US6170018B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote procedure calling using an existing descriptor mechanism
Assignee: Oracle America Inc
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Filing: 1995-11-27
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Granted: 2001-01-02
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Expires: 2015-11-27
Abstract
Abstract Doors are implemented in an existing operating system by using a novel adaptation of existing data structures and procedures which represent and control data files of the operating system. A door is represented by a file descriptor and is managed by existing mechanisms of an operating system, such as the Unix operating system, which are also used to manage files. A door is represented by a door node, which is a novel extension of the conventional vnode structure which in turn is used in conventional operating systems to represent the state of a computer resource, e.g., a data file. A door node is adapted such that most conventional file access and control procedures, e.g., procedures open( ) and close( ), can be used to access and control door with minimal adaptation. A door node is formed by appending fields which are specific to a door node's representation of the state of a door to fields of the door node which are analogous to the fields of a vnode, which represents the state of a resource and which has a conventional structure. Thus, the fields of a door node which precede the fields specific to the representation of the state of a door are of the size, location, and format of analogous fields in a conventional vnode. A client process obtains a file descriptor which identifies a door by supplying the name of the door to the operating system.
Inventors
- 👤 James J. Voll
- 👤 Graham Hamilton
- 👤 Panagiotis Kougiouris
- 👤 Steven R. Kleiman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/54; G06F9/547; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for implementing remote procedure calling within a computer system, operation of which is managed by an operating system which includes file system data structures which in turn represent respective states of respective resources of the computer system, the operating system utilizing one or more resource control procedures for controlling the resources on behalf of a computer process, the method comprising: forming in the operating system a door resource data structure which represents a door remote procedure calling resource, the door resource data structure including a file system data structure and one or more extensions which are adapted to represent the state of the door remote procedure calling resource; and controlling the door remote procedure calling resource on behalf of the computer processes by execution of one or more of the resource control procedures which in turn access the door resource structure to allow a remote procedure call to be made by the computer process utilizing the door resource data structure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for implementing remote procedure calling within a computer system, operation of which is managed by an operating system which includes file system data structures which in turn represent respective states of respective resources of the computer system, the operating system utilizing one or more resource control procedures for controlling the resources on behalf of a computer process, the method comprising: forming in the operating system a door resource data structure which represents a door remote procedure calling resource, the door resource data structure including a file system data structure and one or more extensions which are adapted to represent the state of the door remote procedure calling resource; and controlling the door remote procedure calling resource on behalf of the computer processes by execution of one or more of the resource control procedures which in turn access the door resource structure to allow a remote procedure call to be made by the computer process utilizing the door resource data structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more extensions include one or more fields of data, each of which represents a component of the state of the door remote procedure calling resource.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the one or more extensions include a data field which identifies a computer process which executes within the computer system and which is a server computer process which executes one or more server computer instructions in response to invocation of the door remote procedure calling resource.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the one or more extensions further include a data field which specifies a first of the one or more server computer instructions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the file system data structure has a conventional organization; and further wherein the method further comprises combining the one or extensions with the selected conventional resource data structure such that conventional organization of the file system data structure is preserved.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of forming the door resource data structure comprises appending to the conventional organization the one or more extensions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the file system data structures are each a vnode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of forming the door resource data structure comprising appending to the selected vnode the one or more extensions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more extensions include one or more fields of data, each of which represents a component of the state of the door remote procedure calling resource.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for implementing remote procedure calling, the method comprising: forming in an operating system a door resource data structure including a file system data structure with one or more extensions; constructing the client computer process which when executed will utilize the door resource data structure in the operating system to place a remote procedure call; executing the client computer process; the client process requesting from the operating system access to the remote procedure for execution by a server computer process by supplying to the operating system a name associated with the remote procedure; and the client process receiving from the operating system a file descriptor which identifies the remote procedure within the operating system.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for implementing remote procedure calling, the method comprising: forming in an operating system a door resource data structure including a file system data structure with one or more extensions; constructing the client computer process which when executed will utilize the door resource data structure in the operating system to place a remote procedure call; executing the client computer process; the client process requesting from the operating system access to the remote procedure for execution by a server computer process by supplying to the operating system a name associated with the remote procedure; and the client process receiving from the operating system a file descriptor which identifies the remote procedure within the operating system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
168 words
