US5758186A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for generically handling diverse protocol method calls in a client/server computer system
Assignee: Oracle America Inc
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Filing: 1995-10-06
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Granted: 1998-05-26
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Expires: 2015-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A client/server computer apparatus includes a large number of client computers connected to a transmission channel. The client computers generate method calls that are applied to the transmission channel. Each method call may be encoded with a different communication protocol. A server computer processes each method call from the transmission channel by initially locating within each method call a method descriptor specified in a protocol-dependent format. The method descriptor is then compared to a list of protocol-dependent values stored in the memory of the server computer. An index value is assigned upon matching the method descriptor to a selected protocol-dependent value in the list of protocol-dependent values. The index value is passed to a protocol-independent portion of the server computer. The protocol-independent portion of the server computer executes the method corresponding to the index value to generate a reply. The reply is then transported over the transmission channel to the client computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham Hamilton
- 👤 Peter B. Kessler
- 👤 Jeffrey D. Nisewanger
- 👤 Alan Bishop
- 👤 Eduardo Pelegri-Llopart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/54; G06F9/547; H; H04; H04L; H04L65/00; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/133; H04L69/00; H04L69/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for handling diverse protocol method calls in a client/server computer system, said method comprising the steps of: receiving at a server computer a method call generated by a client computer; locating within said method call a method descriptor specified in a protocol-dependent format; retrieving an index value associated with said method descriptor; passing said index value to a protocol-independent processing module of said server computer; executing, in said server computer, a protocol independent method corresponding to said index value to generate a reply; and transferring said reply from said protocol-independent processing module to said client computer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for handling diverse protocol method calls in a client/server computer system, said method comprising the steps of: receiving at a server computer a method call generated by a client computer; locating within said method call a method descriptor specified in a protocol-dependent format; retrieving an index value associated with said method descriptor; passing said index value to a protocol-independent processing module of said server computer; executing, in said server computer, a protocol independent method corresponding to said index value to generate a reply; and transferring said reply from said protocol-independent processing module to said client computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving step includes the step of passing said method call from an application program of said client computer, to a client stub program of said client computer, to a subcontract program of said client computer, to a transmission channel linking said client computer and said server computer, to a subcontract program of said server computer which stores said list of protocol-dependent values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said locating step includes the step of unmarshalling a marshal buffer containing said method call.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said retrieving step includes the step of using a list of protocol-dependent values which includes statements selected from the group including an Interface Definition Language (IDL) short name, an IDL long name, and an IDL repository identification.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said passing step includes the step of passing said index value to said protocol-independent processing module of said server computer, which is implemented as a server stub program operating on said server computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said transferring step includes the step of transferring said reply from said server stub program operating on said server computer to a subcontract program operating on said server computer, to a transmission channel linking said server computer and said client computer, to a subcontract program operating on said client computer, to a client stub program operating on said client computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
A client/server computer apparatus, comprising: a transmission channel; a client computer connected to said transmission channel, said client computer generating a method call that is applied to said transmission channel; and a server computer connected to said transmission channel to receive said method call, said server computer including: a module to locate within said method call a method descriptor specified in a protocol-dependent format, a module to compare said method call to a list of protocol-dependent values stored in the memory of said server computer, a module to assign an index value upon matching said method descriptor to a selected protocol-dependent value in said list of protocol-dependent values, a module to pass said index value to a server-side stub program executing on said server computer, a module to execute protocol independent method information specified by said index value to generate a reply, and a module to transfer said reply from said server-side stub to said client computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
157 words
A client/server computer apparatus, comprising: a transmission channel; a client computer connected to said transmission channel, said client computer generating a method call that is applied to said transmission channel; and a server computer connected to said transmission channel to receive said method call, said server computer including: a module to locate within said method call a method descriptor specified in a protocol-dependent format, a module to compare said method call to a list of protocol-dependent values stored in the memory of said server computer, a module to assign an index value upon matching said method descriptor to a selected protocol-dependent value in said list of protocol-dependent values, a module to pass said index value to a server-side stub program executing on said server computer, a module to execute protocol independent method information specified by said index value to generate a reply, and a module to transfer said reply from said server-side stub to said client computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The client/server computer apparatus of claim 7 wherein said list of protocol-dependent values stored in said memory of said server computer includes statements selected from the group including an Interface Definition Language (IDL) short name, and IDL long name, and an IDL repository identification.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The client/server computer apparatus of claim 7 wherein said reply includes an exception to said method call.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The client/server computer apparatus of claim 9 wherein said client computer matches said exception with a value in a list of exceptions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
196 words
A computer readable memory that can be used to direct a client/server computer system to function in a specified manner, comprising: method call information stored in said memory, said method call information including: (1) a list of protocol-dependent values, and (2) a set of protocol independent method execution instruction modules, at least one method execution instruction module specifying a set of operations to be performed in executing a requested method call; and executable instructions stored in said memory, said executable instructions including: (3) instructions to locate within a method call, originating from a client computer of said client/server computer system, a method descriptor specified in a protocol-dependent format, (4) instructions to assign an index value upon matching said method descriptor to a selected protocol-dependent value in said list of protocol-dependent values, (5) instructions to pass said index value to a server-side stub executing on a server computer of said client/server computer architecture, (6) instructions to execute on said server computer, based upon said index value, a selected method execution instruction module of said set of protocol independent method execution instruction modules to generate a reply, and (7) instructions to transfer said reply to said client computer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
196 words
A computer readable memory that can be used to direct a client/server computer system to function in a specified manner, comprising: method call information stored in said memory, said method call information including: (1) a list of protocol-dependent values, and (2) a set of protocol independent method execution instruction modules, at least one method execution instruction module specifying a set of operations to be performed in executing a requested method call; and executable instructions stored in said memory, said executable instructions including: (3) instructions to locate within a method call, originating from a client computer of said client/server computer system, a method descriptor specified in a protocol-dependent format, (4) instructions to assign an index value upon matching said method descriptor to a selected protocol-dependent value in said list of protocol-dependent values, (5) instructions to pass said index value to a server-side stub executing on a server computer of said client/server computer architecture, (6) instructions to execute on said server computer, based upon said index value, a selected method execution instruction module of said set of protocol independent method execution instruction modules to generate a reply, and (7) instructions to transfer said reply to said client computer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer readable memory of claim 11 wherein said list of protocol-dependent values stored in said memory includes statements selected from the group including an Interface Definition Language (IDL) short name, and IDL long name, and an IDL repository identification.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer readable memory of claim 11 wherein said reply includes an exception to said method call.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
185 words
A method executed by a client/server computer system operating under the control of a program, said client/server computer system including a client computer memory and a server computer memory for storing said program, said method comprising the steps of: (1) storing in said server computer memory a list of protocol-dependent values; (2) storing in said server computer memory a set of protocol independent method execution instruction modules, each method execution instruction module specifying a set of operations to be performed in executing a requested method call; (3) locating within a method call, originating from a client computer of said client/server computer system, a method descriptor specified in a protocol-dependent format; (4) assigning an index value upon matching said method descriptor to a selected protocol-dependent value in said list of protocol-dependent values; (5) passing said index value to a server-side stub operating on a server of said client/server computer system; (6) executing, based upon said index value, a selected method execution instruction module of said set of protocol independent method execution instruction modules to generate a reply; and (7) transferring said reply to said client computer.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
185 words
A method executed by a client/server computer system operating under the control of a program, said client/server computer system including a client computer memory and a server computer memory for storing said program, said method comprising the steps of: (1) storing in said server computer memory a list of protocol-dependent values; (2) storing in said server computer memory a set of protocol independent method execution instruction modules, each method execution instruction module specifying a set of operations to be performed in executing a requested method call; (3) locating within a method call, originating from a client computer of said client/server computer system, a method descriptor specified in a protocol-dependent format; (4) assigning an index value upon matching said method descriptor to a selected protocol-dependent value in said list of protocol-dependent values; (5) passing said index value to a server-side stub operating on a server of said client/server computer system; (6) executing, based upon said index value, a selected method execution instruction module of said set of protocol independent method execution instruction modules to generate a reply; and (7) transferring said reply to said client computer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said locating step includes the step of unmarshalling a marshal buffer containing said method call.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said assigning step includes the step of using a list of protocol-dependent values which includes statements selected from the group including an Interface Definition Language (IDL) short name, an IDL Long name, and an IDL repository identification.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said executing step includes the step of generating a reply with an exception descriptor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-25 | 2001-11-24 | 2002-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-25 | 2005-11-24 | 2006-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-25 | 2009-11-24 | 2010-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |