processing system according to claim 16, wherein:

said communication means includes a multiported shared memory.

18. A distributed processing system according to claim 16, wherein:

at least one of said processing zones includes means for coupling itself to a peripheral device.

19. A distributed processing system according to claim 16, wherein:

at least one of said processing zones includes means for coupling itself to a network.

20. A distributed processing system according to claim 19, wherein:

at least one of said processing zones includes a script which periodically advertises the presence of said plurality of processing zones in the system.