A remote procedure calling system implemented in an operating system which includes file system data structures which in turn represent respective states of respective resources of a computer system, whose operation is controlled by the operating system, the operating system utilizing one or more resource control procedures for controlling the resources on behalf of one or more computer processes, the remote procedure calling system comprising: a door resource data structure which represents a door remote procedure calling resource which includes a file system data structure and one or more extensions which are operatively coupled to the file system data structure and which are adapted to represent the state of the door remote procedure calling resource; and wherein one or more of the resource control procedures are operatively coupled to the door resource data structure and are configured to control the door remote procedure calling resource on behalf of the one or more computer processes to allow remote procedure calls to be made by one or more computer processes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
168 words
A remote procedure calling system implemented in an operating system which includes file system data structures which in turn represent respective states of respective resources of a computer system, whose operation is controlled by the operating system, the operating system utilizing one or more resource control procedures for controlling the resources on behalf of one or more computer processes, the remote procedure calling system comprising: a door resource data structure which represents a door remote procedure calling resource which includes a file system data structure and one or more extensions which are operatively coupled to the file system data structure and which are adapted to represent the state of the door remote procedure calling resource; and wherein one or more of the resource control procedures are operatively coupled to the door resource data structure and are configured to control the door remote procedure calling resource on behalf of the one or more computer processes to allow remote procedure calls to be made by one or more computer processes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The remote procedure calling system of claim 11 wherein the one or more extensions include one or more fields of data, each of which represents a component of the state of the door remote procedure calling resource.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The remote procedure calling system of claim 12 wherein the one or more extensions include a data field which identifies a computer process which executes within the computer system and which is a server computer process which executes one or more server computer instructions in response to invocation of the door remote procedure calling resource.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The remote procedure calling system of claim 13 wherein the one or more extensions further include a data field which specifies a first of the one or more server computer instructions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The remote procedure calling system of claim 11 wherein the file system data structure has a conventional organization; and further wherein the one or more extensions are coupled to the file system data structure such that the conventional organization of the file system data structure is preserved.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The remote procedure calling system of claim 15 wherein the one or more extensions are appended to the conventional organization.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The remote procedure calling system of claim 11 wherein the file system data structures are each a vnode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The remote procedure calling system of claim 17 wherein the one or more extensions are appended to the selected vnode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The remote procedure calling system of claim 18 wherein the one or more extensions include one or more fields of data, each of which represents a component of the state of the door remote procedure calling resource.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
128 words
A remote procedure calling system comprising: a door resource data structure which represents a door remote procedure calling resource, the door resource data structure including a file system data structure and one or more extensions which are adapted to represent the state of the door remote procedure calling resource; a name module which is configured to receive from a client computer process a name associated with a remote procedure for execution by a server computer process; and a file descriptor production module which is coupled to the name module and which provides to the client computer process a file descriptor which identifies the remote procedure; wherein, the door remote procedure calling resources controlled by the remote procedure calling system to allow a remote procedure call to be made.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
128 words
A remote procedure calling system comprising: a door resource data structure which represents a door remote procedure calling resource, the door resource data structure including a file system data structure and one or more extensions which are adapted to represent the state of the door remote procedure calling resource; a name module which is configured to receive from a client computer process a name associated with a remote procedure for execution by a server computer process; and a file descriptor production module which is coupled to the name module and which provides to the client computer process a file descriptor which identifies the remote procedure; wherein, the door remote procedure calling resources controlled by the remote procedure calling system to allow a remote procedure call to be made.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
185 words
A computer system comprising a computer processor, a memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, one or more resources operatively coupled to the computer processor, and an operating system which is operatively coupled to the computer processor and the memory, the operating system including: file system data structures which represent respective states of respective ones of the resources; one or more resource control procedures for controlling the resources on behalf of one or more computer processes, wherein the resources include a door resource data structure which represents door remote procedure calling resource, the door resource data structure further including a file system data structure and one or more extensions which are operatively coupled to the file system data structure and which are adapted to represent the state of the door remote procedure calling resource; and wherein the resource control procedures are operatively coupled to the door resource data structure and are configured to control the door remote procedure calling resource on behalf of the one or more computer processes to allow remote procedure calls to be made by one or more of the computer processes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
185 words
