Technique for aggregate transaction scope across multiple independent web requests

• US 6,209,038 B1
• Filed: 01/13/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bowen, Nicholas S., Riggs, Nancy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Viet D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, JAGDISH
• Application Number:
  US09/231,080
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 709/237, 709/248, 709/238
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1027 Persistence of sessions during load balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms

Abstract

The invention is a method for coordinating actions among a server supporting multiple independent client server requests and participating clients making multiple independent web requests. The requests are communicated between the client and the server using a protocol that has limited or no defined procedures for passing state information between the client and the servers. A client transmits a request for a first action to a server that requires transaction scope. The server generates transaction identification information and maintains it across the duration of multiple independent and state-less web requests. The client then transmits a request for a additional actions to the server that requires transaction scope, using the transaction identification information preserved in the conversation and maintained by the servers including the client'"'"'s request in the transaction and transmitting a request by a client to a server that requires transaction completion.

Claims

1. A method for processing transactions in a network of communicating client and server devices, said devices communicating in a non-session oriented client-server manner using a protocol with limited or no defined procedures to pass state information between client devices and server devices, said method comprises the steps of:

a. communicating a plurality of independent requests for resources and actions requiring a transaction scope from a client device to a server device;

b. generating and maintaining transaction identification information on said server device;

c. aggregating each of said independent requests in a transaction, said transaction characterized by said transaction identification information;

d. identifying at least one individual co-dependent resource server for accomplishing said transaction,

e. wherein for each independent request, said aggregating step including;

establishing execution process at said server device adapted to interface with an identified resource server, and associating each execution process with said transaction scope; and

,

f. implementing common commit coordinator for coordinating communication between each of said individual resource servers and said server device regarding commitment of said resources and actions, whereby said communication is accomplished independently of said established execution process.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

g. reserving individual resource servers required to perform said transaction;

h. creating a transaction identifier to indicate whether said transaction should be committed;

i. executing said independent requests including at least one of said individual resource servers; and

j. communicating said requested resources and completion of said actions from said server device to said client device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said transaction identification information includes a predetermined time period for performance of said transaction requested by said client device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (i) is performed at said predetermined time period for said transaction requested by said client device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said server devices authenticate each of said plurality of independent requests for being communicated from authorized client devices.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein in step (b) said transaction identification information is generated after receiving a first of said independent requests and maintained for duration of said plurality of independent requests.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said execution process includes implementing a CGI.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said execution process includes implementing an ICAPI.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising steps of:

g. reserving individual resource servers required to perform said transaction;

h. creating a transaction identifier to indicate whether said transaction should be committed;

i. executing said independent requests including at least one of said individual resource servers; and

j. communicating said requested resources and completion of said actions from said server device to said client device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said transaction identification information includes a predetermined time period for performance of said transaction requested by said client device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein step (i) is performed at said predetermined time period for said transaction requested by said client device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said server devices authenticate each of said plurality of independent requests for being communicated from authorized client devices.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein in step (b) said transaction identification information is generated after receiving a first of said independent requests and maintained for duration of said plurality of independent requests.

15. The computer program device readable by a machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said execution process includes implementing a CGI.

9. A computer program device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for processing transactions in a network of communicating devices, said devices communicating in a non-session oriented client-server manner using a protocol with limited or no defined procedures to pass state information between client devices and server devices, said method comprises the steps of:

a. communicating a plurality of independent requests for resources and actions requiring a transaction scope from a client device to a server;

b. generating and maintaining transaction identification information on said server device;

c. aggregating each of said independent requests in a transaction, said transaction characterized by said transaction identification information; and

d. identifying at least one individual resource server to be co-dependent in accomplishing said transaction.

e. wherein for each independent request, said aggregating step including;

establishing execution process at said server device adapted to interface with an identified resource server, and associating each execution process with said transaction scope; and

,

f. implementing common commit coordinator for coordinating communication between each of said individual resource servers and said server device regarding commitment of said resources and actions, whereby said communication is accomplished independently of said established execution process.

16. The computer program device readable by a machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein said execution process includes implementing an ICAPI.