Using collaborative annotations to specify real-time process flows and system constraints

• US 7,502,822 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• 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, Narayan, Vishwanath
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu; Jinsong
• Application Number:
  US11/021,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/204, 709/220, 707/103.R, 717/140, 717/162
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/541 Client-server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/542 Intercept
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A method of modifying an existing standard-based system using collaborative annotations can include associating an annotation with a message of the standard-based system. The message can correspond to a first service and the annotation can specify at least one of a second service. The method further can include intercepting the message and executing the annotation. At least one of the second service can be automatically invoked according to the annotation.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of modifying an existing standard-based system during runtime of the standard-based system using collaborative annotations comprising:

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

responsive to a received user input selecting at least one message type exchanged between the client and the first Web-based service, associating an annotation with the selected message type of the standard-based system, wherein the selected message type corresponds to the first Web-based service and the annotation specifies at least one of a second Web-based service and at least one condition for invoking the at least one of the second Web-based service;

intercepting a message exchanged between the client and the first Web-based service and determining whether the message corresponds to the selected message type;

when the message corresponds to the selected message type, executing the annotation; and

automatically invoking the at least one of the second Web-based service responsive to determining that the message meets the condition for invoking the at least one of the second Web-based service specified by the annotation, and when the message does not meet the condition for invoking the at least one of the second Web-based service specified by the annotation, not executing the at least one of the second Web-based service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition is not a specifiable option within the standard-based system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the annotation specifies an order of invocation for a plurality of Web-based services.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the annotation specifies at least one of an event, a condition, and an action.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising selectively executing the action if the condition is met.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a representation of a new service through a graphical user interface, wherein the new service is comprised of the first Web-based service and the at least one of the second Web-based service, wherein the second Web-based service is selectively executed according to the condition specified by the annotation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating step occurs at runtime of the standard-based system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is a service response from the first Web-based service, said method further comprising preventing the service response from reaching an intended client.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

extracting at least one result from the service response; and

incorporating the at least one result in a service request that invokes the at least one of the second Web-based service.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of results from the at least one of the second Web-based service;

accumulating the results of the first Web-based service and the at least one of the second Web-based service according to the annotation; and

providing the accumulated results to the client.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

extracting at least one result from the service response; and

selecting the at least one of the second Web-based service from a plurality of Web-based services according to the at least one result and the annotation.