Fault-tolerant system-to-system communications system and method utilizing multiple communications methods to transfer a single message

Claim 2

A computer-based communications system having a plurality of host computer systems for enabling communication of data between a sending application program residing on a sending host computer system and a receiving application program residing on a receiving host computer system via a plurality of available communications methods, said communications system comprising: communications servicing means associated with the sending host computer system for processing communications requests from the sending application program, said communications requests received by said communications servicing means from said sending application program over a single interface independent of the communication method used by said communications servicing means, said communications servicing means comprising, means for determining which of the plurality of communications methods are available, wherein each of the plurality of available communications methods define a distinct protocol; means for selecting an available communication method with a highest prioritization based on user-assigned preferences; a data sending means for sending said data to the receiving host computer system, identified by said communications request, utilizing said selected communication method; and switching means for automatically selecting an alternative communications method that has a next highest prioritization among all remaining available communications methods if said selected communication method fails, said alternative communications method having a next-lower priority than said selected communication method.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, wherein said communications servicing means further comprises: destination identifying means for receiving and validating destination identifiers in said communications request; and means for determining if an error occurred in sending said data using an error detection capability of said selected communication method.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2, wherein said communications servicing means further comprises: a notification means for notifying the receiving host computer system via said alternative communications method that future communications between the sending host computer system and the receiving host computer system shall occur via said alternative communications method.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3, further comprising: second communications servicing means associated with the receiving host computer system for receiving said data from the sending host computer system over the plurality of available communications methods, said second communications servicing means comprising, communications polling means for periodically attempting to establish and maintain communications with the sending host computer system via each of the plurality of available communications methods using the protocol of each of the plurality of available communications methods; and communications method receiving means for receiving data over said selected communications method using the protocol of said selected communications method.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4, wherein said second communications servicing means further comprises: notification processing means for receiving and processing said notification from said communications servicing means via said alternative communications method; and received data buffer means for storing said data received from the sending host computer system.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5, wherein said second communications servicing means further comprises: means for receiving a registrant identifier token identifying the receiving application program, said second communication service means notifying the receiving application program when said data from the sending host computer system is received by the receiving application program, and for placing said received data in a first memory location; deregister means for preventing said second communications service means from notifying the receiving application program when said received data is received for the receiving application program and for removing all of said data for the receiving application program from said first memory location; and obtain data means for retrieving said received data from said first memory location and for transferring said data to a second memory location, said second memory location designated by the receiving application program.

Claim 8

The system of claim 6, wherein said communications servicing means further comprises: define host means for defining each of the plurality of host computer systems with which the sending host computer system may communicate, and for determining available communications methods that the sending host computer system can use.

Claim 9

The system of claim 1, wherein said communications service means further comprises: application request processing means for receiving and processing requests from said single interface and for invoking the processing of a define host means, a registration means, a deregister means, an obtain data means, and said data sending means.

Claim 10

The system of claim 7, further comprising a second sending application program residing on the receiving host computer system and a second receiving application program residing on the sending host computer system, said second communications servicing means processing a second communications request from said second sending application program over a second single interface independent of the communication method used by said second communications servicing means, wherein said second communications receiving means further comprises: second means for determining which of the plurality of communications methods supporting communications between the receiving host computer system and the sending host computer system are available; second means for selecting an available communication method for communication with the sending host computer system, wherein the selection is based on user-assigned preferences; and second data sending means for sending second data to the sending host computer system utilizing said second available communication method.

Claim 11

The system of claim 9, wherein said second data sending means comprises: second destination identifying means for receiving and validating destination identifiers in said second communications request; and second means for determining if an error occurred in sending said second data using error detection capability of said selected communication method.

Claim 12

The system of claim 10, wherein said second communications servicing means further comprises: second switching means for automatically selecting a second alternative communications method from the plurality of available communications methods; and second notification means for notifying the sending host computer system via said second alternative communications method that future communications between the receiving host computer system and the sending host computer system shall occur via said second alternative communications method.

Claim 13

The system of claim 11, wherein said second service communications means further comprises: second define host means for defining each of the plurality of host computer systems with which the receiving host computer system may communicate, and for determining available communications methods that the receiving host computer system can use.

Claim 14

The system of claim 9, wherein said second communications service means further comprises: second application request processing means for receiving and processing requests from said second single interface and for invoking the processing of a second define host means, second registration means, second deregister means, second obtain data means, and second data sending means.