A computer system comprising a computer processor, a memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, one or more resources operatively coupled to the computer processor, and an operating system which is operatively coupled to the computer processor and the memory, the operating system including: file system data structures which represent respective states of respective ones of the resources; one or more resource control procedures for controlling the resources on behalf of one or more computer processes, wherein the resources include a door resource data structure which represents door remote procedure calling resource, the door resource data structure further including a file system data structure and one or more extensions which are operatively coupled to the file system data structure and which are adapted to represent the state of the door remote procedure calling resource; and wherein the resource control procedures are operatively coupled to the door resource data structure and are configured to control the door remote procedure calling resource on behalf of the one or more computer processes to allow remote procedure calls to be made by one or more of the computer processes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 21 wherein the one or more extensions include one or more fields of data, each of which represents a component of the state of the door remote procedure calling resource.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer system of claim 22 wherein the one or more extensions include a data field which identifies a computer process which executes within the computer system and which is a server computer process which executes one or more server computer instructions in response to invocation of the door remote procedure calling resource.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer system of claim 23 wherein the one or more extensions further include a data field which specifies a first of the one or more server computer instructions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer system of claim 21 wherein the file system data structure has a conventional organization; and further wherein the one or more extensions are coupled to the file system data structure such that the conventional organization conventional resource data structure is preserved.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 25 wherein the one or more extensions are appended to the conventional organization.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 21 wherein the file system structures are each a vnode.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 27 wherein the one or more extensions are appended to the selected vnode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 28 wherein the one or more extensions include one or more fields of data, each of which represents a component of the state of the door remote procedure calling resource.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
205 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein for implementing remote procedure calling in an operating system which includes file system data structures which in turn represent respective states of respective resources of a computer system, whose operation is controlled by the operating system, and which includes one or more resource control procedures for controlling the resources on behalf of one or more computer processes, the computer readable code comprising: a door structure maintenance module configured to maintain a door resource data structure which represents a door remote procedure calling resource, the door resource data structure including a file system data structure and one or more extensions which are operatively coupled to the file system data structure and which are adapted to represent the state of the door remote procedure calling resource; and a door resource control module which is operatively coupled to the door structure maintenance module and which includes one or more of the resource control procedures, which are operatively coupled to the door resource data structure and which are configured to control the door remote procedure calling resource on behalf of the one or more computer processes to allow remote procedure calls to be made.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
205 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein for implementing remote procedure calling in an operating system which includes file system data structures which in turn represent respective states of respective resources of a computer system, whose operation is controlled by the operating system, and which includes one or more resource control procedures for controlling the resources on behalf of one or more computer processes, the computer readable code comprising: a door structure maintenance module configured to maintain a door resource data structure which represents a door remote procedure calling resource, the door resource data structure including a file system data structure and one or more extensions which are operatively coupled to the file system data structure and which are adapted to represent the state of the door remote procedure calling resource; and a door resource control module which is operatively coupled to the door structure maintenance module and which includes one or more of the resource control procedures, which are operatively coupled to the door resource data structure and which are configured to control the door remote procedure calling resource on behalf of the one or more computer processes to allow remote procedure calls to be made.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the one or more extensions include one or more fields of data, each of which represents a component of the state of the door remote procedure calling resource.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the one or more extensions include a data field which identifies a computer process which executes within a computer system and which is a server computer process which executes one or more server computer instructions in response to invocation of the door remote procedure calling resource.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer program product of claim 32 wherein the one or more extensions further include a data field which specifies a first of the one or more server computer instructions.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the file system data structure has a conventional organization; and further wherein the one or more extensions are coupled to the file system data structure such that the conventional organization of the file system data structure is preserved.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer program product of claim 34 wherein the one or more extensions are appended to the conventional organization.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the file system data structures are each a vnode.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer program product of claim 36 wherein the one or more extensions are appended to the selected vnode.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the one or more extensions include one or more fields of data, each of which represents a component of the state of the door remote procedure calling resource.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5175852A
Cited
US5566302A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-01-02 | 2004-07-03 | 2005-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-02 | 2008-07-03 | 2009-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-02 | 2012-07-03 | 2013-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |