System and method for specifying application services and distributing them across multiple processors using XML

• US 7,366,722 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Doddington, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Pardo; Thuy N.
• Application Number:
  US10/667,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 717/106, 707/100, 707/9, 707/101, 707/102, 707/203, 707/204, 707/205, 707/10, 713/177, 713/186, 713/201, 713/157, 715/500, 715/513, 455/446
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/226 Validation

Abstract

A system and method that uses XML schemas to specify the set of allowed calls, to invoke multiple function calls, either hierarchically or sequentially, and to specify the calls in such a way that they can be distributed across multiple processors. An XML schema mechanism defines the format of permitted requests and, importantly, validates the requests to ensure that they match the published signature of the functions provided by the service application. Additionally, the schema mechanism validates the request to ensure that they match the published signature of any further service application that it may need to employ. In addition, supplementary information added either within the schema itself or in supporting documents may be processed programmatically. A request may consist of a hierarchy of function calls, either nested within one another or executing in series.

Claims

1. A method for use in a distributed processing system to specify an application service comprising:

defining a schema written in XML comprising a first operation having a plurality of arguments, the schema having a nested operation within said first operation;

validating the first operation'"'"'s signature using said schema;

executing said first operation on a first processor in said distributed processing system in real time;

sending said nested operation to a second processor in the distributed processing system; and

executing said nested operation on said second processor in said distributed processing system in real time,

wherein said schema renders unaltered underlying function calls which define said first operation and said nested operation.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising validating the first operation'"'"'s payload afler validation of the contents of the payload.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein defining a schema comprising a first operation having a plurality of arguments comprises defining a schema having a plurality of nested operations.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3 wherein defining a schema comprising a first operation having a plurality of nested operations comprises defining a schema having one or more nested operations in one or more of said nested operations.

5. The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein validating said schema further includes validating said nested operation.

6. The method in accordance with claim 3 wherein validating said schema further includes validating said plurality of nested operations.

7. The method in accordance with claim 4 wherein validating said schema further includes validating said one or more nested operations in one or more of said nested operations.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 further including the step of generating a program to perform the defined operations.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1 further including the step of distributing operations to one or more members of the distributed system.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said step of defining a schema includes indicating one or more points where distributing operations is beneficial.

11. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said operation and said nested operation are calls from a client application to a service application.

12. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of executing said operation further includes the steps of executing said operation at a first service application and executing said nested operation at a second service application.

13. A method for use in a distributed processing system to specify an application service comprising:

defining a schema written in XML comprising a first operation having a plurality of arguments, the schema having a nested operation within said first operation, said first operation and said nested operation representing calls from a client application to a service application;

validating the first operation'"'"'s signature using said schema;

executing said first operation on a first processor in said distributed processing system;

sending said nested operation to a second processor in the distributed processing system;

using said schema to generate a second program having an interface with grid management software, the second program and the grid management software being used to render the nested operation executable on said second processor; and

executing said nested operation on said second processor in said distributed processing system,

wherein said schema renders unaltered underlying function calls which define said first operation and said nested operation.

14. A method for use in a distributed processing system to specify an application service comprising:

defining a schema written in XML comprising a first operation having a plurality of arguments, the schema having a nested operation within said first operation;

validating the first operationts signature using said schema;

executing said first operation at a first service application on a first processor in said distributed processing system in real time;

sending the nested operation to a second processor in the distributed processing system from the first service application; and

executing said nested operation at a second service application on said second processor in said distributed processing system in real time, said first service becoming a client application for said second service applieation,

wherein said schema renders unaltered underlying function calls which define said first operation and said nested operation.