System and method for dynamic generation of proxies for isomorphic interfaces

• US 7,373,632 B1
• Filed: 12/01/2003
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Shoemaker, Ryan C., Kawaguchi, Kohsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri; Anil
• Application Number:
  US10/724,921
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 717100-108, 717114-118, 717121-122, 709/203
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/465 Distributed object oriented systems remote method invocation [RMI] G06F9/548
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications

Abstract

System and method for proxying isomorphic interfaces in different subsystems. Embodiments may provide a proxy mechanism that may generate proxies for isomorphic interfaces at runtime. Embodiments may allow two mutually indifferent subsystems to communicate with each other in a straightforward, transparent manner via proxies, without requiring a common shared library or complex coding. Embodiments of the proxy mechanism transparently generate proxies for isomorphic interfaces between subsystems in a virtual machine. In one embodiment, the application developer registers the interfaces that require proxying. The proxy mechanism then generates proxy instances. Methods may then be invoked, and the proxies handle the details of converting and forwarding the calls in accordance with the appropriate interface. Other subsystems, using different versions of the interface, may use the proxy mechanism to dynamically generate proxies without requiring extensive coding or shared libraries, and without interfering with other subsystems within the virtual machine.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by the one or more processors to implement;

a virtual machine;

a plurality of subsystems configured to execute within the virtual machine, wherein two or more of the plurality of subsystems provide different versions of an isomorphic interface to functions of the subsystems; and

a proxy mechanism configured to generate, for one of the plurality of subsystems at runtime of the one of the plurality of subsystems, a proxy to a version of the isomorphic interface provided by a particular one of the two or more subsystems;

wherein the proxy is configured to;

receive a call to the isomorphic interface from the one of the plurality of subsystems;

convert the call in accordance with the version of the isomorphic interface provided by the particular one of the two or more subsystems; and

forward the converted call to the particular one of the two or more subsystems for execution; and

wherein the proxy mechanism is further configured to generate, for another one of the plurality of subsystems at runtime of the one of the plurality of subsystems, another proxy to a different version of the isomorphic interface provided by another one of the two or more subsystems.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein, to generate a proxy to a version of the isomorphic interface provided by a particular one of the two or more subsystems, the proxy mechanism is further configured to determine that the particular one of the two or more subsystems provides a correct version of the isomorphic interface for the one of the plurality of subsystems.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the one of the plurality of subsystems is configured to specify the isomorphic interface to be proxied to the proxy mechanism, and wherein the proxy mechanism is further configured to determine that the particular one of the two or more subsystems provides the correct version of the isomorphic interface according to said specification and to generate the proxy according to said specification.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the proxy mechanism is further configured to generate another proxy configured to return results of said execution from the particular one of the two or more subsystems to the one of the plurality of subsystems.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the proxy mechanism is further configured to:

receive the call to the isomorphic interface from the one of the plurality of subsystems; and

generate the proxy to the version of the isomorphic interface provided by the particular one of the two or more subsystems in response to said call to the isomorphic interface.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the proxy mechanism is further configured to provide an interface to the proxy mechanism for the plurality of subsystems, wherein the interface is readable by the subsystems to specify isomorphic interfaces provided by other ones of the subsystems to be proxied to by the proxy mechanism.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the proxy is further configured to convert the call in accordance with the version of the isomorphic interface provided by the particular one of the two or more subsystems using Java Reflection.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the virtual machine is a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of subsystems is an application, and wherein the two or more subsystems are versions of a runtime library.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of subsystems and the two or more subsystems are applications.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of subsystems are mobile agents.

12. A system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by the one or more processors to implement;

a virtual machine;

a plurality of subsystems configured to execute within the virtual machine; and

a proxy mechanism configured to;

generate a proxy for a version of an interface between two of the plurality of subsystems at runtime of at least one of the two subsystems, wherein the proxy is configured to convert calls between the two subsystems in accordance with the version of the interface; and

generate another proxy for another version of the interface between another two of the plurality of subsystems at runtime of at least one of the other two of the plurality of subsystems, wherein the other proxy is configured to convert calls between the other two of the plurality of subsystems in accordance with the other version of the interface.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the proxy is configured to:

receive from a first of the two subsystems a call to a second of the two subsystems;

convert the call in accordance with the version of the interface; and

forward the converted call to the second subsystem for execution by the second subsystem.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the proxy mechanism is further configured to generate another proxy configured to return results of said execution from the second subsystem to the first subsystem.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the proxy mechanism is further configured to generate the proxy for the version of the interface between the two subsystems in response to said call to the second subsystem.

16. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the proxies are configured to convert the calls between the subsystems using Java Reflection.

17. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein a first of the two subsystems is configured to specify the interface to be proxied to the proxy mechanism, and wherein the proxy mechanism is further configured to generate the proxy for the interface between the two subsystems in accordance with said specification.

18. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the virtual machine is a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

19. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to implement a proxy mechanism configured to generate, for a subsystem at runtime of the subsystem, a proxy to a version of an isomorphic interface provided by a particular one of a plurality of subsystems that provide versions of the isomorphic interface;

wherein the proxy is configured to;

receive a call to the isomorphic interface from the subsystem;

convert the call in accordance with the version of the isomorphic interface provided by the particular one of the plurality of subsystems; and

forward the converted call to the particular one of the plurality of subsystems for execution; and

wherein the proxy mechanism is further configured to generate, for a different subsystem at runtime of a different subsystem, another proxy to another one of the plurality of subsystems that provides a different version of the isomorphic interface.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the proxy mechanism is further configured to generate another proxy configured to return results of said execution from the particular one of the plurality of subsystems to the subsystem.

21. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the subsystem is configured to specify the isomorphic interface to be proxied to the proxy mechanism, and wherein the proxy mechanism is further configured to generate the proxy according to said specification.

22. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to implement a virtual machine in the memory, wherein the proxy mechanism, the subsystems, and the proxy are configured to operate within the virtual machine.

23. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the virtual machine is a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

24. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the proxy is further configured to convert the call in accordance with the version of the isomorphic interface provided by the particular one of the plurality of subsystems using Java Reflection.

25. A computer system, comprising:

means for generating a proxy to a version of an isomorphic interface provided by two or more subsystems for one or more other subsystems in a virtual machine at runtime of at least one of the one or more other subsystems;

means for generating another proxy to another version of the isomorphic interface provided by the two or more subsystems for the one or more other subsystems in the virtual machine at runtime of at least one of the one or more other subsystems;

means for the proxies to convert calls from the one or more other subsystems to the versions of the isomorphic interface provided by the two or more subsystems; and

means for the proxies to forward the converted calls to the two or more subsystems for execution.

26. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

a proxy mechanism generating, for a subsystem at runtime of the subsystem, a proxy to a version of an isomorphic interface provided by a particular one of a plurality of subsystems that provide versions of the isomorphic interface;

the proxy receiving a call to the isomorphic interface from the subsystem;

the proxy converting the call in accordance with the version of the isomorphic interface provided by the particular one of the plurality of subsystems;

the proxy forwarding the converted call to the particular one of the plurality of subsystems for execution; and

the proxy mechanism generating another proxy to another one of the plurality of subsystems that provides a different version of the isomorphic interface for another subsystem at runtime of the other subsystem.

27. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 26, further comprising:

the proxy mechanism generating another proxy configured to return results of executing the call from the particular one of the plurality of subsystems to the subsystem;

the particular one of the plurality of subsystems executing the call; and

the other proxy returning results of said executing the call to the subsystem.

28. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 26, further comprising the subsystem specifying the isomorphic interface to be proxied to the proxy mechanism, wherein the proxy mechanism generates the proxy to the particular one of the plurality of subsystems according to said specification.

29. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 26, further comprising the proxy mechanism receiving the call to the isomorphic interface, wherein the proxy mechanism generates the proxy to the particular one of the plurality of subsystems in response to said receiving the call.

30. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 26, wherein the proxy converts the call using Java Reflection.

31. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 26, wherein the proxy mechanism, the subsystems, and the proxy are implemented within a computer-implemented virtual machine.

32. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 26, wherein the subsystem is an application, and wherein the plurality of subsystems are versions of a runtime library.

33. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 26, wherein the subsystem and the plurality of subsystems are applications.

34. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 26, wherein the subsystem and the plurality of subsystems are mobile agents.

35. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

generating a proxy for a version of an interface between two of a plurality of subsystems in a virtual machine at runtime of at least one of the two subsystems, wherein the proxy is configured to convert calls between the two subsystems in accordance with the version of the interface; and

generating another proxy for another version of the interface between another two of the plurality of subsystems at runtime of at least one of the other two of the plurality of subsystems, wherein the other proxy is configured to convert calls between the other two of the plurality of subsystems in accordance with the other version of the interface.

36. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 35, further comprising:

the proxy receiving from a first of the two subsystems a call to a second of the two subsystems;

the proxy converting the call in accordance with the version of the interface; and

the proxy forwarding the converted call to the second subsystem for execution by the second subsystem.

37. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 36, wherein the proxy converts the call in accordance with the version of the interface using Java Reflection.

38. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 36, further comprising generating another proxy configured to return results of said execution from the second subsystem to the first subsystem.

39. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 36, further comprising generating the proxy for the version of the interface between the two subsystems in response to said call to the second subsystem.

40. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 35, further comprising:

a first of the two subsystems specifying the interface to be proxied; and

generating the proxy for the interface between the two subsystems in accordance with said specification.

41. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 35, wherein the virtual machine is a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

42. A computer-readable storage media comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

a proxy mechanism generating, for a subsystem at runtime of the subsystem, a proxy to a version of an isomorphic interface provided by a particular one of a plurality of subsystems that provide versions of the isomorphic interface;

the proxy receiving a call to the isomorphic interface from the subsystem;

the proxy converting the call in accordance with the version of the isomorphic interface provided by the particular one of the plurality of subsystems;

the proxy forwarding the converted call to the particular one of the plurality of subsystems for execution; and

the proxy mechanism generating another proxy to another one of the plurality of subsystems that provides a different version of the isomorphic interface for another subsystem at runtime of the other subsystem.

43. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 42, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the proxy mechanism generating another proxy configured to return results of executing the call from the particular one of the plurality of subsystems to the subsystem;

the particular one of the plurality of subsystems executing the call; and

the other proxy returning results of said executing the call to the subsystem.

44. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 42, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement the subsystem specifying the isomorphic interface to be proxied to the proxy mechanism, wherein the proxy mechanism generates the proxy to the particular one of the plurality of subsystems according to said specification.

45. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 42, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement the proxy mechanism receiving the call to the isomorphic interface, wherein the proxy mechanism generates the proxy to the particular one of the plurality of subsystems in response to said receiving the call.

46. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 42, wherein the proxy converts the call using Java Reflection.

47. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 42, wherein the proxy mechanism, the subsystems, and the proxy are implemented within a virtual machine.

48. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 42, wherein the subsystem is an application, and wherein the plurality of subsystems are versions of a runtime library.

49. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 42, wherein the subsystem and the plurality of subsystems are applications.

50. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 42, wherein the subsystem and the plurality of subsystems are mobile agents.

51. A computer-readable storage media comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

generating a proxy for a version of an interface between two of a plurality of subsystems in a virtual machine at runtime of at least one of the two subsystems, wherein the proxy is configured to convert calls between the two subsystems in accordance with the version of the interface; and

generating another proxy for another version of the interface between another two of the plurality of subsystems at runtime of at least one of the other two of the plurality of subsystems, wherein the other proxy is configured to convert calls between the other two of the plurality of subsystems in accordance with the other version of the interface.

52. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 51, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the proxy receiving from a first of the two subsystems a call to a second of the two subsystems;

the proxy converting the call in accordance with the version of the interface; and

the proxy forwarding the converted call to the second subsystem for execution by the second subsystem.

53. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 52, wherein the proxy converts the call in accordance with the version of the interface using Java Reflection.

54. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 52, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement generating another proxy configured to return results of said execution from the second subsystem to the first subsystem.

55. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 52, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement generating the proxy for the version of the interface between the two subsystems in response to said call to the second subsystem.

56. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 51, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

a first of the two subsystems specifying the interface to be proxied; and

generating the proxy for the interface between the two subsystems in accordance with said specification.

57. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 51, wherein the virtual machine is a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).