Efficient transactional messaging between loosely coupled client and server over multiple intermittent networks with policy based routing

• US 7,702,739 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bao Tran
• Original Assignee: Bao Tran
• Inventors: Cheng, Wesley, Gronberg, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgess, Barbara N
• Application Number:
  US10/677,098
• Time in Patent Office: 2,394 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/203, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0057 Block codes H04L1/0061, H04L1/0064 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/40 using split connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/60 based on actual use of network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/16 Performing reselection for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for reducing the cost of sending messages over an intermittent network of computing devices via multiple communication channels by creating a first message on a first device, the message intended to be sent to a second device over the network multiple communication channels; applying a first policy to reduce the cost of sending messages over the intermittent network of computing devices, the first policy containing one or more rules to determine whether to send the first message to the second device, each rule being a function of one or more messaging attributes of messages, channels or the system environment; and dynamically updating the first policy by sending a second message to the first device, the second message being a system message that results in the addition, deletion or other modification of the rules contained in the policy to reduce the cost of sending messages over the intermittent network of computing devices.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the cost of sending messages over an intermittent network of computing devices via multiple communication channels, the method comprising:

(a) creating a first message on a first device, the message intended to be sent to a second device over the network multiple communication channels;

(b) applying a first policy to reduce the cost of sending messages over the intermittent network of computing devices, the first policy containing one or more rules to determine whether to send the first message to the second device, each rule being a function of one or more messaging attributes of messages, channels or the system environment; and

(c) dynamically updating the first policy by sending a second message to the first device, the second message being a system message that results in the addition, deletion or other modification of the rules contained in the policy to reduce the cost of sending messages over the intermittent network of computing devices, and

creating a first transaction on the first device, the first transaction including one or more messages intended to be exchanged with the second device over the intermittent network;

wherein the first device is a server device and the second device is a wireless/mobile device;

wherein the first transaction is achieved between the wireless/mobile device and the server by breaking up a transmission such that the wireless/mobile device does not have to wait until the first transaction is completed before relinquishing network connection with asynchronous messaging.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising creating a first device queue on the first device, the first device queue reflecting the current status of a first transaction, including which messages of the first transaction have been successfully or unsuccessfully sent or received.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising creating a second device queue on the second device, the second device queue reflecting the current status of a first transaction, including which messages of the first transaction have been successfully or unsuccessfully sent or received.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising guaranteeing receipt by the first device of a notification that a message of a first transaction sent by the first device was successfully or unsuccessfully received by the second device, even in the event that the first device or the second device loses network connectivity prior to the first device receiving such notification.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising providing bi-directional messaging between wireless/mobile devices and enterprise server applications.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the bi-directional messaging is achieved using a server-initiated push.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the server initiated push comprises one of:

modem signaling, http listening, short messaging system (SMS), polling using an efficient decaying algorithm.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a transaction is achieved between a client and a server by breaking up a transmission sequence such that the client does not have to wait until the transaction is completed before relinquishing the network connection.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising performing asynchronous messaging, wherein a message is persistent and sent to a next stage without waiting.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving a reply from a server to a client as an asynchronous message to complete the transaction.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising automatically detecting networks by observing changes in a TCP/IP route table and a default route.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising determining service providers by using identification servers accessible only in specific networks.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising forming one or more transmission rules using regular expressions to combine system, message and channel parameters.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising generating loosely coupled client-server applications by declarative programming using relating business objects and graphical objects and mapping the objects into messages using properties sheets.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising performing conflict-free database synchronization by assigning a master database and designating other databases as slave databases.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein updates to the slave databases are considered pending until confirmed by the master database.

17. The method of claim 1, comprising communicating using a lightweight LUCID (Logic Up, Consistent Information Down) model.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising sending acknowledgement messages instead of a reply record.