Real-time dynamic modification of service-oriented systems using annotations to specify real-time system constraints

• US 7,496,891 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bou-Ghannam, Akram, Jaiswal, Peeyush, Narayan, Vishwanath
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brophy; Matthew J
• Application Number:
  US11/021,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20060136896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-172
• US Class Current: 717/111
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/542 Intercept
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/545 where tasks reside in different layers, e.g. user- and kernel-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata

Abstract

A method of modifying an existing standard-based system can include automatically identifying at least one message of the standard-based system at runtime. A constraint can be associated with a selected message of the standard-based system at runtime. The constraint can be one that is not a specifiable option within the standard-based system. The method also can include intercepting the selected message and applying the constraint to the selected message.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of modifying an existing standard-based system comprising:

displaying within a presentation layer, at runtime of the standard-based system, representations of a client of the standard-based system, a Web-based service providing services to the client, and message types exchanged between the client and the Web-based service comprising a service request sent from the client to the Web- based service and a service response sent from the Web-based service to the client;

responsive to a user input selecting at least one message type received within the presentation layer, associating a constraint with the selected message type of the standard-based system at runtime, wherein the constraint specifies a limitation upon information that is requested within a service request or a limitation upon information that is provided within a service response, wherein the limitation upon information that is requested within a service request or the limitation upon information that is provided within a service response is not available within the standard-based system;

intercepting a message of the selected type that is exchanged between the client and the Web-based service;

applying the constraint by modifying content of the message according to the constraint, wherein applying the constraint comprises;

when the intercepted message corresponds to a service request type of message, modifying at least one parameter of the message to conform with the limitation specified by the constraint after the service request is sent from the client and prior to the service request being received by the Web-based service;

when the intercepted message corresponds to a service response type of message, modifying data within the message to conform with the limitation specified by the constraint after the service response is sent from the Web-based service and prior to the service response being received by the client; and

storing the message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is a service request, said applying step comprising modifying the service request in accordance with the constraint.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is a service response, said applying step comprising processing at least one result specified by the service response in accordance with the constraint.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein associating a constraint with the selected message type of the standard-based system at runtime comprises identifying a message selected from at least one of a service request and a service response.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising identifying a message parameter of the message.

6. The method of claim 5, said associating step comprising associating the constraint with the message parameter of the message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a user interface specifying a service request and a service response for a service available to the standard-based system, wherein the user interface indicates at least one constraint that has been associated with at least one of the service request and service response.

8. The method of claim 1, said intercepting step further comprising determining whether the message has been associated with the constraint.