Systems and methods for a common runtime container framework

• US 7,444,620 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2004
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BEA Systems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Marvin, Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, TUAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/776,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20040172618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 717/136, 717/177, 717/116, 709201-206, 709/227, 719328-330, 707/100
• US Class Current: 717/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/36 Software reuse

Abstract

An extensible container framework can be used to create and deploy software runtime containers. Such a framework can allow containers to inherit functionality and runtime environment attributes of other such containers. An extensible container framework can support multiple component types, and can provide the ability to add incremental features through a common component architecture. A framework can provide a common set of container infrastructure and services, and can expand the leverage of capabilities built around each container. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system to provide a common runtime container framework, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a plurality of runtime containers operable to process service requests and providing application services, wherein the plurality of runtime containers are organized in a first hierarchical architecture;

a plurality of metadata objects operable to provide metadata on context, state, and/or runtime information pertinent to the data and objects being handled by the plurality of runtime containers, wherein the plurality of metadata objects are organized in a second hierarchical architecture; and

wherein the first hierarchical architecture and the second hierarchical architecture are implemented according to Object-Oriented class inheritance, wherein each runtime container object at one layer of the first hierarchical architecture functionally interacts with a metadata object at a corresponding layer in the second hierarchical architecture, the dual interaction between the objects in the first hierarchical architecture and the second hierarchical architecture comprising;

invoking application services within a runtime container in the first hierarchical architecture; and

utilizing services performed by a correspondent metadata object in the second hierarchical architecture,

wherein the service provided by a metadata object in the second hierarchical architecture comprises providing state information and context information of the application runtime objects needed by the runtime container object directed to handle at least one of the service requests,

wherein the metadata object comprises object methods to get and set metadata required by the runtime container object,

wherein the runtime container object comprises object methods to invoke the needed service provided by the methods of the metadata object.

2. The system in claim 1, further comprising:

a well-defined API capable of creating new types of runtime containers, or customizing existing containers with incremental features.

3. The system in claim 1, further comprising:

a well-defined API capable of creating new levels in the first hierarchical architecture and the second hierarchical architecture.

4. The system in claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of runtime containers is a web services container.

5. The system in claim 4, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of runtime containers is a workflow container that inherits from a web services container.

6. The system in claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of metadata objects is a web services metadata object.

7. The system in claim 6, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of metadata objects is a workflow metadata object that inherits from a web services metadata object.

8. A method to provide a common runtime container framework, comprising:

processing service requests and providing application services via a runtime container of a plurality of runtime containers, wherein the plurality of runtime containers are organized in a first hierarchical architecture;

providing metadata on context, state, and/or runtime information pertinent to the data and objects being handled by the runtime container via a metadata object of a plurality of metadata objects, wherein the plurality of metadata objects are organized in a second hierarchical architecture; and

wherein the first hierarchical architecture and the second hierarchical architecture are implemented according to Object-Oriented class inheritance, wherein each runtime container object at one layer of the first hierarchical architecture functionally interacts with a metadata object at a corresponding layer in the second hierarchical architecture, the dual interaction between the objects in the first hierarchical architecture and the second hierarchical architecture comprising;

invoking application services within a runtime container in the first hierarchical architecture; and

utilizing services performed by a correspondent metadata object in the second hierarchical architecture,

wherein the service provided by a metadata object in the second hierarchical architecture comprises providing state information and context information of the application runtime objects needed by the runtime container object directed to handle at least one of the service requests,

wherein the metadata object comprises object methods to get and set metadata required by the runtime container object,

wherein the runtime container object comprises object methods to invoke the needed service provided by the methods of the metadata object.

9. The method in claim 8, further comprising:

creating new types of runtime containers, or customizing existing containers with incremental features.

10. The method in claim 8, further comprising:

creating new levels in the first hierarchical architecture and the second hierarchical architecture.

11. The method in claim 8, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of runtime containers is a web services container.

12. The method in claim 11, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of runtime containers is a workflow container that inherits from a web services container.

13. The method in claim 8, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of metadata objects is a web services metadata object.

14. The method in claim 13, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of metadata objects is a workflow metadata object that inherits from a web services metadata object.

15. A machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor cause a system to:

process service requests and provide application services via a runtime container of a plurality of runtime containers, wherein the plurality of runtime containers are organized in a first hierarchical architecture;

provide metadata on context, state, and/or runtime information pertinent to the data and objects being handled by the runtime container via a metadata object of a plurality of metadata objects, wherein the plurality of metadata objects are organized in a second hierarchical architecture; and

wherein the first hierarchical architecture and the second hierarchical architecture are implemented according to Object-Oriented class inheritance, wherein each runtime container object at one layer of the first hierarchical architecture functionally interacts with a metadata object at a corresponding layer in the second hierarchical architecture, the dual interaction between the objects in the first hierarchical architecture and the second hierarchical architecture comprising;

invoking application services within a runtime container in the first hierarchical architecture; and

utilizing services performed by a correspondent metadata object in the second hierarchical architecture,

wherein the service provided by a metadata object in the second hierarchical architecture comprises providing state information and context information of the application runtime objects needed by the runtime container object directed to handle at least one of the service requests,

wherein the metadata object comprises object methods to get and set metadata required by the runtime container object,

wherein the runtime container object comprises object methods to invoke the needed service provided by the methods of the metadata object.

16. The machine readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions that when executed cause the system to:

create new types of runtime containers, or customize existing containers with incremental features.

17. The machine readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions that when executed cause the system to:

create new levels in the first hierarchical architecture and the second hierarchical architecture.

18. The machine readable medium of claim 15, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of runtime containers is a web services container.

19. The machine readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of runtime containers is a workflow container that inherits from a web services container.

20. The machine readable medium of claim 15, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of metadata objects is a web services metadata object.

21. The machine readable medium of claim 20, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of metadata objects is a workflow metadata object that inherits from a web services metadata object.