Composable messaging protocol

• US 20030074482A1
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Layman, Andrew I., Shewchuk, John P., Kaler, Christopher G., Nielsen, Henrik Frystyk, Wahbe, Robert S., Lucco, Steven E., Lovering, Bradford H., Christensen, Erik B.
• Application Number:
  US09/983,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20030074482A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/313
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/34 Source routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/566 Routing instructions carried by the data packet, e.g. active networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/03 Protocol definition or specification protocol conformance testing H04L1/244

Abstract

Methods and systems for using a compensable network messaging protocol are disclosed. A complete set of attributes and characteristics of a messaging protocol are broken down into independent pieces, or protocolettes. When a network application sends a message across the network, the network application selects the set of services that are needed for that specific message (e.g., reliability). A code generator composes a messaging protocol using the preconstructed protocolettes, based on the network application'"'"'s needs and/or request. The message is forwarded to a router, which transmits the message using the uniquely composed messaging protocol for delivery to the recipient(s).

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a message using a composable messaging protocol, comprising the steps of:

(i) receiving message data comprising characteristic information that indicates a selected set of delivery characteristics for a message;

(ii) selecting code modules based on the received characteristics;

(iii) composing a message protocol comprising the selected code modules; and

(iv) sending the message using the constructed message protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each code module provides a service associated with at least one of the selected attributes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, in steps (ii) and (iii), each selected code module comprises source code written in a Java-based language.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, in steps (ii) and (iii), each selected code module comprises a data link library.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step (ii), modules are selected that perform the selected attributes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step (ii), the selected code modules comprise a sessions code module that indicates whether the message is sent using packets or streams.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step (ii), the selected code modules comprise a reliability code module that ensures that packets are received by the recipient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step (ii), the selected code modules comprise a referrals code module that, when a message is forwarded to another node, informs a sending node of the machine to which the message was forwarded.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step (ii), the selected code modules comprise a referrals code module that performs progressive discovery.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step (ii), the selected code modules comprise a capabilities code module that performs capability discovery as the message progresses from sender to recipient.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step (ii), the selected code modules comprise a security code module that performs at least one of integrity, encryption, and authentication.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step (ii), the selected code modules comprise a transport code module that specifies a message transport protocol.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step (ii), the selected code modules comprise a bindings code module that specifies whether the message is sent in text or binary format.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein the data link library comprises URT technology.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein step (i) comprises receiving the message data from a code generator.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step (i), the received message data is based on user input.

17. A data processing system for transmitting messages, comprising:

a plurality of code modules that each provide a messaging service;

a module selector to dynamically select at least one code module based on input attributes which represent desired communication characteristics; and

a message sender to send messages using a messaging protocol comprising the selected code module(s).

18. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein each code module comprises source code written in a Java-based language.

19. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein each code module comprises a data link library.

20. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the module selector selects code modules that perform the desired communications characteristics.

21. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the at least one code module comprises a sessions code module that indicates whether the message is transmitted using packets or streams.

22. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the at least one code module comprises a reliability code module that ensures that packets are received by the recipient.

23. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the at least one code module comprises a referrals code module that, when a message is forwarded to another node, informs a sending node of the machine to which the message was forwarded.

24. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the at least one code module comprises a referrals code module that performs progressive discovery.

25. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the at least one code module comprises a capabilities code module that performs capability discovery as the message progresses from sender to recipient.

26. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the at least one code module comprises a security code module that performs at least one of integrity, encryption, and authentication.

27. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the at least one code module comprises a transport code module that specifies a message transport protocol.

28. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the at least one code module comprises a bindings code module that specifies whether the message is sent in text or binary format.

29. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the data link library comprises URT technology.

30. A computer readable medium comprising:

a plurality of code modules that each provide a messaging service;

computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a data processing system to perform the steps of;

(i) selecting at least one code module based on input attributes which represent desired communication characteristics; and

(ii) sending a message using a messaging protocol comprising the selected code module(s).

31. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein each code module comprises source code written in a Java-based language.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein each code module comprises a data link library.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein, in step (i), code modules that perform the desired communication characteristics are selected.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one code module comprises a sessions code module that indicates whether the message is transmitted using packets or streams.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one code module comprises a reliability code module that ensures that packets are received by the recipient.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one code module comprises a referrals code module that, when a message is forwarded to another node, informs a sending node of the machine to which the message was forwarded.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one code module comprises a referrals code module that performs progressive discovery.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one code module comprises a capabilities code module that performs capability discovery as the message progresses from sender to recipient.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one code module comprises a security code module that performs at least one of integrity, encryption, and authentication.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one code module comprises a transport code module that specifies a message transport protocol.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one code module comprises a bindings code module that specifies whether the message is sent in text or binary format.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the data link library comprises URT technology.