Portable and dynamic distributed applications architecture

• US 5,896,530 A
• Filed: 01/18/1995
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sterling Software, Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: White, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COURTENAY III, ST JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/374,451
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 395/700, 395/671, 395/600, 707/1-5
• US Class Current: 718/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/46 Multiprogramming arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/466 Transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/961 Associative
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 Distributed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system and method is shown for enabling a plurality of computers and associated computer resources, some or all of which my be of heterogeneous configuration, to cooperatively process various application such that the execution is transparent to the user regardless of where the application is actually executing. This distributed applications architecture performs an information distribution service between multiple transaction processing systems by working with a transaction processor via communication channels to other hosts within the network and a dialog manager which uses a transaction processor via communication channels to other hosts within the network and a dialog manager which uses a transaction processor interface to communication with the transaction processor. The architecture employs a map service which provides an editor to create the maps for the application panels, a compiler to generate the maps into a linkable form, and linkable interpreter which translates the linkable form into the screen presentation format for that platform. To distribute an application, the source code for the procedures, views and panels are moved as a block to the new system. This is possible because once the application source code is complete, all application logic, user interface control tables, view definitions, and other application specific tables for one transaction definition are packaged by the present invention in a single load module on the system where the application will reside. The load module is then compiled using the target system'"'"'s compiler, link editor, and bind process. Thus, all environment-dependant variation of import/export are automatically integrated with the application at load module bind time, requiring no source code changes.

Claims

1. A computer-accessible medium storing a global transaction information table for use by a dialog flow manager when processing a transaction, the global transaction information table comprising:

an overhead containing a plurality of pointers as well as containing a plurality of fields for designating information about said transaction;

at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction panel entries table;

at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction language entries table; and

at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction procedure entries table.

2. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, said plurality of fields further comprising:

an application identification field;

a release number field;

a time field for indicating generations time for this global transaction information table;

a data field for indicating generation date for this global transaction information table;

a documentation report name field;

a documentation generation name field;

a transaction panel entries field for designating the number of entries in said transaction panel entries table;

a transaction language entries field for designating the number of entries in said transaction language entries table; and

a transaction procedure entries field for designating the number of entries in said transaction procedure entries table.

3. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction panel list, further comprising:

a pointer pointing to a menu entry in said transaction panel entries table;

a pointer pointing to a help entry in said transaction panel entries table;

a pointer pointing to a glossary entry in said transaction panel entries table; and

a pointer pointing to a first entry in said transaction panel entries table.

4. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction language entries table is pointing to a first entry in said transaction language entries table.

5. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction procedure entries table is pointing to a first entry in said transaction procedure entries table.

6. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein said transaction processing entries table further comprises:

a plurality of pointers;

a plurality of fields for designating information about said transaction;

at least one of said plurality of transaction panel entries pointers pointing to panel map data for said transaction;

at least one of said plurality of transaction panel entries pointers pointing to transaction menu entries table; and

at least one of said plurality of transaction panel entries table pointers pointing to said transaction procedure entries table.

7. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein said transaction procedure entries table is an array of transaction procedure entries each describing a single application-supplied procedure, the combination of which includes all procedures required for the processing of an application.

8. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein said transaction language entries table is an array of transaction language entries each describing a language in which documentation is available.

9. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein said transaction processing entries table is an array of transaction processing entries, each describing a single transaction panel, the combination of which includes all panels needed for a particular transaction.

10. The computer-accessible medium of claim 3, wherein said transaction procedure entries table is an array of transaction procedure entries each describing a single application-supplied procedure, the combination of which includes all procedures required for the processing of an application.

11. The computer-accessible medium of claim 3, wherein said at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction language entries table is pointing to a first entry in said transaction language entries table.

12. The computer-accessible medium of claim 3, wherein said at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction procedure entries table is pointing to a first entry in said transaction procedure entries table.

13. The computer-accessible medium of claim 6, wherein said plurality of fields of said transaction panel entries table further comprises:

a panel name field;

one of said plurality of transaction panel entries pointers pointing to an input transaction procedure entry for said transaction;

one of said plurality of transaction panel entries pointers pointing to an output transaction procedure entry for said transaction;

one of said plurality of transaction panel entry pointers pointing to a help table;

a transaction menu entries field for designating the number of transaction menu entries for said single transaction panel, if it is a menu panel; and

one of said plurality of transaction panel entries pointers pointing to a first entry in said transaction menu entries table for said panel, if it is a menu panel.

14. The computer-accessible medium of claim 6, wherein said transaction procedure entries table is an array of transaction procedure entries each describing a single application-supplied procedure, the combination of which includes all procedures required for the processing of an application.

15. The computer-accessible medium of claim 7, wherein said transaction procedure entries table further comprises:

a plurality of fields;

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a pointer pointing to a view map object header;

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a character describing a data base type for said procedure entry; and

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a pointer pointing to an entry location of said application supplied procedure.

16. The computer-accessible medium of claim 8, wherein acid array of transaction language entries further comprises:

a plurality of fields;

one of said plurality of fields is a language name field;

one of said plurality of fields is a documentation report name field; and

one of said plurality of fields is a documentation generation name field.

