Platform-independent programmable batch processing engine

• US 6,801,926 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1996
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Peoplesoft (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Shisler, Harry E., Reitz, Kevin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/743,201
• Time in Patent Office: 2,891 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.33, 395/200.54, 395/200.32, 395/200.49, 395/200.35, 395/671, 395/682, 395/200.46, 707/10, 709/203, 709/219, 709/303, 709/201, 709/309
• US Class Current: 709/201
• 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 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A data processing system includes a multitude of client computers and server computers, of various platform types, interconnected by a network. A batch processing engine permits an application resident on a client computer to specify processing to be performed by one or more of the computers connected to the network, regardless of the platform type of such computers. The batch processing engine is implemented in part by middleware.

Claims

1. A programmable batch processing engine, comprising:

a design tool subsystem operable on a first computer that creates a set of specifications in response to user input, the specifications describing user-desired processing services to be performed;

wherein the specifications identify processing properties for said processing services to define the execution of a batch application;

a processing subsystem adapted to perform processing of the batch application in response to the specifications; and

a middleware subsystem providing communication of the specifications from the design tool subsystem to the processing subsystem.

2. An engine as in claim 1, wherein the processing subsystem is implemented using the first computer.

3. An engine as in claim 1, wherein the processing subsystem is implemented using a second computer.

4. An engine as in claim 1, further comprising a second computer, wherein the specifications are sent from the first computer to the second computer for storage, and are sent from the second computer to the processing subsystem for processing.

5. An engine as in claim 1, further comprising a network having database facilities and further comprising a database middleware subsystem adapted to direct access to the database facilities in accordance with the specifications.

6. An engine as in claim 1, further comprising a network having input-output facilities and further comprising an input-output middleware subsystem adapted to direct access to the input-output facilities in accordance with the specifications.

7. An engine as in claim 1, wherein said processing subsystem is implemented using a second computer adapted to send to the first computer completion data in response to completion of processing in accordance with the specifications by the second computer.

8. An engine as in claim 1, wherein said processing subsystem is implemented using a second computer adapted to send to the first computer error data in response to detection of an error in processing according to the specifications by the second computer.

9. An engine as in claim 6, wherein the input-output middleware subsystem is adapted to selectively route an input-output data stream to one of a plurality of input-output devices and to convert the data stream to a format suitable for the selected one of the plurality of input-output devices.

10. A data processing method, comprising:

generating a set of specifications describing user-desired processing services to be performed;

identifying processing properties for said processing services to define the execution of a batch application;

storing the set of specifications on a specifications server, the specifications thereby being available to a plurality of users;

sending the set of specifications to a processing subsystem for processing the batch application; and

sending the results of the processing to one of said plurality of users.

11. A method as in claim 10, further comprising directing access to database facilities in accordance with the specifications by using database middleware.

12. A method as in claim 10, further comprising directing access to input-output facilities in accordance with the specification by using input-output middleware.

13. A method as in claim 10, further comprising sending completion data from the processing subsystem in response to completion of processing in accordance with the specifications by the processing subsystem.

14. A method as in claim 10, further comprising sending error data from the processing subsystem in response to detection of an error in processing in accordance with the specifications by the processing subsystem.

15. A method as in claim 12, further comprising selectively routing, by the input-output middleware, an input-output data stream to one of a plurality of input-output devices and converting the data stream to a format suitable thereto.

16. A programmable batch processing engine for a processing system including a plurality of computers connected by a network, comprising:

design tool means for creating a set of specifications on one of the computers describing desired processing services, said specifications identifying processing properties for said processing services to define the execution of a batch application;

specification means for storing said set of specifications on another one of the computers to provide the plurality of computers with access to said set of specifications;

processing means responsive to said set of specifications for processing said batch application in accordance with said processing properties on a further one of the computers; and

middleware means for communicating information including said set of specifications between the plurality of computers.

17. An engine according to claim 16, wherein said set of specifications is maintained on said another one of the computers as a template for said batch application.

18. An engine according to claim 17, wherein said processing means creates a desired version of said template indicative of said desired processing operation for use in processing said batch application.

19. An engine according to claim 17, further including another processing means for processing said batch application on an additional one of the computers, wherein said another processing means creates a desired version of said template indicative of said desired processing operation for use in processing said batch application.

20. An engine according to claim 17, further including another processing means for processing said batch application on said one of the computers, wherein said another processing means creates a desired version of said template indicative of said desired processing operation for use in processing said batch application.

21. An engine according to claim 16, further including database means for storing data required by said processing means when executing said batch application on an additional one of the computers.

22. An engine according to claim 16, further including output means responsive to completion data generated by said processing of said batch application for managing output information on an additional one of the computers.

23. A method for a processing a batch application on a processing system including a plurality of computers connected by a network, comprising;

creating a set of specifications on one of the computers describing desired processing services;

identifying processing properties for said processing services to define the execution of a batch application;

storing said set of specifications on another one of the computers to provide the plurality of computers with access to said set of specifications;

processing said batch application in accordance with said processing properties on a further one of the computers; and

communicating information including said set of specifications between the plurality of computers.

24. A method according to claim 23, further including maintaining said set of specifications on said another one of the computers as a template for said batch application.

25. A method according to claim 24, further including creating a desired version of said template indicative of said desired processing operation for use in processing said batch application.

26. A method according to claim 24, further including processing said batch application on an additional one of the computers, and creating a desired version of said template indicative of said desired processing operation for use in processing said batch application.

27. A method according to claim 24, further including processing said batch application on said one of the computers, and creating a desired version of said template indicative of said desired processing operation for use in processing said batch application.

28. A method according to claim 23, further including storing data required by said processing means when processing said batch application on an additional one of the computers.

29. A method according to claim 23, further including managing output information on an additional one of the computers in response to completion data generated by said processing of said batch application.