Claim 15

The system of claim 12, wherein said first communications servicing means further comprises, second communications polling means for periodically attempting to establish and maintain communications with the receiving host computer system via each of the plurality of available communications methods using the protocol of each of each of the plurality of available communications methods; and second communications method receiving means for receiving data over said selected communications method using the protocol of said selected communications method.

Claim 16

The system of claim 14, wherein said first communications servicing means further comprises: second notification processing means for receiving and processing said notification from said second communications servicing means via said alternative communications method; and second received data buffer means for storing said data received from the receiving host computer system.

Claim 17

The system of claim 15, wherein said first communications servicing means further comprises: second means for receiving a second registrant identifier token identifying the second receiving application program, said first communication service means notifying the second receiving application program when said data from the receiving host computer system is received for the second receiving application program, and for placing said received data for the second receiving application program in a third memory location; second deregister means for preventing said first communications service means from notifying the second receiving application program when said received data is received for the second receiving application program and for removing all of said data for the second receiving application program from said third memory location; and second obtain data means for retrieving said received data from said third memory location and for transferring said data to a fourth memory location, said fourth memory location designated by the second receiving application program.

Claim 18

A computer-based communications system having a plurality of host computer systems for enabling communications between a sending application program residing on a sending host computer system and a receiving application program residing on a receiving host computer system via a plurality of communications methods, said communications system comprising: first communications servicing means associated with the sending host computer system for processing communications requests from the sending application program, said first communications servicing means comprising, initialization means for determining which of the plurality of communications methods supporting communications between the sending host computer system and the receiving host computer system are available, and for prioritizing said available communications methods based on user-assigned preferences; selecting means for selecting a selected communications method having a protocol and an error detection capability, for communications with said receiving host computer system, said selected communications method being a highest priority communications method of said available communications methods; selected communications method means for communicating over said selected communications method using said protocol of said selected communications method and for determining if an error occurred in said sending of said data using said error detection capability of said selected communications method; communications method switching means for automatically selecting an alternative communications method from said available communications methods, said alternative communications method having a next-lower priority than said selected communications method; and notification means for notifying said receiving host computer system via said alternative communications method that future communications between the sending host computer system and the receiving host computer system shall occur via said alternative communications method; and second communications servicing means associated with the receiving host computer system for receiving said data from the sending host computer system over the plurality of host communications methods, said second communications servicing means comprising, communications polling means for periodically attempting to establish and maintain communications with the sending host computer system via each of the plurality of communications methods using the protocol of the each of said communications methods; communications method receiving means for receiving data over the plurality of communications methods using the protocol of each of said plurality of communications methods; and first notification processing means for receiving and processing said notification from said first communications service means via said alternative communications method.

Claim 19

A computer-based communications system having a plurality of host computer systems for enabling communications between a sending application program residing on a sending host computer system and a receiving application program residing on a receiving host computer system via a plurality of communications methods, said communications system comprising: first communications servicing means associated with the sending host computer system for processing communications requests from the sending application program, said first communications servicing means comprising, initialization means for determining which of the plurality of communications methods supporting communications between the sending host computer system and the receiving host computer system are available, and for prioritizing said available communications methods based on user-assigned preferences; selecting means for selecting a selected communications method having a protocol and an error detection capability, for communications with said receiving host computer system, said selected communications method being a highest priority communications method of said available communications methods; selected communications method means for communicating over said selected communications method using said protocol of said selected communications method and for determining if an error occurred in said sending of said data using said error detection capability of said selected communications method; communications method switching means for automatically selecting an alternative communications method from said available communications methods, said alternative communications method having a next-lower priority than said selected communications method; and notification means for notifying said receiving host computer system via said alternative communications method that future communications between the sending host computer system and the receiving host computer system shall occur via said alternative communications method; and second communications servicing means associated with the receiving host computer system for receiving said data from the sending host computer system over the plurality of host communications methods, said second communications servicing means comprising, communications polling means for periodically attempting to establish and maintain communications with the sending host computer system via each of the plurality of communications methods using the protocol of the each of said communications methods; communications method receiving means for receiving data over the plurality of communications methods using the protocol of each of said plurality of communications methods; and first notification processing means for receiving and processing said notification from said first communications service means via said alternative communications method.