17. The computer-accessible medium of claim 9, wherein said transaction procedure entries table is an array of transaction procedure entries each describing a single application-supplied procedure, the combination of which includes all procedures required for the processing of an application.

18. The computer-accessible medium of claim 9, wherein said at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction panel list further comprises:

a pointer pointing to a menu entry in said transaction panel entries table;

a pointer pointing to a help entry in said transaction panel entries table;

a pointer pointing to a glossary entry in said transaction panel entries table; and

a pointer pointing to a first entry in said transaction panel entries table.

19. The computer-accessible medium of claim 9, wherein said at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction language entries table is pointing to a first entry in said transaction language entries table.

20. The computer-accessible medium of claim 9, wherein said at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction procedure entries table is pointing to a first entry in said transaction procedure entries table.

21. The computer-accessible medium of claim 9, wherein said transaction processing entries table further comprises:

a plurality of pointers;

a plurality of fields for designating information about said transaction;

at least one of said plurality of transaction panel entries pointers pointing to panel map data for said single transaction panel;

at least one of said plurality of transaction panel entries pointers pointing to a transaction menu entries table; and

at least one of said plurality of transaction panel entries table pointers pointing to said transaction procedure entries table.

22. The computer-accessible medium of claim 10, wherein said transaction procedure entries table further comprises:

a plurality of fields;

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a pointer pointing to a view map object header;

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a character describing a data base type for said procedure entry; and

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a pointer pointing to an entry location of said application-supplied procedure.

23. The computer-accessible medium of claim 14, wherein said transaction procedure entries table further comprises:

a plurality of fields;

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a pointer pointing to a view map object header;

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a character describing a data base type for said procedure entry; and

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a pointer pointing to an entry location of said application-supplied procedure.

24. The computer-accessible medium of claim 15, wherein said plurality of fields for said transaction procedure entries table further comprises:

a pointer to an input view within said view map object header;

a pointer to an output view within said view map object header; and

a pointer to a profile view within said view map object header.

25. The computer-accessible medium of claim 17, wherein said transaction procedure entries table further comprises:

a plurality of fields;

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a pointer pointing to a view map object header;

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a character describing a data base type for said procedure entry; and

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a pointer pointing to an entry location of said application-supplied procedure.

26. The computer-accessible medium of claim 18, wherein said at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction language entries table is pointing to a first entry in said transaction language entries table.

27. The computer-accessible medium of claim 18, wherein said at least one of said plurality of pointers pointing to an entry in a transaction procedure entries table is pointing to a first entry in said transaction procedure entries table.

28. The computer-accessible medium of claim 18, wherein said transaction procedure entries table is an array of transaction procedure entries each describing a single application-supplied procedure, the combination of which includes all procedures required for the processing of an application.

29. The computer-accessible medium of claim 21, wherein said transaction menu entries table is an array of transaction menu entries each describing a single menu entry.

30. The computer-accessible medium of claim 21, wherein said plurality of fields of said transaction panel entries table further comprises:

a panel name field;

one of said plurality of transaction panel entries pointers pointing to an input transaction procedure entry for said single transaction panel;

one of said plurality of transaction panel entries pointers pointing to an output transaction procedure entry for said single transaction panel;

one of said plurality of transaction panel entry pointers pointing to a help table;

a transaction menu entries field for designating the number of transaction menu entries for said single transaction panel, if it is a menu panel; and

one of said plurality of transaction panel entries pointers pointing to a first entry in said transaction menu entries table for said panel, if it is a menu panel.

31. The computer-accessible medium of claim 21, wherein said transaction procedure entries table is an array of transaction procedure entries each describing a single application-supplied procedure, the combination of which includes all procedures required for the processing of an application.

32. The computer-accessible medium of claim 22, wherein said plurality of fields for said transaction procedure entries table further comprises:

a pointer to an input view within said view map object header;

a pointer to an output view within said view map object header; and

a pointer to a profile view within said view map object header.

33. The computer-accessible medium of claim 22, wherein said view map object header includes a plurality of fields containing static information about each view necessary to complete a panel.

34. The computer-accessible medium of claim 23, wherein said plurality of fields for said transaction procedure entries table further comprises:

a pointer to an input view within said view map object header;

a pointer to an output view within said view map object header; and

a pointer to a profile view within said view map object header.

35. The computer-accessible medium of claim 23, wherein said view map object header includes a plurality of fields containing static information about each view necessary to complete a panel.

36. The computer-accessible medium of claim 25, wherein said plurality of fields for said transaction procedure entries table further comprises:

a pointer to an input view within said view map object header;

a pointer to an output view within said view map object header; and

a pointer to a profile view within said view map object header.

37. The computer-accessible medium of claim 25, wherein said view map object header includes a plurality of fields containing static information about each view necessary to complete a panel.

38. The computer-accessible medium of claim 28, wherein said transaction procedure entries table further comprises:

a plurality of fields;

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a pointer pointing to a view map object header;

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a character describing a data base type for said procedure entry; and

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a pointer pointing to an entry location of said application-supplied procedure.

