Base services patterns in a netcentric environment

• US 6,742,015 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Bowman-Amuah, Michel K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banankhah, Majid A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Lilian
• Application Number:
  US09/387,653
• Time in Patent Office: 1,729 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/316, 709/100, 709/101
• US Class Current: 718/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design

Abstract

A system and method are provided for providing base service patterns for use in a component-based architecture. A batch job pattern is provided for structuring batch components such that common architectural services are implemented uniformly across the batch components. A batch unit of work pattern is utilized for structuring work to be processed by the batch components so that the work is treated uniformly by the batch components. A processing pipeline pattern is implemented for structuring batch activities for simplified reconfiguration of the batch activities, including preparing to perform a series of processing steps on input objects, encapsulating each of the processing steps within a filter, receiving and processing the input objects in one of filters; delivering results from the filters incrementally during processing of the input objects, utilizing connectors for connecting at least two of the plurality of filters, and using connectors for connecting input and output filters of different processes for forming a scalable system. An abstraction factory is used to encapsulate differences between objects such that only activities that need to understand the difference between the objects have to deal with the differences.

Claims

1. A method for providing base service patterns for use in a component-based architecture, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a batch job pattern for structuring batch components such that common architectural services are implemented uniformly across the batch components;

(b) utilizing a batch unit of work pattern for structuring work to be processed by the batch components so that the work is treated uniformly by the batch components;

(c) implementing a processing pipeline pattern for structuring batch activities for simplified reconfiguration of the batch activities, wherein implementing the processing pipeline pattern includes preparing to perform a series of processing steps on input objects being streamed into a batch processing system;

encapsulating each of the processing steps within at least one of a plurality of filters;

receiving and processing the input objects in at least one of the plurality of filters;

delivering results from the plurality of filters incrementally during processing of the input objects for reducing latency and enabling parallel processing;

utilizing connectors for connecting at least two of the plurality of filters each having a processing step for creating a process, wherein one of the two filters is an input filter of the process and the other of the two filters is an output filter of the process; and

using connectors for connecting input and output filters of different processes for forming a scalable system; and

(d) using an abstraction factory to encapsulate differences between objects such that only activities that need to understand the difference between the objects have to deal with the differences.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the connectors perform at least one of:

acting as a choke point for data to be pulled from one of the plurality of filters, connecting serial filters defined as independent processes, and multiplexing to demultiplexing from several filters of the same type running in parallel.

3. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for providing base service patterns for use in a component-based architecture, comprising:

(a) a code segment that provides a batch job pattern for structuring batch components such that common architectural services are implemented uniformly across the batch components;

(b) a code segment that utilizes a batch unit of work pattern for structuring work to be processed by the batch components so that the work is treated uniformly by the batch components;

(c) a code segment that implements a processing pipeline pattern for structuring batch activities for simplified reconfiguration of the batch activities, wherein the code segment that implements the processing pipeline pattern includes a code segment that prepares to perform a series of processing steps on input objects being streamed into a batch processing system;

a code segment that encapsulates each of the processing steps within at least one of a plurality of filters;

a code segment that receives and processes the input objects in at least one of the plurality of filters;

a code segment that delivers results from the plurality of filters incrementally during processing of the input objects for reducing latency and enabling parallel processing;

a code segment that utilizes connectors for connecting at least two of the plurality of filters each having a processing step for creating a process, wherein one of the two filters is an input filter of the process and the other of the two filters is an output filter of the process; and

a code segment that uses connectors for connecting input and output filters of different processes for forming a scalable system; and

(d) a code segment that uses an abstraction factory to encapsulate differences between objects such that only activities that need to understand the difference between the objects have to deal with the differences.

4. A computer program as recited in claim 3, wherein the connectors perform at least one of:

acting as a choke point for data to be pulled from one of the plurality of filters, connecting serial filters defined as independent processes, and multiplexing to demultiplexing from several filters of the same type running in parallel.

5. A system for providing base service patterns for use in a component-based architecture, comprising:

(a) logic that provides a batch job pattern for structuring batch components such that common architectural services are implemented uniformly across the batch components;

(b) logic that utilizes a batch unit of work pattern for structuring work to be processed by the batch components so that the work is treated uniformly by the batch components;

(c) logic that implements a processing pipeline pattern for structuring batch activities for simplified reconfiguration of the batch activities, wherein the logic that implements the processing pipeline pattern includes logic that prepares to perform a series of processing steps on input objects being streamed into a batch processing system;

logic that encapsulates each of the processing steps within at least one of a plurality of filters;

logic that receives and processes the input objects in at least one of the plurality of filters;

logic that delivers results from the plurality of filters incrementally during processing of the input objects for reducing latency and enabling parallel processing;

logic that utilizes connectors for connecting at least two of the plurality of filters each having a processing step for creating a process, wherein one of the two filters is an input filter of the process and the other of the two filters is an output filter of the process; and

logic that uses connectors for connecting input and output filters of different processes for forming a scalable system; and

(d) logic that uses an abstraction factory to encapsulate differences between objects such that only activities that need to understand the difference between the objects have to deal with the differences.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the connectors perform at least one of:

acting as a choke point for data to be pulled from one of the plurality of filters, connecting serial filters defined as independent processes, and multiplexing to demultiplexing from several filters of the same type running in parallel.