Method and apparatus for accessing a database through a network
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising the steps of:
- providing a network through which can be transmitted message units that contain information in a digital form;
transmitting from a client through said network a message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains a request directed to a repository, said request being in a first format conforming to a public network communication protocol;
receiving said request from said network;
thereafter converting said request from said first format to a second format compatible with a protocol of said repository;
using said request in said second format to access said repository and obtain from said repository a response to said request, said response being in said second format;
converting said response from said second format to said first format; and
transmitting through said network to said client a further message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains said response in said second format;
including the step of providing said repository within a group of repositories which handle requests according to respective different protocols;
wherein said request from said client includes an identification of a selected one of said repositories; and
wherein said step of converting said request includes the steps of selecting as said second format the protocol of said selected repository, and then effecting the conversion of said request from said first format to said second format.
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Abstract
A system (10) includes a client (14, 21) which can communicate through a network (12) and a database layer (29) with any of several databases (31-33). The client communicates with the database layer using a public network communication protocol, in a manner independent of respective protocols specific to each of the databases. The database layer handles communication with each database according to the respective protocol of that database.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising the steps of:
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providing a network through which can be transmitted message units that contain information in a digital form;
transmitting from a client through said network a message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains a request directed to a repository, said request being in a first format conforming to a public network communication protocol;
receiving said request from said network;
thereafter converting said request from said first format to a second format compatible with a protocol of said repository;
using said request in said second format to access said repository and obtain from said repository a response to said request, said response being in said second format;
converting said response from said second format to said first format; and
transmitting through said network to said client a further message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains said response in said second format;
including the step of providing said repository within a group of repositories which handle requests according to respective different protocols;
wherein said request from said client includes an identification of a selected one of said repositories; and
wherein said step of converting said request includes the steps of selecting as said second format the protocol of said selected repository, and then effecting the conversion of said request from said first format to said second format. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
storing in said selected repository the information received in said request; and
thereafter transmitting through said network to each of a plurality of further clients a message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains a notification that information in said selected repository has been changed.
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10. A method, comprising the steps of:
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providing a network through which can be transmitted message units that contain information in a digital form;
transmitting from a client through said network a message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains a request directed to a repository, said request being in a first format conforming to a public network communication protocol;
receiving said request from said network;
thereafter converting said request from said first format to a second format compatible with a protocol of said repository;
using said request in said second format to access said repository and obtain from said repository a response to said request, said response being in said second format;
converting said response from said second format to said first format;
transmitting through said network to said client a further message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains said response in said second format;
maintaining first and second information storage sections which each store the same information;
determining whether each of said information storage sections is currently operational; and
selecting one of said information storage sections which is currently operational to serve as said repository.
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11. An apparatus, comprising:
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a network through which can be transmitted message units that contain information in a digital form;
a client coupled to said network;
a repository; and
a section operatively disposed between said repository and said network;
wherein said client is operable to transmit through said network to said section a message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains a request directed to said repository, said request being in a first format conforming to a public network communication protocol;
wherein said section is operable to;
convert said request from said first format to a second format compatible with a protocol of said repository;
use said request in said second format to access said repository and obtain from said repository a response to said request, said response being in said second format;
convert said response from said second format to said first format; and
transmit through said network to said client a further message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains said response in said second format;
wherein said repository is one a group of repositories which each handle requests according to a respect different protocol;
wherein said request from said client includes an identification of a selected one of said repositories; and
wherein said section is operable to effect said conversion of said request by selecting as said second format the protocol of said selected repository, and to thereafter effect the conversion of said request from said first format to said second format. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus, comprising:
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a network through which can be transmitted message units that contain information in a digital form;
a client coupled to said network;
a repository; and
a section operatively disposed between said repository and said network;
wherein said client is operable to transmit through said network to said section a message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains a request directed to said repository, said request being in a first format conforming to a public network communication protocol; and
wherein said section disposed between said repository and said network is operable to;
convert said request from said first format to a second format compatible with a protocol of said repository;
use said request in said second format to access said repository and obtain from said repository a response to said request, said response being in said second format;
convert said response from said second format to said first format; and
transmit through said network to said client a further message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains said response in said second format;
including first and second information storage sections which each store the same information, and wherein said section disposed between said repository and said network is operable to;
determine whether each of said information storage sections is currently operational; and
select one of said information storage sections which is currently operational to serve as said repository.
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Specification