Communication between computers operating in different object-oriented run-time environments

• US 7,493,629 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Pfeifer, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): An; Meng-Ai
• Assistant Examiner(s): WU, QING YUAN
• Application Number:
  US10/788,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 719315-316, 719/330
• US Class Current: 719/330
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/548 Object oriented; Remote method invocation [RMI] non-remote method invocation G06F9/449

Abstract

First and second computers (901, 902) operate in first and second object-oriented run-time environments with first and second applications (201, 202) and corresponding objects (A1/A2, B1/B2, C1/C2). Initiated by a communicator (101) and supported by a network (990), the first computer (901) sends a message (GET 111, SET 121, INSTRUCT 131) with object and action identification to the second computer (902). The second computer (902) uses an interpreter (102) to identify an object (A2, 152) in the second run-time environment according to the object identification. The interpreter (102) further verifies the existence of the identified action for the object (A2, 152) in the second run-time environment and determines (403) a representation of the action in the second run-time environment for the identified object (A2, 156). The interpreter (102) then executes the action by using the representation. Thereby, the interpreter (102) calls properties and methods of the identified object (A2, 156).

Claims

1. A method for communication between a first computer operating in a first object-oriented run-time environment and a second computer operating in a second, different object-oriented run-time environment, the method comprising:

receiving a first message with an object identification and an action identification from the first computer to the second computer;

identifying an object in the second run-time environment according to the object identification;

verifying an existence of an action, according to the action identification, in the identified object in the second run-time environment;

determining an action representation of the action, according to the action identification, in the second run-time environment for the identified object; and

executing the action using the action representation, wherein executing the action includes;

converting a request identification that is part of the action identification to a second representation for the second run-time environment using a look-up table; and

inserting the second representation into the second run-time environment.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising returning to the first computer a second message as a confirmation message with an object identification and a response identification.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying, using the first computer, at least a portion of the response identification.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the action further comprises:

extracting a second property representation of a property identified by the action identification;

converting the second property representation to a first property representation for the first run-time environment; and

returning to the first computer a second message as a result message with an object identification and a response identification, the response identification indicating the first property representation for the first run-time environment.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising displaying, using the first computer, at least a portion of the response identification.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second message with a second object identification and a second action identification from the first computer to the second computer;

identifying a second object in the second run-time environment according to the second object identification;

determining a second action representation of a second action, according to the second action identification, in the second run-time environment for the identified second object; and

executing the second action using the second action representation, wherein executing the second action further comprises;

converting a function identification and a parameter identification of the second action identification to function and parameter representations for the second run-time environment;

performing a function that is identified by the second action identification using the function and parameter representations for the second run-time environment;

converting parameters that result from performing the function into parameter representations for the first run-time environment; and

returning a third message to the first computer with an object identification and a response identification, with the response identification indicating the parameter representations.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein converting parameters uses a look-up table.

8. The method of claim 6, the second object identified in the second message being the first object identified in the first message.

9. A computer program product used in a communication system of a first computer with a first object-oriented run-time environment and a second computer with a second, different object-oriented run-time environment, wherein the first computer sends a first message with an object identification and an action identification to the second computer, the computer program product embodied on a carrier and having computer code instructions to cause a processor of the second computer to interpret the first message, the instructions comprising:

code for identifying an object in the second run-time environment according to the object identification;

code for verifying the existence of an action, according to the action identification, in the identified object in the second run-time environment;

code for determining a representation of the action, according to the action identification, in the second run-time environment for the identified object; and

code for executing the action using the representation, wherein the code for executing includes;

code for converting a request identification that is part of the action identification to a further representation for the second run-time environment; and

code for inserting the further representation into the second run-time environment.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the instructions further comprise code for returning a second message as a confirmation message to the first computer, the second message including an object identification and a response identification.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the code for converting uses a look-up table.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the code for executing comprises:

code for extracting a second property representation of a property identified by the action identification;

code for converting the second property representation to a first property representation for the first run-time environment; and

code for returning to the first computer a second message as a result message with an object identification and a response identification, the response identification indicating the first property representation for the first run-time environment.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the code for executing comprises:

code for converting a function identification and a parameter identification of the action identification to function and parameter representations for the second run-time environment;

code for performing a function that is identified by the action identification using the function and parameter representations for the second run-time environment;

code for converting parameters that result from performing the function into parameter representations for the first run-time environment; and

code for returning a second message to the first computer with an object identification and a response identification, with the response identification indicating the parameter representations.

