Proactively communicating information between processes through a message repository

• US 9,235,457 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Shane, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Saeed, Usmann
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/401,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20040193569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,674 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/200, 707/705, 707/792, 705/75, 709/206, 709/207, 709/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/546 Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues

Abstract

A method and apparatus for proactively communicating information between processes through a message repository is provided. To communicate with other processes, a process may post a message to a message repository. Other processes may, at regular or irregular intervals, search the message repository for new messages that have been posted to the repository since the last search, and retrieve those new messages. Processes may post and retrieve messages relative to the message repository by invoking methods provided by an application programming interface (API). By posting a message to the message repository, a particular process can inform other interested processes proactively of actions that the particular process has taken, is taking, or will take. By retrieving messages from the message repository, a process can determine what actions other processes have taken, are taking, or will take, and adjust accordingly.

Claims

1. A method of interprocess communication, the method comprising:

a first process causing a database server to store, in a message database, a message whose content explicitly identifies an action that said first process will perform;

said first process performing said action after causing said database server to store, in said message database, said message;

a second process causing said database server to retrieve said message from said message database;

wherein said second process performs a responsive action specified by the content of said message;

wherein said first process is separate from said second process;

wherein said first process and said second process are separate from said database server;

wherein said action does not involve said message database;

wherein said first process and said second process execute computer programs on one or more computing devices; and

wherein said first process is not said action.

2. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a first process causing a database server to store, in a message database, a message whose content explicitly identifies an action that said first process will perform;

said first process performing said action after causing said database server to store, in said message database, said message;

a second process causing said database server to retrieve said message from said message database;

wherein said second process performs a responsive action specified by the content of said message;

wherein said first process is separate from said second process;

wherein said first process and said second process are separate from said database server;

wherein said action does not involve said message database;

wherein said first process and said second process execute computer programs on one or more computing devices; and

wherein said first process is not said action.

3. A method of interprocess communication, the method comprising:

a first process storing, in a message database, a message whose content explicitly identifies an action;

a second process retrieving said message from said message database;

wherein said second process performs a responsive action specified by the content of said message;

wherein said first process is separate from said second process;

wherein said action does not involve said message database;

wherein said first process and said second process execute computer programs on one or more computing devices;

wherein said first process is not said action; and

wherein said action is an action that is selected from a group consisting of;

an action that said first process will perform after said message is stored; and

an action that said first process is performing as said message is stored.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said message contains a timestamp.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said message identifies said first process.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said message identifies a target on which said action has been performed, is being performed, or will be performed.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising said second process periodically retrieving one or more messages from said message database.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein said action specifies a quantity.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising said second process displaying a notification based on said action.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein said first process storing said message comprises:

said first process invoking a routine of an application programming interface;

said routine receiving said message as input; and

said routine causing storing said message in said message database.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein said second process retrieving said message comprises:

said second process invoking a routine of an application programming interface; and

said routine causing retrieving, from said message database, messages that have not yet been retrieved by said second process.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein:

said first process storing said message comprises;

said first process invoking a first routine of an application programming interface,

said first routine receiving said message as input, and

said first routine causing storing said message in said message database;

said second process retrieving said message comprises;

said second process invoking a second routine of said application programming interface, and

said second routine causing retrieving, from said message database, messages that have not yet been retrieved by said second process;

said first process executes in connection with a first operating system; and

said second process executes in connection with a second operating system that differs from said first operating system.

14. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether said second process has received one or more messages that are stored in said message database; and

providing, to said second process, one or more messages that said second process has not yet received.

15. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

updating information that indicates, for each particular process of a plurality of processes, which messages that said particular process has not yet received.

16. The method of claim 3, wherein said action has not yet been performed by said first process.

17. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

said first process encrypting at least a portion of said message with a public key that is associated with said second process.

18. The method of claim 3, wherein the message does not express results produced by the action.

19. The method of claim 3, wherein said responsive action performed by said second process comprises at least one of:

allocating space in a database;

adjusting one or more Random Access Memory (RAM) buffers;

adjusting configuration of said second process;

adjusting priority of tasks performed by said second process;

adjusting an amount of allocated disk space; and

generating and sending customized instructions to a CPU.

20. The method of claim 3 wherein said responsive action alters configuration or operation of one or more (a) non-display devices, or (b) processes.

4. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:

a first process storing, in a message database, a message whose content explicitly identifies an action;

a second process retrieving said message from said message database;

wherein said second process performs a responsive action specified by the content of said message;

wherein said first process is separate from said second process;

wherein said action does not involve said message database;

wherein said first process and said second process execute computer programs on one or more computing devices;

wherein said first process is not said action; and

wherein said action is an action that is selected from a group consisting of;

an action that said first process will perform after said message is stored; and

an action that said first process is performing as said message is stored.

21. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein said message contains a timestamp.

22. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein said message identifies said first process.

23. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein said message identifies a target on which said action has been performed, is being performed, or will be performed.

24. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein the one or more sequences of instructions comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform said second process periodically retrieving one or more messages from said message database.

25. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein said action specifies a quantity.

26. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein the one or more sequences of instructions comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform said second process displaying a notification based on said action.

27. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4 wherein

said first process storing said message includes:

said first process invoking a routine of an application programming interface;

said routine receiving said message as input; and

said routine causing storing said message in said message database.

28. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein said second process retrieving said message includes:

said second process invoking a routine of an application programming interface; and

said routine causing retrieving, from said message database, messages that have not yet been retrieved by said second process.

29. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4:

wherein said first process storing said message includes;

said first process invoking a first routine of an application programming interface,

said first routine receiving said message as input, and

said first routine causing storing said message in said message database;

wherein said second process retrieving said message includes;

said second process invoking a second routine of said application programming interface, and

said second routine causing retrieving, from said message database, messages that have not yet been retrieved by said second process;

said first process executes in connection with a first operating system; and

said second process executes in connection with a second operating system that differs from said first operating system.

30. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein the one or more sequences of instructions comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause:

determining whether said second process has received one or more messages that are stored in said message database; and

providing, to said second process, one or more messages that said second process has not yet received.

31. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein the one or more sequences of instructions comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause:

updating information that indicates, for each particular process of a plurality of processes, which messages that said particular process has not yet received.

32. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein said action has not yet been performed by said first process.

33. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein the one or more sequences of instructions comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause:

said first process encrypting at least a portion of said message with a public key that is associated with said second process.

34. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein the message does not express results produced by the action.

35. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein said responsive action performed by said second process comprises at least one of:

allocating space in a database;

adjusting one or more Random Access Memory (RAM) buffers;

adjusting configuration of said second process;

adjusting priority of tasks performed by said second process;

adjusting an amount of allocated disk space; and

generating and sending customized instructions to a CPU.

36. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4 wherein said responsive action alters configuration or operation of one or more (a) non-display devices, or (b) processes.