Metadata-aware enterprise application integration framework for application server environment
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- an application sending to a container a data object specifying a high-level function provided by a system external to the application;
the container receiving the data object specifying the high-level function;
the container accessing metadata corresponding to the high-level function, wherein the metadata describes the high-level function of the external system;
the container performing one or more transformations on the data object specifying the high-level function in accordance with the metadata to produce a data object including information for driving a connector to the external system to make a plurality of low-level calls to the external system to perform the high-level function;
the container executing the data object including the information for driving the connector to the external system to drive the connector to make the plurality of low-level calls to the external system; and
the external system executing a plurality of low-level functions as specified by the plurality of low-level calls received from the connector, wherein said executing the plurality of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the external system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A metadata-aware Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) framework for an application server environment. The framework allows the connector writer to connect to a system using a low-level API. The framework provides a space in a connector in which to define high-level functions. Using the framework, the user can mine metadata for the functions and generate a description of each high-level function that can be dropped into the framework and appear as a high-level function invokable through the connector. This high-level function manifestation, when invoked, drives the low-level API provided by the connector. An adaptive layer may wrap a native Common Client Interface (CCI) exposed by a connector to provide an abstract connector that allows a higher-level abstraction of external Enterprise Information Systems (EIS). The adaptive layer may interpret metadata to model an external EIS as a logical data source. The adaptive layer may be referred to as a metadata-aware CCI adapter.
91 Citations
85 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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an application sending to a container a data object specifying a high-level function provided by a system external to the application; the container receiving the data object specifying the high-level function; the container accessing metadata corresponding to the high-level function, wherein the metadata describes the high-level function of the external system; the container performing one or more transformations on the data object specifying the high-level function in accordance with the metadata to produce a data object including information for driving a connector to the external system to make a plurality of low-level calls to the external system to perform the high-level function; the container executing the data object including the information for driving the connector to the external system to drive the connector to make the plurality of low-level calls to the external system; and the external system executing a plurality of low-level functions as specified by the plurality of low-level calls received from the connector, wherein said executing the plurality of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the external system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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an application sending to an application server container a high-level function call corresponding to a high-level function of a system external to the application; the application server container mapping the high-level function call to a series of low-level function calls to the external system; the application server container driving a connector to the external system to make the series of low-level function calls to the external system; and the external system executing the series of low-level functions as specified by the series of low-level function calls received from the connector, wherein said executing the series of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the external system corresponding to the high-level function call. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A system comprising:
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an Enterprise Information System (EIS); an application; a container, wherein the EIS is external to the container, and wherein the container comprises; a connector, wherein the connector is configured to provide an interface between low-level functions of the EIS and the application; an adapter configured to; receive a high-level function call from the application, wherein the high-level function call specifies a high-level function of the EIS; map the high-level function call to a series of low-level function calls to the EIS; and drive the connector to make the series of low-level function calls to the EIS; wherein in said mapping the high-level function call to a series of low-level function calls to the EIS, the adapter is further configured to; access metadata corresponding to the high-level function call, wherein the metadata describes the high-level function of the EIS; and perform one or more transformations on the high-level function call in accordance with the metadata to produce a data object, wherein the data object includes information for driving a connector to the EIS to make a plurality of low-level calls to the EIS to perform the high-level function; wherein the EIS is configured to execute the series of low-level functions in response to the series of low-level function calls, wherein said executing the series of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the ETS specified by the high-level function call. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A system, comprising:
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an Enterprise Information System (EIS); an application; an application server container, wherein the EIS is external to the application server container, and wherein the application server container comprises; a connector, wherein the connector is configured to provide an interface between low-level functions of the EIS and the application; means for receiving a high-level function call from the application; means for mapping the high-level function call to a series of low-level function calls to the EIS; and means for driving the connector to make the series of low-level function calls to the EIS; wherein the EIS is configured to execute the series of low-level functions in response to the series of low-level function calls, wherein said executing the series of low-level functions performs a high-level function of the EIS corresponding to the high-level function call. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A metadata-aware adapter for a connector to an Enterprise Information System (EIS), configured to:
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receive a high-level function call for a high-level functions of the EIS; map the high-level function call to a series of low-level function calls to the EIS; and drive the connector to make the series of low-level function calls to the EIS; wherein in said mapping the high-level function call to a series of low-level function calls to the EIS, the metadata-aware adapter is further configured to; access metadata corresponding to the high-level function call, wherein the metadata describes the high-level function of the EIS; and perform one or more transformations on the high-level function call in accordance with the metadata to produce a data object, wherein the data object includes information for driving the connector to the EIS to make a plurality of low-level calls to the EIS to perform the high-level function; wherein the EIS is configured to execute the series of low-level functions in response to the series of low-level function calls, wherein said executing the series of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the EIS. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A tangible computer readable medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:
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an application sending to a container a high-level function call corresponding to a high-level function of a system external to the application; the container mapping the high-level function call to a series of low-level function calls to the external system; the container causing a connector to the external system comprised in the container to make the series of low-level function calls to the external system; the external system executing the series of low-level functions as specified by the series of low-level function calls received from the connector, wherein said executing the series of low-level functions performs the high-level function of the external system corresponding to the high-level function call; the container receiving results of said executing the plurality of low-level functions; the container storing the results of said executing the plurality of low-level functions in a results data object; the container performing one or more transformations on the results data object to generate an output data object, wherein the output data object includes the results of the high-level function; and the container providing the output data object to the application. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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Specification