39. The computer-accessible medium of claim 29, wherein said array of transaction menu entries further comprises:

a plurality of fields;

one of said plurality of fields contains a selection code for said single menu entry;

one of said plurality of fields contains a pointer to a transaction panel entry to be used for said selection code;

one of said plurality of fields contains a pointer to a transaction procedure entry to be used to said selection code; and

one of said plurality of fields contains a description of said single menu entry.

40. The computer-accessible medium of claim 31, wherein said transaction procedure entries table further comprises:

a plurality of fields;

at least one of said plurality of fields containing a pointer pointing to a view map object header;

at leant one of said plurality of fields containing a character describing a data base type for said procedure entry; and

at leant one of said plurality of fields containing a pointer pointing to an entry location of said application-supplied procedure.

41. The computer-accessible medium of claim 31, wherein said view map object header includes a plurality of fields containing static information about each view necessary to complete a panel.

42. The computer-accessible medium of claim 33, wherein said plurality of fields further comprises:

an application name field;

a view name field;

a time field designating compile time of a particular view;

a date field designating compile data of said particular view;

a version field;

a view format field;

a view map object field array designating how many view map object field entries are associated with said particular view; and

compile date of said field designating how many are associated with said a pointer to said particular view'"'"'s view map object field array.

43. The computer-accessible medium of claim 35, wherein said plurality of fields further comprises:

an application name field;

a view name field;

time field designating compile time of a particular view;

a date field designating compile data of said particular view;

a version field;

a view format field;

a view map object field array designating how many view map object field entries are associated with said particular view; and

a pointer to said particular view'"'"'s view map object field array.

44. The computer-accessible medium of claim 37, wherein said plurality of fields further comprises:

an application name field;

a view name field;

a time field designating compile time of a particular view;

a date field designating compile data of said particular view;

a version field;

a view format field;

a view map object field array designating how many view map object field entries are associated with said particular view; and

a pointer to said particular view'"'"'s view map object field array.

45. The computer-accessible medium of claim 38, wherein said plurality of fields for said transaction procedure entries table further comprises:

a pointer to an input view within said view map object header;

a pointer to an output view within said view map object header; and

a pointer to a profile view within said view map object header.

46. The computer-accessible medium of claim 38, wherein said view map object header includes a plurality of fields containing static information about each view necessary to complete a panel.

47. The computer-accessible medium of claim 40, wherein said plurality of fields for said transaction procedure entries table further comprises:

a pointer to an input view within said view map object header;

a pointer to an output view within said view map object header; and

a pointer to a profile view within said view map object header.

48. The computer-accessible medium of claim 40, wherein said View map object header includes a plurality of fields containing static information about each view necessary to complete a panel.

49. The computer-accessible medium of claim 41, wherein said plurality of fields further comprises:

an application name field;

a view name field;

a time field designating compile time of a particular view;

a date field designating compile data of said particular view;

a view format field;

a view map object field array designating how many view map object field entries are associated with said particular view; and

a pointer to said particular view'"'"'s view map object field array.

50. The computer-accessible medium of claim 46, wherein said plurality of fields further comprises:

an application name field;

a view name field;

a time field designating compile time of a particular view;

a date field designating compile data of said particular view;

a version field;

a view format field;

a view map object field array designating how many view map object field entries are associated with said particular view; and

a pointer to said particular view'"'"'s view map object field array.

51. The computer-accessible medium of claim 48, wherein said plurality of fields further comprises:

an application name field;

a view name field;

a time field designating compile time of a particular view;

a date field designating compile data of said particular view;

a version field;

a view format field;

a view map object field array designating how many view map object field entries are associated with said particular view; and

a pointer to said particular view'"'"'s view map object field array.

52. The computer-accessible medium of claim 51, wherein said view map object field array further comprising:

a displacement of a data element in a transaction view work area;

a length of said data element;

an indicator representing the number of occurrence for said data element; and

a data element type indicator.

53. The computer-accessible medium of claim 52, wherein said data element type indicator indicates whether the data element is binary, character, signed, unsigned, small, short, long, hyper, unsigned small, unsigned short, unsigned long, unsigned hyper, single or double.

54. A transaction load module which is treated as an indivisible unit by a transaction processing system thereby ensuring load module integrity and synchronous installation of all components of a transaction, comprising:

a global transaction information table having a table of referenced internal procedures, a table of referenced external procedures, an input view associated with each of said internal procedures, an input view associated with each of said external procedures, an output view associated with each of said internal procedures, an output view associated with each of said external procedures, a profile view associated with each of said internal procedures, a profile view associated with each of said external procedures, a table of all referenced panels, a refresh procedure associated with each referenced panel, and an input procedure associated with each referenced panel;

views associated with a specific transaction;

panels associated with a specific transaction;

transaction procedures;

a set of resources used in conjunction with said transaction procedures; and

a working storage for processing said specific transaction in light of said views, panels, procedures and resources;

said table, views, panels, procedures, set of resources, and working storage being combined within in one load module.