US5790789A — Method and architecture for the creation, control…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 129 words

A distributed computing system comprising: a plurality of computer hosts; a communication network for exchanging information and data between said computer hosts; a plurality of services associated with said computer hosts, each of said services adapted to perform a prescribed function in response to the receipt of an electronic message, said plurality of services further adapted to cooperatively perform one or more tasks; and a plurality of agents executing on said computers, wherein each of said services are operatively associated with one or more of said agents and said agents are adapted to control said associated services by manipulating said electronic messages directed to and originating from said associated service; wherein said services cooperatively perform said tasks by exchanging said electronic messages across said communication network via associated agents.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 129 words

A distributed computing system comprising: a plurality of computer hosts; a communication network for exchanging information and data between said computer hosts; a plurality of services associated with said computer hosts, each of said services adapted to perform a prescribed function in response to the receipt of an electronic message, said plurality of services further adapted to cooperatively perform one or more tasks; and a plurality of agents executing on said computers, wherein each of said services are operatively associated with one or more of said agents and said agents are adapted to control said associated services by manipulating said electronic messages directed to and originating from said associated service; wherein said services cooperatively perform said tasks by exchanging said electronic messages across said communication network via associated agents.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 further comprising a repository data store for identifying said agents, said services, said computer hosts, and the associations therebetween.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein each host includes a configuration data store for maintaining information about the configuration of the distributed computing system as it relates to said computer host.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 further comprising one or more devices adapted for providing a service, said devices connected to the communication network and adapted to exchange information and data throughout said distributed computing system.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein said services include software-based services executing on said computer hosts and said distributed computing system further comprises an agent library for providing selected facilities for said software-based services executing on said computer hosts.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 66 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein said agents include: host agents operatively executing on each of said computer hosts; and service agents operatively associated with one more of said services and further operating under the control of one of said host agents; wherein said host agents exercise control of said associated service agents by further manipulating said electronic messages passing through said service agents.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

The distributed computing system of claim 6 wherein one of said host agents and one of said associated service agents are executing on separate computer hosts.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The distributed computing system of claim 6 wherein one of said host agents and one of said associated service agents are executing on the same computer host.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The distributed computing system of claim 6 wherein one of said host agents is associated with more than one of said service agents.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The distributed computing system of claim 6 wherein one of said host agents and one or more of said associated service agents are embedded within a software-based service.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein one of said agents is associated with more than one of said services.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein one of said services is associated with more than one of said agents.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 64 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 further comprising one or more partitions, each partition including: a plurality of services associated with said computer hosts; and a plurality of agents operatively associated with one or more of said services included within said entity, said agents adapted to control said associated services by manipulating said electronic messages directed to and originating from said associated service.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 68 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein each of said agents further include: an identification element for identifying said agent; a means for associating said agent with one or more services; and one or more auxiliary elements for defining a behavior of said agent with respect to each associated service; wherein said auxiliary elements govern the manipulation of messages directed to and originating from said associated service.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The distributed computing system of claim 14 wherein each of said agents further includes a queue which provides queuing information for said agent.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 77 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein each of said services further include: a first identification element for identifying said service; a second identification element for identifying a type of service embodied by said service; a means for associating said service with one or more agents; and a means for receiving and sending electronic messages via said associated agents; and a means to perform said prescribed function in response to the receipt of said electronic message.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 71 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of services includes a transaction service for governing transactions within the distributed computing system, said transaction service comprises: means for identifying concurrency behavior; means for identifying transaction behavior; means for ensuring accurate semantics are utilized during transactions; and means for defining the scope of the transactions, wherein said services are able to define the scope of the work to be performed.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 64 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of services includes a queue service for handling messages sent to a destination agent and associated service, said queue service comprises: means for storing messages sent to said destination agent until said destination agent retrieves said messages; and means for forwarding messages when said destination agent and associated service are unavailable to retrieve messages.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of services includes an identity service for uniquely identifying objects throughout the distributed computing system such that said objects can be located.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 47 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of services includes an event service comprising: means for defining an event within the distributed computing system; and means for subscribing objects to defined events such that said objects react to certain events in a prescribed manner.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 62 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of services includes a workflow service, said workflow service comprises: means for defining a process flow, said process flows including one or more activities operating on one or more work items; and means for initiating a process flow; wherein said workflow service facilitates the performance of prescribed tasks in a prescribed sequence.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 29 words

