Resource adapter and XML descriptor for use in a client server environment utilizing an enterprise information system

• US 6,976,061 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Sharma, Rahul
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, David Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/577,188
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/226, 709/218, 709/220
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication

Abstract

A resource adapter for use in client server computer configurations utilizing enterprise information systems is disclosed. The file format defines the contract between a connector provider and deployer. A packaged resource adapter includes Java classes and interfaces that are required for the implementation of both connector contracts and functionality of the resource adapter; utility Java classes for the resource adapter; native libraries required by the resource adapter; and any help files and documentation and descriptive meta information that ties all of the above elements together. In the preferred embodiment, the resource adapter is packaged using the Java ARchive (JAR) format in to an resource adapter archive (RAR). For example, a resource adapter for EIS A can be packaged as an archive with a filename eisA.rar. The RAR file is structured as a hierarchical directory including a deployment descriptor, a directory containing Java interfaces, implementation and utility classes as required by the resource adapter, and a directory containing any native libraries used by the resource adapter. Any platform dependent libraries are in this directory.

Claims

1. A method to provide a resource adapter that collaborates to provide connections with one of a plurality of application servers and an enterprise information system (EIS), which provides services offered by the EIS, comprising:

packaging a deployment descriptor into the resource adapter; and

deploying the resource adapter into a target operational environment based on properties defined in the deployment descriptor, the deploying including,

configuring the resource adapter in the target operational environment to create a connection to an instance of the EIS,

the connections of the target operational environment being defined between one of the application servers and the EIS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the deploying the resource adapter into the target operational environment based on properties defined in the deployment descriptor includes,

configuring application server mechanisms for transaction management.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the deploying the resource adapter into the target operational environment based on properties defined in the deployment descriptor includes,

configuring security in the target operational environment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging includes,

packaging interfaces, implementation classes, utility classes, native libraries, and descriptive meta information into the resource adapter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the target operational environment is selected from the group consisting of an application server and a Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) application.

6. A system to provide a resource adapter that collaborates to provide connections with one of a plurality of application servers and an enterprise information system (EIS), which provides services offered by the EIS, comprising:

a memory for storing a connector provider and a deployer; and

a processor for executing the connector provider and the deployer stored in the memory,

the connector provider including,

logic for creating the resource adapter, and

logic for specifying a deployment descriptor in the resource adapter,

the deployer including logic for deploying the resource adapter into a target operational environment based on properties defined in the deployment descriptor, the deploying including,

configuring the resource adapter in the target operational environment to create a connection to an instance of the EIS, the connections of the target operational environment being defined between one of the application servers and the EIS.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the deployment descriptor includes a connector, the connector enabling connections to the EIS.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the deployment descriptor includes connector contracts between the connector provider and the deployer.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the deployment descriptor includes declarative information enabling the deployer to deploy the resource adapter into the target operational environment.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the resource adapter includes interfaces, implementation classes, utility classes, native libraries, and descriptive meta information.