Method and apparatus for a Meta Data Service in a data processing system

• US 6,857,123 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rulong, Gordon Scott, Nuxoll, Andrew Max, Wood, Douglas Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): COURTENAY III, ST JOHN
• Application Number:
  US09/215,752
• Time in Patent Office: 2,251 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-219, 709310-332, 719315-317, 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206
• US Class Current: 719/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

As a solution to the problem of distributed knowledge of data object definitions, data object definitions are removed from the source code. A Meta Data Service is created and made available on a network which knows the definitions of all of the objects that are used by applications that are designed to use the Meta Data Service. When an object is created, the Meta Data Service creates and stores a meta definition for the object. Data objects are passed over a network in a “soft” format. Applications within a distributed data processing system are designed in such a manner such that, at any stage of object processing, an application does not assume to understand the definition or structure of an object, nor is an application hard-coded with the object definitions. At each stage, an application queries the Meta Data Service for the meta definition of the object before proceeding with the processing of an object. The application then receives a meta definition for the data object that allows the application to perform properly tailored processing for the data object.

Claims

1. A method in a software component for processing a data object in a data processing system, said method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

sending a query for a meta definition of a data object;

receiving the meta definition for the data object;

identifying object attributes in the meta definition; and

prompting a user to input data values corresponding to the object attributes.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising, before querying for a meta definition of a data object, determining an object type of a data object.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the software component is in a client.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the query for the meta definition for the data object is sent to a Meta Data Service.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the meta definition is cached to improve the performance of the Meta Data Service.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving inputted data values corresponding to the object attributes from the user; and

sending a data value stream including the inputted data values to a server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of prompting the user for data values comprises:

matching the meta definition to graphical user interface fields; and

presenting the graphical user interface fields to the user.

8. A method in a software component for processing a data object in a data processing system, said method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

receiving a data value stream;

sending a query for a meta definition of a data object;

receiving a meta definition of the data object; and

mapping data values to a data structure according to attributes in the meta definition of the data object;

wherein the software component is a Persistent Object Service.

9. A data processing system for processing a data object, said data processing system comprising:

querying means for querying for a meta definition of a data object;

receipt means for receiving the meta definition for the data object;

identification means for identifying object attributes in the meta definition; and

prompting means for prompting a user to input data values corresponding to the object attributes.

10. The data processing system according to claim 9 further comprising determination means for determining an object type of a data object before querying a Meta Data Service for a meta definition of a data object.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

means for receiving inputted data values corresponding to the object attributes from the user; and

means for sending a data value stream including the inputted data values to a server.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the prompting means comprises:

means for matching the meta definition to graphical user interface fields; and

means for presenting the graphical user interface fields to the use.

13. A computer program product for use with a data processing system for processing a data object, said computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium;

first instructions for sending a query for a meta definition of a data object;

second instructions for receiving the meta definition for the data object;

third instructions for identifying object attributes in the meta definition; and

fourth instructions for prompting a user to input data values corresponding to the object attributes.

14. The computer program product according to claim 13 further comprising instructions for determining an object type of a data object before querying a Meta Data Service for a meta definition of a data object.

15. A method in a software component for processing a data object in a data processing system, said method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

receiving a data value stream;

sending a query for a meta definition of a data object;

receiving meta definition of the data object; and

mapping data values to a data structure according to attributes in the meta definition of the data object, wherein the data structure is a database and wherein the database is a relational database.

16. A data processing system for processing a data object, said data processing system comprising:

first receipt means for receiving a data value stream;

sender means for sending a query for a meta definition of a data object;

second receipt means for receiving the meta definition of the data object; and

mapping means for mapping data values to a data structure according to attributes in the meta definition of the data object, wherein the data structure is a database and wherein the database is a relational database.