Method, apparatus, and system for implementing a framework to support a web-based application

• US 7,454,759 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Mukundan, Anil, Coker, John, Ambrose, Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Van H
• Application Number:
  US10/991,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20070204280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 719/310, 719/316, 719/318, 719/320, 719/330, 709/203
• US Class Current: 719/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/548 Object oriented; Remote method invocation [RMI] non-remote method invocation G06F9/449
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/133 Protocols for remote procedure calls [RPC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention, a system is provided to support a web-based application. The system comprising a set of server-side objects managed by an object manager (OM), the set of server-side objects including a global session object providing access to a repository, a server-side business object, and server-side business components contained in the server-side business object. The system further comprises a set of browser-side objects running on a browser, the set of browser-side objects including a browser-side application object that exists throughout a user-session to manage other browser-side objects. The system also comprises a remote procedure call (RPC) mechanism and a notification mechanism to facilitate communication and synchronization between the browser-side objects and the server-side objects.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a set of server-side objects to run on a server;

a set of browser-side objects of a browser to run on a client, the set of browser-side objects mimicking the set of server-side objects and including a browser-side application object that exists throughout a user-session to manage other browser-side objects;

a remote procedure call (RPC) mechanism to allow a single program to be divided between the server and the client; and

a notification mechanism to facilitate communication and synchronization between the browser-side objects and the server-side objects, the notification mechanism being configured to update a first browser-side object in response to a change in a corresponding first server-side object,

wherein;

the set of browser-side objects further includes a browser-side view object representing a collection of applets; and

the set of server-side objects further comprises a server-side view object corresponding to the browser-side view object.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the browser-side application object is loaded on the browser to create user interface control to allow users to start an application by invoking a subset of the application using the user interface control.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the set of browser-side objects further includes a browser-side business object to manage various one-to-many relationships between active business components; and

the set of server-side objects further includes a server-side business object corresponding to the browser-side business object.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the set of browser-side objects further includes at least one browser-side business component object representing at least one business component; and

the set of server-side objects further includes at least one server-side business component object corresponding to the at least one browser-side business component.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of browser-side objects and the set of server-side objects are configured to reside and operate on a single computing device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of browser-side objects and the set of server-side objects are configured to reside and operate on multiple computing devices.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an object manager (OM) to manage the set of server-side objects.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of server-side objects includes a global session object to provide access to a repository, a server-side business object, and server-side business components contained in the server-side business object.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification mechanism is further configured to inform the first browser-side object that a long time-consuming action is in progress, and the first browser-side object is configured to provide corresponding feedback to a user.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the RPC mechanism is configured to block interruption of an RPC until the synchronization is complete.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the RPC mechanism is further configured to find a compatible server that offers procedures for the program.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the notification

mechanism is configured to facilitate access by a manufacturing application to information about assembly components among;

a design program,

an inventory program,

a scheduling program, and

an accounting program;

wherein each of the design program, the inventory program, the scheduling

program, and the accounting program is located on a different computer.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the notification mechanism is configured to facilitate access by a first user to calendar data of a second user.

14. A method, comprising:

managing a set of server-side objects on a server;

causing a client to run a set of browser-side objects of a browser, the set of browser-side objects mimicking the set of server-side objects and including a browser-side application object that exists throughout a user-session to manage other browser-side objects;

dividing a single program between the server and the client using a remote procedure call (RPC) mechanism;

allowing communication and synchronization between the browser-side objects and the server-side objects using a notification mechanism, the notification mechanism being configured to update a first browser-side object in response to a change in a corresponding first server-side object, and

representing a collection of applets using a browser-side view object, wherein the set of server-side objects further comprises a server-side view object corresponding to the browser-side view object.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

causing the client to load the browser-side application object on the browser; and

causing the client to create a user interface control to allow a user to start an application by invoking a subset of the application from the user interface control.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the user interface control includes at least one of an icon and a menu.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

managing various one-to-many relationships between active business components using a browser-side business object, wherein the set of server-side objects further includes a server-side business object corresponding to the browser-side business object.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

representing at least one business component using at least one browser-side business component object, wherein the set of server-side objects further includes at least one server-side business component object corresponding to the at least one browser-side business component object.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

configuring the set of browser-side objects and the set of server-side objects to reside and operate on a plurality of computing devices.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of server-side objects includes a global session object to provide access to a repository, a server-side business object, and server-side business components contained in the server-side business object.

21. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

managing a set of server-side objects on a server;

causing a client to run a set of browser-side objects of a browser, the set of browser-side objects mimicking the set of server-side objects and including a browser-side application object that exists throughout a user-session to manage other browser-side objects;

dividing a single program between the server and the client using a remote procedure call (RPC) mechanism;

allowing communication and synchronization between the browser-side objects and the server-side objects using a notification mechanism, the notification mechanism being configured to update a first browser-side object in response to a change in a corresponding first server-side object, and

representing a collection of applets using a browser-side view object, wherein the set of server-side objects further comprises a server-side view object corresponding to the browser-side view object.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise:

causing the client to load the browser-side application object on the browser; and

causing the client to create a user interface control to allow a user to start an application by invoking a subset of the application from the user interface control.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the user interface control includes at least one of an icon and a menu.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise:

managing various one-to-many relationships between active business components using a browser-side business object, wherein the set of server-side objects further includes a server-side business object corresponding to the browser-side business object.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise:

representing at least one business component using at least one browser-side business component object, wherein the set of server-side objects further includes at least one server-side business component object corresponding to the at least one browser-side business component object.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise:

configuring the set of browser-side objects and the set of server-side objects to reside and operate on a plurality of computing devices.

27. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the set of server-side objects includes a global session object to provide access to a repository, a server-side business object, and server-side business components contained in the server-side business object.