Data store interface that facilitates distribution of application functionality across a multi-tier client-server architecture

• US 9,106,660 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dillon Software Services LLC
• Original Assignee: Dillon Software Services LLC
• Inventors: Dillon, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reyes, Mariela
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THONG H
• Application Number:
  US14/202,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20140195601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/100, 707/103, 715/530, 703/6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/84 Mapping; Conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

Methods and systems for facilitating distribution of application functionality across a multi-tier client-server architecture are provided. According to one embodiment, multiple data points from a database associated with a server computer system are cached into a hierarchical data map representing a random access memory-resident data structure. Each of the data points includes a field name and a calculated value. A request, containing input values that are to be stored within the hierarchical data map, is received by the server computer system from a client computer system. Responsive to the request: (i) the input values are transferred to target data points of the multiple data points; (ii) the calculated value of at least one of the data points is updated based on the target data points and a formula corresponding to the calculated value; and (iii) changed contents within the hierarchical data map are persisted to the database.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

responsive to initialization of an application running on a server computer system, caching, by the application, into a hierarchical data map and retaining indefinitely according to the application, a plurality of data points from a database associated with the server computer system, wherein each of the plurality of data points includes a field name and a calculated value and wherein the hierarchical data map comprises a random access memory resident data structure;

receiving, by the server computer system, a request from a client computer system, wherein the request contains one or more input values that are to be stored within the hierarchical data map; and

responsive to the request;

transferring, by the application, the one or more input values to one or more target data points of the plurality of data points;

updating, by the application, the calculated value of at least one of the plurality of data points based on the one or more target data points and a formula corresponding to the calculated value;

persisting, by the application, changed contents within the hierarchical data map to the database; and

returning, by the application, at least a subset of calculated values to the client computer system by copying the subset of calculated values from data points of the plurality of data points into a transmission directed to the client computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said returning comprises causing to be displayed on a display of the client computer system the subset of calculated values by copying the subset of calculated values from data points of the plurality of data points into a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) file and transmitting the HTML file to the client computer system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the request comprises a HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP) request.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the HTML file returned by the application is formed using an HTML template containing an embedded tag that includes or references an index path that can be used to index into the hierarchical data map.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the index path comprises an expression, which when evaluated selects a subset of data points of the plurality of data points.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the HTML file comprises the HTML template.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the HTML template further contains information regarding a desired layout in accordance with which the subset of calculated values is displayed.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the index path includes a key/value pair that identifies a particular data point of the plurality of data points.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the index path includes:

a first level key name identifying a first level of the hierarchical data map; and

a target field name identifying a target data point of the plurality of data points.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the index path includes:

a first level key name identifying a first level of the hierarchical data map; and

a target field name identifying a target data point of the plurality of data points.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a result of the formula is based at least in part on a current value of the calculated value.

12. A server computer system comprising:

a non-transitory storage device having embodied therein instructions operable to process requests from a client computer system; and

one or more processors coupled to the non-transitory storage device and operable to execute the instructions to perform a method comprising;

responsive to initialization of an application running on the server computer system, caching into a hierarchical data map and retaining indefinitely according to the application a plurality of data points from a database associated with the server computer system, wherein each of the plurality of data points includes a field name and a calculated value and wherein the hierarchical data map comprises a random access memory resident data structure;

receiving a request from the client computer system, wherein the request contains one or more input values that are to be stored within the hierarchical data map; and

responsive to the request;

transferring the one or more input values to one or more target data points of the plurality of data points;

updating the calculated value of at least one of the plurality of data points based on the one or more target data points and a formula corresponding to the calculated value;

persisting changed contents within the hierarchical data map to the database; and

returning at least a subset of calculated values to the client computer system, wherein said returning comprises copying the subset of calculated values from data points of the plurality of data points into a transmission directed to the client computer system.

13. The server computer system of claim 12, wherein said returning comprises causing to be displayed on a display of the client computer system the subset of calculated values by copying the subset of calculated values from data points of the plurality of data points into a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) file and transmitting the HTML file to the client computer system.

14. The server computer system of claim 13, wherein the HTML file is formed using an HTML template containing an embedded tag that includes or references an index path that can be used to index into the hierarchical data map.

15. The server computer system of claim 14, wherein the index path comprises an expression, which when evaluated selects a subset of data points of the plurality of data points.

16. The server computer system of claim 15, wherein the HTML file comprises the HTML template.

17. The server computer system of claim 14, wherein the HTML template further contains information regarding a desired layout in accordance with the subset of calculated values is displayed.

18. The server computer system of claim 14, wherein the index path includes a key/value pair that identifies a particular data point of the plurality of data points.

19. The server computer system of claim 14, wherein the index path includes:

a first level key name identifying a first level of the hierarchical data map; and

a target field name identifying a target data point of the plurality of data points.

20. The server computer system of claim 12, wherein a result of the formula is based at least in part on a current value of the calculated value.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying a set of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of a server computer system, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

responsive to initialization of an application running on the server computer system, caching into a hierarchical data map and retaining indefinitely according to the application a plurality of data points from a database associated with the server computer system, wherein each of the plurality of data points includes a field name and a calculated value and wherein the hierarchical data map comprises a random access memory resident data structure;

receiving a request from a client computer system, wherein the request contains one or more input values that are to be stored within the hierarchical data map; and

responsive to the request;

transferring the one or more input values to one or more target data points of the plurality of data points;

updating the calculated value of at least one of the plurality of data points based on the one or more target data points and a formula corresponding to the calculated value;

persisting changed contents within the hierarchical data map to the database; and

returning at least a subset of calculated values to the client computer system, wherein said returning comprises copying subset of calculated values from data points of the plurality of data points into a transmission directed to the client computer system.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein said returning comprises causing to be displayed on a display of the client computer system the subset of calculated values by copying the subset of calculated values from data points of the plurality of data points into a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) file and transmitting the HTML file to the client computer system.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the request comprises a HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP) request.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the HTML file returned by the application is formed using an HTML template containing an embedded tag that includes or references an index path that can be used to index into the hierarchical data map.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the index path comprises an expression, which when evaluated selects a subset of data points of the plurality of data points.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the HTML file comprises the HTML template.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the HTML template further contains information regarding a desired layout in accordance with which the subset of calculated values is displayed.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the index path includes a key/value pair that identifies a particular data point of the plurality of data points.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein a result of the formula is based at least in part on a current value of the calculated value.