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EP0272561A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for distributing data processing a plurality of loci of control

Assignee: Kodak Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-12-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-12-11
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Abstract

Abstract Apparatus for distributing the processing of data across a plurality of loci of control (109) which are connected by a mail system (107). The apparatus includes a package (104) which contains files of various types (103) and a route (105) specifying the order in which the package is to be circulated among the loci and the processing to be done at each locus. Each locus includes programs (208) executable by users which can manipulate the contents of the package. The programs automatically take the type of file being manipulated into account. The manipulations include modifying the unexecuted portion of the route. Each locus further includes a process (215) which executes the route as modified, a process (225) which tracks the package and receives control commands, and a process (229) which handles errors detected by the other components or by users. The tracking processes maintain data bases (227) for locating the package. When a user or the error handling process enters a control command at one locus, the tracking process at that locus uses the data bases to locate the package and send the control command to the locus currently processing the package. The route executing process checks with the tracking process and executes any control command before it sends the package to the next locus.

Inventors

  • 👤 Roger H. Dev
  • 👤 Gabriel Steinberg
  • 👤 John B. Kam
  • 👤 Steward Allen Comer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 02:52
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/48; G06F9/4806; G06F9/4843; G06F9/54; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 130 words
1) In a digital data processing system having a plurality of loci of control and a message system for communicating between the loci, apparatus for distributing the processing of data across the loci characterized by: (1) a package (104) including the data (103) to be processed and a processing descriptor (105) associated with the data which specifies the loci in which the data is to be processed and how the data is to be processed in the loci; and (2) interpreter means (111) in each locus specified in the processing descriptor for responding to the arrival of the package in the locus via the message system by processing the data in that locus and providing the package to another locus via the message means as specified in the processing descriptor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 130 words
1) In a digital data processing system having a plurality of loci of control and a message system for communicating between the loci, apparatus for distributing the processing of data across the loci characterized by: (1) a package (104) including the data (103) to be processed and a processing descriptor (105) associated with the data which specifies the loci in which the data is to be processed and how the data is to be processed in the loci; and (2) interpreter means (111) in each locus specified in the processing descriptor for responding to the arrival of the package in the locus via the message system by processing the data in that locus and providing the package to another locus via the message means as specified in the processing descriptor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 67 words
2) The apparatus for distributing the processing of data set forth in claim 1 and further characterized in that: the processing descriptor further describes the order in which the specified loci process the package and the interpreter means further responds to the processing descriptor by employing the message system to send the package as processed by the locus to the next locus specified in the processing descriptor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
3) The apparatus for distributing the processing of data set forth in claim 2 and further characterized in that: the loci process the package sequentially and the processing descriptor specifies the sequence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
4) The apparatus for distributing the processing of data set forth in claim 3 and further characterized in that: certain of the loci include means (211) for altering the unexecuted portion of the processing descriptor; and the interpreter means responds to the processing descriptor as altered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 53 words
5) The apparatus for distributing the processing of data set forth in claim 3 and further characterized in that: certain of the loci include means (211) for specifying a local sequence defined in the locus; and the interpreter means executes the local sequence before continuing execution of the sequence specified in the package.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 66 words
6) The apparatus for distributing the processing of data of claim 3 and further characterized by: means (225) in each locus for receiving a control command affecting execution of the processing descriptor and providing the control command to the interpreter means and wherein the interpreter means is responsive to the control command and executes the control command prior to sending the package to the next locus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 40 words
7) The apparatus for distributing the processing of data of claim 6 and further characterized by: control command sending means (225) in certain of the loci for sending the control command to the locus where the package is currently located.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 59 words
8) The apparatus for distributing the processing of data set forth in claim 1 and further characterized in that: at least one of the loci includes status recording means (113) for indicating the current status of the package and the interpreter means further employs the message system to send status information from the locus to the status recording means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 50 words
9) The apparatus for distributing the processing of data set forth in claim 8 and further characterized in that: the processing descriptor specifies that certain status information be sent to the status recording means and the interpreter means further responds to the processing descriptor by sending the certain status information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 62 words
10) The apparatus for distributing the processing of data set forth in claim 1 and further characterized in that: the package further includes a data descriptor (304) indicating the type of the data; and each locus further includes means (208) responsive to the data descriptor for processing the data as required by the type of the data specified in the data descriptor.

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