Technique of dynamically adding functionality from a client to manipulated data at a server

• US 5,963,947 A
• Filed: 01/27/1998
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lehman, Tobin Jon, Ford, Daniel Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US09/013,768
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/3, 707/9, 707/103, 395/200.33, 395/200.38, 395/200.49, 395/200.58, 395/683, 395/200.31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/449 Object-oriented method invocation or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for dynamically adding functionality to a server. A first operator is received at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that new functionality is to be added to the server. A first handler is located for the first operator. The first handler is executed in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(b) locating a first handler for the first operator; and

(c) executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

2. The method of claim 1 above, wherein the step of locating the first handler further comprises the step of locating the first handler by searching an operator registry using the first operator.

3. The method of claim 1 above, wherein the server accepts one or more operators and the operators are organized in one or more families.

4. The method of claim 1 above, wherein each of the operators includes zero or more parameters.

5. The method of claim 4 above, wherein the second operator includes one or more parameters selected from a group comprising an identification of the second operator and an implementation of the second handler.

6. The method of claim 1 above, further comprising the steps of:

(d) receiving the second operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the second operator indicates that the new functionality is to be executed by the server;

(e) locating the second handler for the second operator; and

(f) executing the second handler in the server, wherein the second handler performs the new functionality.

7. The method of claim 6 above, wherein the step of executing the second handler further comprises the step of interacting with a database stored on the server.

8. The method of claim 7 above, wherein the database is a tuplespace.

9. The method of claim 6 above, wherein the step of executing the second handler further comprises the step of the second handler interacting with a database stored on the server through a database application programming interface.

10. A method for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(b) locating a handler factory for the first operator; and

(c) executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

11. A method for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(b) producing a first handler from a handler factory when the first operator is provided to the handler factory; and

(c) executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

12. A method for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(b) selecting an appropriate implementation of a first handler from a handler factory using one or more criteria selected from a group comprising the first operator, a tuple, a client identifier, and an access control privilege; and

(c) executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

13. A method for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(b) selecting an appropriate implementation of a first handler from a handler factory using one or more criteria selected from a group comprising the first operator, a tuple, a client identifier, and an access control privilege, wherein each family of operators has a handler factory; and

(c) executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

14. A computer-implemented apparatus for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising:

(a) a server; and

(b) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(c) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for locating a first handler for the first operator; and

(d) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

15. The computer-implemented apparatus of claim 14 above, wherein the means of locating the first handler further comprises one or more instructions, performed by the server for locating the first handler by searching an operator registry using the first operator.

16. The computer-implemented apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of the operators includes zero or more parameters.

17. The computer-implemented apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second operator includes one or more parameters selected from a group comprising an identification of the second operator and an implementation of the second handler.

18. The computer-implemented apparatus of claim 14, further comprising the means of:

(d) one or more instructions, performed by the server for receiving the second operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the second operator indicates that the new functionality is to be executed by the server;

(e) one or more instructions, performed by the server for locating the second handler for the second operator; and

(f) one or more instructions, performed by the server for executing the second handler in the server, wherein the second handler performs the new functionality.

19. The computer-implemented apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means of executing the second handler further comprises one or more instructions, performed by the server for interacting with a database stored on the server.

20. The computer-implemented apparatus of claim 19, wherein the database is a tuplespace.

21. The computer-implemented apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means of executing the second handler further comprises one or more instructions, performed by the server for interacting the second handler with a database stored on the server through a database application programming interface.

22. An article of manufacture comprising a carrier tangibly embodying one or more instructions that when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform a method for dynamically adding functionality to a server, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(b) locating a first handler for the first operator; and

(c) executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22 above, wherein the step of locating the first handler further comprises the step of locating the first handler by searching an operator registry using the first operator.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the server accepts one or more operators and the operators are organized in one or more families.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein each of the operators includes zero or more parameters.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein the second operator includes one or more parameters selected from a group comprising an identification of the second operator and an implementation of the second handler.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

(d) receiving the second operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the second operator indicates that the new functionality is to be executed by the server;

(e) locating the second handler for the second operator; and

(f) executing the second handler in the server, wherein the second handler performs the new functionality.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein the step of executing the second handler further comprises the step of interacting with a database stored on the server.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the database is a tuplespace.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the step of executing the second handler further comprises the step of the second handler interacting with a database stored on the server through a database application programming interface.

31. A computer-implemented apparatus for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising:

(a) a server; and

(b) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(c) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for locating a handler factory for the first operator; and

(d) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

32. A computer-implemented apparatus for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising:

(a) a server; and

(b) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(c) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for producing a first handler from a handler factory when the first operator is provided to the handler factory; and

(d) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

33. A computer-implemented apparatus for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising:

(a) a server; and

(b) one or more instructions, performed by the server;

for receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(c) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for selecting an appropriate implementation of the first handler from the handler factory using one or more criteria selected from a group comprising the first operator, a tuple, a client identifier, and an access control privilege; and

(d) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

34. A computer-implemented apparatus for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising:

(a) a server; and

(b) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(c) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for selecting an appropriate implementation of the first handler from the handler factory using one or more criteria selected from a group comprising the first operator, a tuple, a client identifier, and an access control privilege, wherein each family of operators has a handler factory; and

(d) one or more instructions, performed by the server, for executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

35. An article of manufacture for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(b) locating a handler factory for the first operator; and

(c) executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

36. An article of manufacture for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(b) producing a first handler from a handler factory when the first operator is provided to the handler factory; and

(c) executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

37. An article of manufacture for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(b) selecting an appropriate implementation of a first handler from a handler factory using one or more criteria selected from a group comprising the first operator, a tuple, a client identifier, and an access control privilege; and

(c) executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.

38. An article of manufacture for dynamically adding functionality to a server, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first operator at the server from an attached client, wherein the first operator indicates that a new functionality is to be added to the server, wherein the new functionality is used to manipulate data stored in a database at the server;

(b) selecting an appropriate implementation of a first handler from a handler factory using one or more criteria selected from a group comprising the first operator, a tuple, a client identifier, and an access control privilege, wherein each family of operators has a handler factory; and

(c) executing the first handler in the server, wherein the first handler registers a second operator associated with the new functionality and installs a second handler for the second operator to perform the new functionality.