Configurable connector adapted to convey data between a first application and a second application

• US 7,548,983 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Delfino, Jean-Sebastien, Beisiegel, Michael, Przybylski, Piotr
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar; Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): HENRY, MARIEGEORGES A
• Application Number:
  US10/488,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20040267933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,542 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/228, 709/230, 709/246, 709/203, 709/249, 370/466, 370/467, 710/105
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a connector adapted to convey data between a first application and a second application (or application components). The applications may be hosted by different computer systems interconnected by a communications link or network. The connector in addition to being interposed between the first and second application is adapted to communicate with one or more protocol handlers (wherein a protocol handler provides the formatting of data to conform with a specific protocol—e.g., HTTP, SOAP, etc.). The protocol handlers configure the connector thus allowing data received by the connector from the first application to be serviced (e.g., formatted) to conform to the protocol provided by the protocol handler which has been “plugged” into the connector.

Claims

1. A method of receiving and sending data transmitted over a communication link between a second application in a target system and a first application in a data processing system, the method comprising:

configuring a connector in said data processing system using a protocol handler that formats incoming and outgoing messages to conform to a network transmission protocol used for communications between said second application in said target system and said first application in said data processing system, wherein said protocol handler is one of a plurality of protocol handlers that are removably plugged into said connector in said data processing system that includes said first application, each of said plurality of protocol handlers supporting a different network transmission protocol;

determining whether said network transmission protocol used for communications between said second application in said target system and said first application in said data processing system was replaced with a different network transmission protocol;

responsive to determining that said network transmission protocol was replaced with a different network transmission protocol, reconfiguring said connector in said data processing system by unplugging from said connector said protocol handler that supported said network transmission protocol previously used and plugging into said connector a new protocol handler that supports said different network transmission protocol currently used;

receiving an incoming message from said second application in said target system transmitted over said communication link;

extracting payload data from said incoming message by invoking said new protocol handler, wherein said new protocol handler is configured to extract said data from said incoming message according to said different network transmission protocol by removing an envelope that was added to said payload data to form said incoming message, and wherein said envelope conforms to said different network transmission protocol;

providing said payload data to said first application in said data processing system; and

sending an outgoing message from said first application in said data processing system to said second application in said target system transmitted over said communication link, wherein said new protocol handler removable plugged into said connector in said data processing system formats said outgoing message to conform to said different network transmission protocol currently used for communications between said first application in said data processing system and said second application in said target system.

2. A method for facilitating data transfer between a first application in a data processing system and a second application in a target system, said method providing data conversion service for communications between said first application and said second application, said method comprising:

configuring a connector in said data processing system using a protocol handler that formats incoming and outgoing messages to conform to a network transmission protocol used for communications between said first application in said data processing system and said second application in said target system, wherein said protocol handler is one of a plurality of protocol handlers that are removably plugged into said connector in said data processing system that includes said first application, each of said plurality of protocol handlers supporting a different network transmission protocol;

determining whether said network transmission protocol used for communications between said first application and said second application was replaced with a different network transmission protocol;

responsive to determining that said network transmission protocol was replaced with a different network transmission protocol, reconfiguring said connector in said data processing system by unplugging from said connector said protocol handler that supported said network transmission protocol previously used and plugging into said connector a new protocol handler that supports said different network transmission protocol currently used;

receiving, by said connector in said data processing system, data from said first application and formatted data from said new protocol handler;

transmitting said formatted data received from said new protocol handler to said second application based on said different network transmission protocol supported by said new protocol handler; and

wherein said data conversion service provided is determined by said different network transmission protocol supported by said new protocol handler.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

selecting a network transmission protocol, wherein an interface presented to said first application remains static irrespective of said selected network transmission protocol supported by at least one of said plurality of protocol handlers.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving formatted data from said second application and data from said new protocol handler; and

transmitting formatted data received from said second application to said new protocol handler and data received from said new protocol handler to said first application.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said data comprises an object, and wherein said formatted data comprises a packet.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

a packet received from said new protocol handler is generated from payload data stored by an object received from said first application; and

an object transmitted to said first application is generated from payload data stored within a packet received from said second application.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said object includes methods to read payload data from said object and write payload data to said object.