Generating results gates in a distributed computing environment

• US 7,016,966 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2000
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Slaughter, Gregory L., Abdelaziz, Mohamed M., Saulpaugh, Thomas E., Traversat, Bernard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, WEN TAI
• Application Number:
  US09/693,681
• Time in Patent Office: 1,979 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 709217-219, 709/231, 709/230, 719/315, 719/316, 707/103
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

Embodiments of a mechanism for providing results gates to clients in the distributed computing environment to be used by the clients to access results generated by services on behalf of the clients. A client generates a request message for a service. The request message is generated by a client method gate. The service then generates results in response to the message. A results gate is generated for accessing the results. A gate on the client generates the results gate. The results are then accessed through the results gate. The results are structured as an object (e.g. Java object), and the results gate an object proxy for the results object. The results gate is returned to the process as results of the method call made by the process. In one embodiment, the results gate is a method gate and provides a method interface to the results.

Claims

1. A method for accessing results data in a distributed computing environment, comprising:

a client sending a first message in a data representation language to a service accessible through the distributed computing environment, wherein the client comprises a client message gate and wherein said sending a first message comprises the client message gate sending the first message to the service;

wherein the first message includes information representing a computer programming language method call, wherein the service comprises one or more computer programming language methods executable within the service, and wherein one of the methods executable within the service corresponds to the method call included in the first message;

wherein the client message gate comprises a client method gate, wherein said sending a first message comprises;

the client method gate receiving the computer programming language method call from a first process executing within the client; and

the client method gate generating the first message for the first process;

the service generating first results in response to the first message;

the client method gate receiving a second message in the data representation language in response to said generating first results;

generating a first results gate configured to provide an interface to the first results through messages in the data representation language, wherein the first results gate is distinct from the client message gate, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client method gate in response to said receiving a second message; and

the client accessing the first results through the first results gate.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client comprises a client process, wherein said sending a first message comprises:

the client message gate receiving from the client process a request for the service to perform a function on behalf of the client process; and

the client message gate sending the first message to the service in response to said receiving a request.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client gate.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising the client gate attaching an authentication credential to the first message prior to said sending the first message, wherein the authentication credential identifies the client.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the first results gate is configured to attach the authentication credential to outgoing messages.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

providing the first results gate to the client process as results of the function.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first message includes information requesting the service to perform a function, and wherein said generating first results comprises:

the service performing the function; and

generating the first results as output of said performing the function.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the client comprises a client process, the method further comprising:

the service storing the first results;

wherein said generating a first results gate comprises the client message gate receiving a second message in the data representation language, wherein the second message includes an address of the stored first results; and

wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client message gate in accordance with information for generating the first results gate obtained through the address.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the service is comprised on a first device, wherein the first device further comprises a space service, and wherein the service storing the first results comprises the service storing the first results to the space service.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the service is comprised on a first device, wherein the service storing the first results comprises the service storing the first results to a space service in the distributed computing environment and external to the first device.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the client message gate receiving a second message in the data representation language from the service subsequent to said generating the first results, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client message gate in response to said receiving a second message.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the client message gate providing information for accessing the first results through the first results gate to the client process.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a client process executing within the client generating the method call;

wherein said sending a first message, said generating first results, and said generating a first results gate are performed without client process intervention.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said generating results comprises:

the service executing a computer programming language method in accordance with the information representing the computer programming language method call included in the first message; and

generating the first results as output of said executing a method.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

the service storing the first results;

wherein said generating a first results gate comprises the client method gate receiving a second message in the data representation language, wherein the second message includes an address of the stored first results, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client method gate in accordance with information for generating the first results gate obtained through the address.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the service is comprised on a first device, wherein the first device further comprises a space service, and wherein the service storing the first results comprises the service storing the first results to the space service.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the service is comprised on a first device, wherein the service storing the first results comprises the service storing the first results on a space service in the distributed computing environment and external to the first device.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the client method gate providing information for accessing the first results through the first results gate to the first process.

19. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first results is comprised in a first computer programming language results object, wherein the first computer programming language results object further comprises one or more computer programming language access methods for accessing the first results, wherein the one or more access methods are invokable through one or more computer programming language access method calls, and wherein said accessing the first results through the first results gate comprises:

the first results gate receiving from a first process executing within the client a first access method call of the one or more access method calls, wherein the first access method call is associated with a first access method of the one or more access methods;

the first results gate sending a second message in the data representation language to a second results gate, wherein the second message includes a data representation language representation of the first access method call; and

the second results gate invoking the first access method in accordance with the representation of the first access method call included in the second message.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

the second results gate sending a third message in the data representation language to the first results gate, wherein the third message includes first access method results; and

the first results gate providing the first access method results to the first process.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the first access method results includes the first results.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein said providing the first access method results to the first process comprises generating a third results gate configured to provide an interface to the first access method results through messages in the data representation language.

23. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said accessing the first results through the first results gate comprises:

the first results gate receiving from a first process executing within the client a first computer programming language method call, wherein the first computer programming language method call is associated with a first method for accessing the first results;

the first results gate sending a second message in the data representation language to a second results gate in response to receiving the first computer programming language method call, wherein the second message includes a request for the first results; and

the second results gate sending a third message in the data representation language to the first results gate, wherein the third message includes the requested first results.

24. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client is executing within a virtual machine, wherein the virtual machine is executing within a client device in the distributed computing environment.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the virtual machine is a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

26. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data representation language is eXtensible Markup Language (XML).

27. A distributed computing system comprising:

a service device configured to generate results for clients of the service device;

a client device configured to send a first message in a data representation language to the service device, wherein the client device comprises a client gate unit and wherein said the client gate unit sends the first message to the service, wherein the client device comprises a client process and a client message gate, and wherein the first message includes information requesting the service device to perform a function on behalf of the client device;

wherein the service device is further configured to generate first results in response to the first message;

wherein, in said generating first results, the service device is further configured to;

performing the function; and

generate the first results as output of said performing the function;

wherein the service device is further configured to store the first results;

wherein the client message gate is configured to receive a second message in the data representation language, wherein the second message includes an address of the stored first results;

wherein the client device is further configured to;

generate a first results gate configured to provide an interface to the first results through messages in the data representation language, wherein the first results gate is distinct from the client gate unit, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client message gate for the client device in accordance with information for generating the first results gate obtained through the address; and

access the first results through the first results gate.

28. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the client device comprises a client process, wherein, in said sending a first message, the client gate unit is configured to:

receive from the client process a request for the service device to perform a function on behalf of the client process;

send the first message to the service device in response to said receiving a request; and

provide the first results gate to the client process as results of the function.

29. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client gate unit.

30. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein the client gate unit is further configured to attach an authentication credential to the first message prior to said sending the first message, wherein the authentication credential identifies the client process, wherein the first results gate is configured to attach the authentication credential to outgoing messages.

31. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the service device comprises a space service, and wherein the service device storing the first results comprises the service storing the first results to the space service.

32. The system as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

a space device comprising a space service;

wherein, in said storing the first results, the service device is further configured to store the first results to the space service.

33. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the client message gate is further configured to receive a second message in the data representation language from the service subsequent to said generating the first results, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client message gate in response to said receiving a second message.

34. The system as recited in claim 33, wherein the client message gate is further configured to provide information for accessing the first results through the first results gate to the client process.

35. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the first message includes information representing a computer programming language method call, wherein the service device comprises one or more computer programming language methods executable within the service device and wherein one of the methods executable within the service device corresponds to the method call included in the first message.

36. The system as recited in claim 35,

wherein the client device comprises a client process configured to generate the method call;

wherein said sending a first message, said generating first results, and said generating a first results gate are performed without client process intervention.

37. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein, in said generating results, the service device is further configured to:

execute a computer programming language method in accordance with the information representing the computer programming language method call included in the first message; and

wherein the first results are generated as output of said executing a method.

38. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein the client device comprises a client method gate, wherein, in said sending a first message, the client method gate is configured to:

receive the computer programming language method call from a first process executable within the client device; and

generate the first message for the first process.

39. The system as recited in claim 38,

wherein the service device is further configured to store the first results;

wherein, in said generating a first results gate, the client method gate is further configured to;

receive a second message in the data representation language, wherein the second message includes an address of the stored first results; and

generate the first results gate in accordance with information for generating the first results gate obtained through the address.

40. The system as recited in claim 39, wherein the service device further comprises a space service, and wherein, in said storing the first results, the service device is further configured to store the first results to the space service.

41. The system as recited in claim 39, further comprising:

a space device comprising a space service;

wherein, in said storing the first results, the service device is further configured to store the first results to the space service.

42. The system as recited in claim 38, wherein the client method gate is further configured to receive a second message in the data representation language from the service in response to said generating first results, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client method gate in response to said receiving a second message.

43. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the client method gate is further configured to provide information for accessing the first results through the first results gate to the first process.

44. The system as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

a second results gate;

wherein the first results is comprised in a first computer programming language results object, wherein the first computer programming language results object further comprises one or more computer programming language access methods for accessing the first results, wherein the one or more access methods are invokable through one or more computer programming language access method calls;

wherein, in said accessing the first results, the first results gate is configured to;

receive from a first process executing within the client device a first access method call of the one or more access method calls, wherein the first access method call is associated with a first access method of the one or more access methods;

send a second message in the data representation language to the second results gate, wherein the second message includes a data representation language representation of the first access method call; and

wherein the second results gate is configured to invoke the first access method in accordance with the representation of the first access method call included in the second message.

45. The system as recited in claim 44,

wherein the second results gate is further configured to send a third message in the data representation language to the first results gate, wherein the third message includes first access method results;

and

wherein the first results gate is further configured to provide the first access method results to the first process.

46. The system as recited in claim 45,

wherein, in said providing the first access method results to the first process, the first results gate is further configured to generate a third results gate;

wherein the third results gate is configured to provide an interface to the first access method results through messages in the data representation language.

47. The system as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

a second results gate;

wherein, in said accessing the first results through the first results gate, the first results gate is further configured to;

receive from a first process executing within the client a first computer programming language method call, wherein the first computer programming language method call is associated with a first method for accessing the first results; and

send a second message in the data representation language to the second results gate in response to receiving the first computer programming language method call, wherein the second message includes a request for the first results; and

wherein the second results gate is configured to send a third message in the data representation language to the first results gate, wherein the third message includes the requested first results.

48. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the client device comprises a virtual machine, and wherein said send a first message, generate a first results gate, and access the first results through the first results gate are performed within the virtual machine execution environment.

49. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein the virtual machine is a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

50. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the data representation language is eXtensible Markup Language (XML).

51. A device comprising:

a first gate unit configured to

send a first message in a data representation language to a service accessible through a distributed computing environment, wherein the service is operable to generate first results in response to the first message;

wherein, in said sending a first message, the first gate unit is further configured to;

receive the computer programming language method call from the client component; and

generate the first message for the client component;

generate a first results gate, wherein the first results gate is configured to provide an interface to the first results through messages in the data representation language; and

wherein the first gate unit is further configured to receive a second message in the data representation language from the service, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the first gate unit in response to said receiving a second message; and

a client component configured to access the first results through the first results gate.

52. The device as recited in claim 51, wherein said sending a first message and said generating a first results gate are performed without client component intervention.

53. The device as recited in claim 51, wherein, in said sending a first message, the first gate unit is further configured to:

receive a request for the service to perform the function from the client component, wherein the first message includes information requesting the service to perform the function on behalf of the client component, and wherein the service generates the first results as output of performing the function; and

send the first message to the service in response to said receiving a request.

54. The device as recited in claim 53,

wherein, in said generating a first results gate, the first gate unit is further configured to receive a second message in the data representation language, wherein the second message includes an address of the first results;

wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the first gate unit in accordance with information for generating the first results gate obtained through the address.

55. The device as recited in claim 53, wherein the first gate unit is further configured to receive a second message in the data representation language from the service, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the first gate unit in response to said receiving a second message.

56. The device as recited in claim 55, wherein the first gate unit is further configured to provide information for accessing the first results through the first results gate to the client component.

57. The device as recited in claim 51, wherein the first message includes information representing a computer programming language method call, wherein the service comprises one or more computer programming language methods, and wherein one of the methods corresponds to the method call included in the first message.

58. The device as recited in claim 51, wherein the first results are generated as output of the method corresponding to the method call included in the first message.

59. The device as recited in claim 51, wherein, in said generating a first results gate, the first gate unit is further configured to:

receive a second message in the data representation language, wherein the second message includes an address of the first results; and

generate the first results gate in accordance with information for generating the first results gate obtained through the address.

60. The device as recited in claim 51, wherein the first gate unit is further configured to provide information for accessing the first results through the first results gate to the client component.

61. The device as recited in claim 51,

wherein the first results is comprised in a first computer programming language results object, wherein the first computer programming language results object further comprises one or more computer programming language access methods for accessing the first results, wherein the one or more access methods are invokable through one or more computer programming language access method calls;

wherein, in said accessing the first results, the first results gate is configured to;

receive from the client component a first access method call of the one or more access method calls, wherein the first access method call is associated with a first access method of the one or more access methods;

send a second message in the data representation language to a second results gate, wherein the second message includes a data representation language representation of the first access method call; and

wherein the second results gate is configured to invoke the first access method in accordance with the representation of the first access method call included in the second message.

62. The device as recited in claim 61, wherein the first results gate is further configured to:

receive a third message in the data representation language from the second results gate, wherein the third message includes first access method results produced by the second results gate invoking the first access method in accordance with the representation of the first access method call included in the second message; and

provide the first access method results to the client component.

63. The device as recited in claim 62,

wherein, in said providing the first access method results to the client component, the first results gate is further configured to generate a third results gate;

wherein the third results gate is configured to provide an interface to the first access method results through messages in the data representation language.