The distributed computing system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of services includes a directory service adapted to retrieve information about defined objects contained within the distributed computing system.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 116 words

An agent for controlling services in a service-based distributed computing environment, each service is adapted for performing a prescribed function, said services are further adapted to cooperatively perform various tasks by sending and receiving electronic messages, said agent comprising: an identification element for uniquely identifying said agent across said distributed computing environment; a means for associating said agent with one or more services; and one or more auxiliary elements for defining a behavior of said agent with respect to each associated service; wherein said agents are adapted to control the execution and operation of said associated service in accordance with said defined behavior through the manipulation of messages directed to and originating from said associated service.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 116 words

An agent for controlling services in a service-based distributed computing environment, each service is adapted for performing a prescribed function, said services are further adapted to cooperatively perform various tasks by sending and receiving electronic messages, said agent comprising: an identification element for uniquely identifying said agent across said distributed computing environment; a means for associating said agent with one or more services; and one or more auxiliary elements for defining a behavior of said agent with respect to each associated service; wherein said agents are adapted to control the execution and operation of said associated service in accordance with said defined behavior through the manipulation of messages directed to and originating from said associated service.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 29 words

The agent for controlling services in a service-based distributed computing environment of claim 23 wherein said auxiliary elements further include a queue which provides queuing information for said agent.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

The agent for controlling services in a service-based distributed computing environment of claim 23 wherein said auxiliary elements further include a schedule element which identifies scheduling constraints of said associated service.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 35 words

The agent for controlling services in a service-based distributed computing environment of claim 23 wherein said auxiliary elements further include a security element which provides security and access constraints of said agent and associated service.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 45 words

The agent for controlling services in a service-based distributed computing environment of claim 23 wherein said auxiliary elements further include a scripting which provides script information for an agent which represents a general mechanism for programing the behavior of said agent and said associated service.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 45 words

The agent for controlling services in a service-based distributed computing environment of claim 23 wherein said auxiliary elements further includes a rule element which provides rule information for an agent thereby allowing an agent to derive behavior based on the contents of an electronic message.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 35 words

The agent for controlling services in a service-based distributed computing environment of claim 23 wherein said auxiliary elements further includes a behavior element which defines general behaviors associated with said agent and said associated service.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 144 words

A distributed computing system comprising: a communication network; a plurality of computer hosts adapted for exchanging information and data across said communication network; wherein each computer host includes a computer readable memory configured with specific physical properties that represent one or more computer application-based services, each of said services adapted to perform a prescribed function in response to the receipt of an electronic message, said services further adapted to cooperatively perform one or more tasks; and wherein each of said computer readable memory is further configured with specific physical properties that represent one or more agents operatively associated with said services such that said agents are adapted to control said associated services by manipulating said electronic messages directed to and originating from said associated service; wherein said services cooperatively perform said tasks by exchanging said electronic messages across said communication network via associated agents.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 144 words

A distributed computing system comprising: a communication network; a plurality of computer hosts adapted for exchanging information and data across said communication network; wherein each computer host includes a computer readable memory configured with specific physical properties that represent one or more computer application-based services, each of said services adapted to perform a prescribed function in response to the receipt of an electronic message, said services further adapted to cooperatively perform one or more tasks; and wherein each of said computer readable memory is further configured with specific physical properties that represent one or more agents operatively associated with said services such that said agents are adapted to control said associated services by manipulating said electronic messages directed to and originating from said associated service; wherein said services cooperatively perform said tasks by exchanging said electronic messages across said communication network via associated agents.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-08-03	2002-02-02	2002-08-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-08-03	2006-02-02	2006-08-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-08-03	2010-02-02	2010-08-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and architecture for the creation, control and deployment of services within a distributed computer environment

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