Information system with event-enabled data objects

• US 8,341,646 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Bornhoevd, Christof, Bajaj, Sumeet
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mudrick, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US11/627,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20080184266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: 719/318
• US Class Current: 719/318
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A computer-implemented information system involves data objects stored in the database with characteristics of such data objects defined at a design time. The system is able to associate customized data object events with at least some of the data objects subsequent to the design time to define subscriber objects. Data objects which are publisher objects are determined based on the events. In one implementation, the information system includes a messaging manager, with a message broker and an event controller associated therewith.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented information system comprising:

a database provided in a computer-readable storage device, data objects stored in the database, the data objects each having at least one design time characteristic associated therewith and further having at least one of a subscriber role and a publisher role, with each data object interacting with one or more applications through an application program interface (API);

an event controller for associating customized data object events with at least some of the data objects subsequent to the design time, the event controller;

receiving a first subscription request from a first data object of the data objects, where the first subscription request is based on a first customized data object event and comprises a first event category field and a first event type defined subsequent to the design time;

identifying a second data object as having the publisher role based on the first event category field;

transmitting a message to the second data object, the message instructing the second data object to transmit a first event to the first data object, the first event corresponding to the first event type;

maintaining a list of subscriptions related to the data objects, the subscription list maintained by the event controller subsequent to the design time; and

a message broker adapted to receive and transmit subscription requests subsequent to the design time and to communicate with the database.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the event controller comprises a program module separable from the message broker, whereby the event controller may function with different message brokers without modification thereto.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system interacts with a business application having an application programming interface adapted to receive the subscription requests, wherein the data objects include business objects.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second subscription request from a third data object of the data objects, the second subscription request comprising a second event category field and a second event type;

identifying the first data object as having the publisher role based on the second event category field; and

transmitting an additional message to the first data object, the additional message instructing the first data object to transmit a second event to the third data object, the second event correspond to the second event type.

5. A computer-implemented information system comprising:

data objects stored in a database, the data objects having at least some characteristics defined at a design time and further having at least one of a subscriber role and a publisher role, with each data object interacting with one or more applications through an application program interface (API);

means for associating customized data object events with at least some of the data objects subsequent to the design time;

means for communicating a first control event from a first data object based on the customized data object events, the first control event comprising a first event category field and a first event type defined subsequent to the design time;

means for identifying a second data object as having a publisher role based on the first event category field;

means for transmitting a message to the second data object, the message instructing the second data object to transmit a first event to the first data object, the first event corresponding to the first event type;

means for adding new data objects to the system; and

means for communicating already existing, customized data object events to the new data objects, the new data objects having a publisher role based on receiving the customized data object events.

6. The system of claim 5, further including means associated with the second data object for receiving the first control event and means associated with the second data object for determining at least one predicate associated with the first control event.

7. The system of claim 6, further including means for evaluating when the predicate is true and means for publishing a notification message when the predicate is true.

8. The system of claim 7, further including means for determining an absence of data objects subscribing to the first event corresponding to the notification message and, in the event of said determination, not publishing the notification message.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a messaging manager for the data objects, the message manager having means for maintaining a subscription list including data corresponding to event types, customized data object events, and a reference count, the messaging manager having means for altering the value of the reference count for a given one of the data object events in response to a change in the number of data objects having the subscriber role associated with the given data object event.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the means for associating customized data objects includes means for generating an event condition string and wherein the data objects having the publisher role include means for parsing the string.

11. The system of claim 5, further including means for unsubscribing data objects having the subscriber role from previously associated ones of the customized data object events.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein the means for associating customized data object events includes means for associating the data objects having the subscriber role with corresponding classes of the data objects.

13. The system of claim 5, wherein the system includes a business application platform, wherein the data objects comprise business objects, and wherein the events comprise business events.

14. The system of claim 5, further including means for associating predefined data object events with the data objects at the design time, and wherein the customized data object events are at least partly defined with reference to the predefined data object events.

15. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

means for receiving a second subscription request from a third data object of the data objects, the second subscription request comprising a second event category field and a second event type;

means for identifying the first data object as having the publisher role based on the second event category field; and

means for transmitting an additional message to the first data object, the additional message instructing the first data object to transmit a second event to the third data object, the second event correspond to the second event type.

16. A computer-implemented method of associating business objects in a database of an enterprise system application with events, the method comprising:

defining business objects at a design time, the business objects having at least one of a subscriber role and a publisher role, with each business object interacting with one or more applications through an application program interface (API);

storing the business objects in the database, the database provided in a computer-readable storage device;

receiving a first request subsequent to the design time from a first business object, where the first request is based on a first customized data object event and comprises a first event category field and a first event type defined subsequent to the design time;

determining a second business object as having the publisher role based on the first event category field; and

generating a notification message when the first event is detected, the notification message being transmitted to the second business object, the notification message instructing the second business object to transmit the first event to the first business object, the first event corresponding to the first event type.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a second subscription request from a third data object of the data objects, the second subscription request comprising a second event category field and a second event type;

identifying the first data object as having the publisher role based on the second event category field; and

transmitting an additional message to the first data object, the additional message instructing the first data object to transmit a second event to the third data object, the second event correspond to the second event type.

18. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

storing data objects in a database provided in the machine-readable storage device, the data objects having at least one design time characteristic associated therewith and further having at least one of a subscriber role and a publisher role, with each data object interacting with one or more applications through an application program interface (API);

associating customized data object events with at least some of the data objects subsequent to the design time;

receiving a first subscription request from a first data object of the data objects, where the first subscription request is based on a first customized data object event and comprises a first event category field and a first event type;

identifying a second data object as having a publisher role based on the first event category field;

transmitting a message to the second data object, the message instructing the second data object to transmit a first event to the first data object, the first event corresponding to the first event type; and

maintaining a list of subscriptions related to the data objects, the subscription list maintained by the event controller subsequent to the design time.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein a business application having an application programming interface is adapted to receive the subscription requests, the data objects include business objects processed by the business application.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a second subscription request from a third data object of the data objects, the second subscription request comprising a second event category field and a second event type;

identifying the first data object as having the publisher role based on the second event category field; and

transmitting an additional message to the first data object, the additional message instructing the first data object to transmit a second event to the third data object, the second event correspond to the second event type.