Claim 20

A computer-based communications service method for communicating between a sending application program residing on a first host computer system and a receiving application program residing on a second host computer system, said sending application program communicating through a first communications service means and the second application program communicating through a second communications service means, the first host computer system coupled to the second host computer system by a plurality of communications methods said computer communications service method comprising the steps of: (1) receiving a send data request in a first communications service means from the sending application to send data to a plurality of host computer systems including the second host computer system, said send data request received over a single interface independent of the communication method used by said first communications service means; (2) selecting the second host computer system as a host computer system to receive said data; (3) selecting a highest priority communications method from the plurality of communications methods available to transmit said data to the second host computer system, wherein each of the plurality of communications methods available define a distinct protocol; (4) sending data to the second host computer system over said selected communications method; (5) completing the sending of said data to the second host computer system over an alternative communications methods if an error occurs over said highest priority communications method, wherein said alternative communications method is the communication method having a next lower priority from said plurality of communications methods.

Claim 21

A computer-based communications service method for communicating between a sending application program residing on a first host computer system and a receiving application program residing on a second host computer system, said sending application program communicating through a first communications service means and the second application program communicating through a second communications service means, the first host computer system coupled to the second host computer system by a plurality of communications methods said computer communications service method comprising the steps of: (1) receiving a send data request in a first communications service means from the sending application to send data to a plurality of host computer systems including the second host computer system, said send data request received over a single interface independent of the communication method used by said first communications service means; (2) selecting the second host computer system as a host computer system to receive said data; (3) selecting a highest priority communications method from the plurality of communications methods available to transmit said data to the second host computer system, wherein each of the plurality of communications methods available define a distinct protocol; (4) sending data to the second host computer system over said selected communications method; (5) completing the sending of said data to the second host computer system over an alternative communications methods if an error occurs over said highest priority communications method, wherein said alternative communications method is the communication method having a next lower priority from said plurality of communications methods.

Claim 22

The method of claim 18, wherein said step 5 further comprises the steps of: (a) notifying the second host computer system via said alternative communications method that the first host computer system will send remaining portion of said data over said alternative communications method; (b) sending said remaining portion of said data to the second host computer system over said alternative communications method; and, (c) reporting the status of said sending of said data to the second host computer system.

Claim 23

The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: (6) selecting the communications method selected by said first communications service means at a second communications service means residing on the second host computer system.

Claim 24

A computer-based communications system having a plurality of host computer systems for enabling communications between a sending application program residing on a sending host computer system and a receiving application program residing on a receiving host computer system via a plurality of communications methods, said communications system comprising: sending communications servicing means associated with the sending host computer system for sending a message generated by the sending application program over one or more communications methods to the receiving application program, including, initialization means for determining which of the plurality of communications methods supporting communications between the sending host computer system and the receiving host computer system are available, and for prioritizing said available communications methods, data sending means for sending data to the receiving host computer system utilizing a highest priority available communications method, and for automatically switching among said available communications methods in accordance with said prioritization, and notification sending means for notifying said receiving host computer system via said second available communications method that future communications between the sending host computer system and the receiving host computer system shall occur via said second communications method; and receiving communications servicing means associated with the receiving host computer system for receiving said data transmission from the sending host computer system utilizing said selected communications method, said second communications servicing means, including, data receiving means for receiving said data transmission from the sending host computer system utilizing said selected communications method, and notification processing means for receiving and processing said notification from said sending communications service means via said selected communications method, and for automatically switching communications methods in accordance with said notification.

Claim 25

A computer-based communications system having a plurality of host computer systems for enabling communications between a sending application program residing on a sending host computer system and a receiving application program residing on a receiving host computer system via a plurality of communications methods, said communications system comprising: sending communications servicing means associated with the sending host computer system for sending a message generated by the sending application program over one or more communications methods to the receiving application program, including, initialization means for determining which of the plurality of communications methods supporting communications between the sending host computer system and the receiving host computer system are available, and for prioritizing said available communications methods, data sending means for sending data to the receiving host computer system utilizing a highest priority available communications method, and for automatically switching among said available communications methods in accordance with said prioritization, and notification sending means for notifying said receiving host computer system via said second available communications method that future communications between the sending host computer system and the receiving host computer system shall occur via said second communications method; and receiving communications servicing means associated with the receiving host computer system for receiving said data transmission from the sending host computer system utilizing said selected communications method, said second communications servicing means, including, data receiving means for receiving said data transmission from the sending host computer system utilizing said selected communications method, and notification processing means for receiving and processing said notification from said sending communications service means via said selected communications method, and for automatically switching communications methods in accordance with said notification.