64. The device as recited in claim 51, wherein, in said accessing the first results, the first results gate is further configured to:

receive from the client component a first computer programming language method call, wherein the first computer programming language method call is associated with a first method for accessing the first results; and

send a second message in the data representation language to a second results gate in response to receiving the first computer programming language method call, wherein the second message includes a request for the first results; and

receive a third message in the data representation language from the second results gate, wherein the third message includes the requested results.

65. The device as recited in claim 51, wherein the data representation language is eXtensible Markup Language (XML).

66. A computer accessible medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

a client sending a first message in a data representation language to a service accessible through the distributed computing environment, wherein the client comprises a client gate and where said sending a first message comprises the client gate sending the first message to the service, wherein the client comprises a client process and a client message gate;

the service generating first results in response to the first message;

the service storing the first results;

generating a first results gate configured to provide an interface to the first results through messages in the data representation language, wherein the first results gate is distinct from the client gate, wherein, in said generating a first results gate, the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement the client message gate receiving a second message in the data representation language, wherein the second message includes an address of the stored first results;

wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client message gate in accordance with information for generating the first results gate obtained through the address; and

the client accessing the first results through the first results gate.

67. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 66, wherein the client comprises a client process, wherein, in said sending a first message, the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the client gate receiving from the client process a request for the service to perform a function on behalf of the client process; and

the client gate sending the first message to the service in response to said receiving a request; and

providing the first results gate to the client process as results of the function.

68. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 67, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client gate.

69. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 67, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement the client gate attaching an authentication credential to the first message prior to said sending the first message, wherein the authentication credential identifies the client, and wherein the first results gate is configured to attach the authentication credential to outgoing messages.

70. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 66, wherein the first message includes information requesting the service to perform a function on behalf of the client, and wherein, in said generating first results, the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the service performing the function; and

generating the first results as output of said performing the function.

71. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 66, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the client message gate receiving a second message in the data representation language from the service in response to said generating first results, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client message gate in response to said receiving a second message; and

the client message gate providing information for accessing the first results through the first results gate to the client process.

72. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 66, wherein the first message includes information representing a computer programming language method call, wherein the service comprises one or more computer programming language methods executable within the service, and wherein one of the methods executable within the service corresponds to the method call included in the first message.

73. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 72, wherein, in said generating results, the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the service executing a computer programming language method in accordance with the information representing the computer programming language method call included in the first message; and

generating the first results as output of said executing a method.

74. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 72, wherein the client comprises a client method gate, wherein, in said sending a first message, the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the client method gate receiving the computer programming language method call from a first process executing within the client; and

the client method gate generating the first message for the first process.

75. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 74,

wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement the service storing the first results;

and

wherein, in said generating a first results gate, the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement;

the client method gate receiving a second message in the data representation language, wherein the second message includes an address of the stored first results, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client method gate in accordance with information for generating the first results gate obtained through the address.

76. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 74, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the client method gate receiving a second message in the data representation language in response to said generating first results, wherein said generating a first results gate is performed by the client method gate in response to said receiving a second message; and

the client method gate providing information for accessing the first results through the first results gate to the first process.

77. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 66, wherein the first results is comprised in a first computer programming language results object, wherein the first computer programming language results object further comprises one or more computer programming language access methods for accessing the first results, wherein the one or more access methods are invokable through one or more computer programming language access method calls, and wherein, in said accessing the first results through the first results gate, the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the first results gate receiving from a first process executing within the client a first access method call of the one or more access method calls, wherein the first access method call is associated with a first access method of the one or more access methods;

the first results gate sending a second message in the data representation language to a second results gate, wherein the second message includes a data representation language representation of the first access method call; and

the second results gate invoking the first access method in accordance with the representation of the first access method call included in the second message.

78. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 77, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the second results gate sending a third message in the data representation language to the first results gate, wherein the third message includes first access method results; and

the first results gate providing the first access method results to the first process.

79. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 78, wherein, in said providing the first access method results to the first process, the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement generating a third results gate configured to provide an interface to the first access method results through messages in the data representation language.

80. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 66, wherein, in said accessing the first results through the first results gate, the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the first results gate receiving from a first process executing within the client a first computer programming language method call, wherein the first computer programming language method call is associated with a first method for accessing the first results;

the first results gate sending a second message in the data representation language in response to receiving the first computer programming language method call, wherein the second message includes a request for the first results; and

the second results gate sending a third message in the data representation language to the first results gate, wherein the third message includes the requested results.

81. The computer accessible medium as recited in claim 66, wherein the data representation language is eXtensible Markup Language (XML).