14. A computer communication system comprising a first computer operating in a first object-oriented run-time environment and a second computer operating in a second, different object-oriented run-time environment, wherein the first computer sends a first message with an object identification and an action identification to the second computer, the second computer comprising:

a first module to identify an object in the second run-time environment according to the object identification;

a second module to verify an existence of an action identified in the action identification in the identified object in the second run-time environment;

a third module to determine a representation of the action in the second run-time environment for the identified object; and

a fourth module to execute the action by using the representation and to return a second message as confirmation message to the first computer, the second message with object identification and response identification, wherein the fourth module is adapted to (a) convert a request identification that is part of the action identification to a further representation for the second run-time environment using a look-up table, and (b) insert the further representation into the second run-time environment.

15. The computer communication system of claim 14 wherein the fourth module is further adapted to:

extract a second property representation of a property identified by the action identification;

convert the second property representation to a first property representation for the first run-time environment; and

return to the first computer a second message as a result message with an object identification and a response identification, the response identification indicating the first property representation for the first run-time environment.

16. The computer communication system of claim 14 wherein the fourth module is further adapted to:

convert a function identification and a parameter identification of the action identification to function and parameter representations for the second run-time environment;

perform a function that is identified by the action identification using the function and parameter representations for the second run-time environment;

convert parameters that result from performing the function into parameter representations for the first run-time environment; and

return a second message to the first computer with an object identification and a response identification, with the response identification indicating the parameter representations.

17. A computer program product embodied on a carrier and comprising computer readable instructions operable when executed to cause a processor to:

receive a first message with an object identification and an action identification from a first computer with a first object-oriented run-time environment;

identify an object in a second computer with a second, different object-oriented run-time environment, according to the object identification;

verify the existence of an action, according to the action identification, in the identified object in the second run-time environment;

determine a representation of the action, according to the action identification, in the second run-time environment for the identified object; and

execute the action using the representation, wherein the instructions operable to execute the action comprise instructions operable to;

convert a request identification that is part of the action identification to a further representation for the second run-time environment; and

insert the further representation into the second run-time environment.

18. A computer program product embodied on a carrier and comprising computer readable instructions operable when executed to cause a processor to:

receive a first message with an object identification and an action identification from a first computer with a first object-oriented run-time environment;

identify an object in a second computer with a second, different object-oriented run-time environment, according to the object identification;

verify the existence of an action, according to the action identification, in the identified object in the second run-time environment;

determine a representation of the action, according to the action identification, in the second run-time environment for the identified object; and

execute the action using the representation, wherein the instructions operable to execute the action comprise instructions operable to;

extract a second property representation of a property identified by the action identification;

convert the second property representation to a first property representation for the first run-time environment; and

return to the first computer a second message as a result message with an object identification and a response identification, the response identification indicating the first property representation for the first run-time environment.

19. A computer program product embodied on a carrier and comprising computer readable instructions operable when executed to cause a processor to:

receive a first message with an object identification and an action identification from a first computer with a first object-oriented run-time environment;

identify an object in a second computer with a second, different object-oriented run-time environment, according to the object identification;

verify the existence of an action, according to the action identification, in the identified object in the second run-time environment;

determine a representation of the action, according to the action identification, in the second run-time environment for the identified object; and

execute the action using the representation, wherein the instructions operable to execute the action comprise instructions operable to;

convert a function identification and a parameter identification of the action identification to function and parameter representations for the second run-time environment;

perform a function that is identified by the action identification using the function and parameter representations for the second run-time environment;

convert parameters that result from performing the function into parameter representations for the first run-time environment; and

return a second message to the first computer with an object identification and a response identification, with the response identification indicating the parameter representations.