Metadata-aware enterprise application integration framework for application server environment
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- an application sending to a container a data object specifying a high-level function provided by a system external to the application;
the container receiving the data object specifying the high-level function;
the container accessing metadata corresponding to the high-level function call, wherein the metadata describes the high-level function of the external system;
the container performing one or more transformations on the data object specifying the high-level function in accordance with the metadata to produce a data object including information for driving a connector to the external system to make a plurality of low-level calls to the external system to perform the high-level function;
the container executing the data object including the information for driving the connector to the external system to drive the connector to make the plurality of low-level calls to the external system; and
the external system executing a plurality of low-level functions as specified by the plurality of low-level calls received from the connector, wherein said executing the plurality of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the external system specified by the high-level function call.
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Abstract
A metadata-aware Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) framework for an application server environment. The framework allows the connector writer to connect to a system using a low-level API. The framework provides a space in a connector in which to define high-level functions. Using the framework, the user can mine metadata for the functions and generate a description of each high-level function that can be dropped into the framework and appear as a high-level function invokable through the connector. This high-level function manifestation, when invoked, drives the low-level API provided by the connector. An adaptive layer may wrap a native Common Client Interface (CCI) exposed by a connector to provide an abstract connector that allows a higher-level abstraction of external Enterprise Information Systems (EIS). The adaptive layer may interpret metadata to model an external EIS as a logical data source. The adaptive layer may be referred to as a metadata-aware CCI adapter.
194 Citations
88 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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an application sending to a container a data object specifying a high-level function provided by a system external to the application;
the container receiving the data object specifying the high-level function;
the container accessing metadata corresponding to the high-level function call, wherein the metadata describes the high-level function of the external system;
the container performing one or more transformations on the data object specifying the high-level function in accordance with the metadata to produce a data object including information for driving a connector to the external system to make a plurality of low-level calls to the external system to perform the high-level function;
the container executing the data object including the information for driving the connector to the external system to drive the connector to make the plurality of low-level calls to the external system; and
the external system executing a plurality of low-level functions as specified by the plurality of low-level calls received from the connector, wherein said executing the plurality of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the external system specified by the high-level function call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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18. A method comprising:
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an application sending to a container a high-level function call corresponding to a high-level function of a system external to the application;
the container mapping the high-level function call to a series of low-level function calls to the external system;
the container driving a connector to the external system to make the series of low-level function calls to the external system; and
the external system executing the series of low-level functions as specified by the series of low-level function calls received from the connector, wherein said executing the series of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the external system corresponding to the high-level function call.
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36. A system comprising:
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an Enterprise Information System (EIS);
an application;
a container, wherein the EIS is external to the container, and wherein the container comprises;
a connector, wherein the connector is configured to provide an interface between low-level functions of the EIS and the application;
an adapter configured to;
receive a high-level function call from the application, wherein the high-level function call specifies a high-level function of the EIS;
map the high-level function call to a series of low-level function calls to the EIS; and
drive the connector to make the series of low-level function calls to the EIS;
wherein the EIS is configured to execute the series of low-level functions in response to the series of low-level function calls, wherein said executing the series of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the EIS specified by the high-level function call.
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51. A system comprising:
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an Enterprise Information System (EIS);
an application;
a container, wherein the EIS is external to the container, and wherein the container comprises;
a connector, wherein the connector is configured to provide an interface between low-level functions of the EIS and the application;
means for receiving a high-level function call from the application;
means for mapping the high-level function call to a series of low-level function calls to the EIS; and
means for driving the connector to make the series of low-level function calls to the EIS;
wherein the EIS is configured to execute the series of low-level functions in response to the series of low-level function calls, wherein said executing the series of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the EIS. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A metadata-aware adapter for a connector to an Enterprise Information System (EIS), configured to:
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receive a high-level function call for a high-level functions of the EIS;
map the high-level function call to a series of low-level function calls to the EIS; and
drive the connector to make the series of low-level function calls to the EIS;
wherein the EIS is configured to execute the series of low-level functions in response to the series of low-level function calls, wherein said executing the series of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the EIS. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A carrier medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:
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an application sending to a container a high-level function call corresponding to a high-level function of a system external to the application;
the container mapping the high-level function call to a series of low-level function calls to the external system;
the container causing a connector to the external system comprised in the container to make the series of low-level function calls to the external system; and
the external system executing the series of low-level functions as specified by the series of low-level function calls received from the connector, wherein said executing the series of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the external system corresponding to the high-level function call. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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Specification