US6374299B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enhanced scalable distributed network controller
Assignee: Bank of America Corp
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Filing: 2000-01-26
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Granted: 2002-04-16
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Expires: 2020-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A data processing architecture provides a common grouping of code that supports a diverse set of services and allows substantially seamless access to these services by subscribers. The architecture is supported by several interrelated components. A framework mechanism provides conforming dynamically linked libraries specific to a given service. System operation is enhanced by a routing mechanism that allocates service loading in accordance with demand and availability. Because a common code framework characterizes much of the complex communication coding, developers seeking to implement new services can concentrate on creating service functionality and rely on the framework mechanism for communication and navigation support.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher Ford
- 👤 Mahadevan Lakshmanan
- 👤 Robert Scott Scalf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/10; H04L67/1001; H04L67/1029; H04L67/1034; H04L67/14; H04L67/50; H04L67/51; H04L69/00; H04L69/16; H04L69/161; H04L69/162
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A computer system for implementing and managing a message-based protocol that is adapted to provide any of a plurality of online services over a communications network, wherein the system comprises (a) an application program interfacing mechanism adapted to send and/or receive messages; (b) a framework mechanism adapted to provide at least one of: thread management, connection management, and multicasting; so as to provide an interface to at least one online service; (c) a routing mechanism adapted to route messages and message responses between the application program interfacing mechanism and the framework mechanism; (d) the framework mechanism further adapted to broadcast periodic heartbeat messages on the network to identify and prioritize any of a plurality of online services.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer system for implementing and managing a message-based protocol that is adapted to provide any of a plurality of online services over a communications network, wherein the system comprises (a) an application program interfacing mechanism adapted to send and/or receive messages; (b) a framework mechanism adapted to provide at least one of: thread management, connection management, and multicasting; so as to provide an interface to at least one online service; (c) a routing mechanism adapted to route messages and message responses between the application program interfacing mechanism and the framework mechanism; (d) the framework mechanism further adapted to broadcast periodic heartbeat messages on the network to identify and prioritize any of a plurality of online services.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer system of claim 1 further including a processing mechanism equipped to execute a common program that provides an interface to any of a plurality of online services.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system of claim 2 wherein the processing mechanism is further adapted to implement at least one of the routing mechanism, the framework mechanism, and the application program interfacing mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system of claim 3 wherein the processing mechanism is equipped to provide interoperability with legacy programming and applications.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of linked servers, wherein access to a given application service is provided by replicating the application service on any of the plurality of linked servers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 5 further comprising a mechanism for balancing load among the plurality of linked servers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein the message-based protocol is further adapted to provide for development and/or expansion of software applications.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 7 further comprising an access mechanism by which the software applications are accessible to remotely located subscribers over the Internet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer system of claim 5 further including a fault tolerant mechanism by which multiple instances of the same application are provided across the plurality of linked servers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer system of claim 9 further including a rerouting mechanism which, upon failure of an application at a linked server, reroutes traffic for that application to a functioning version of that same application.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system of claim 10 wherein the rerouting mechanism is implemented by the processing mechanism and/or the routing mechanism.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer system of claim 5 further including a network controller for at least one of: routing messages throughout the computer system, performing load balancing among the plurality of linked servers, and maintaining schedules and directories related to administration of the computer system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 1 further including a logging mechanism adapted to track subscriber application use and demand.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for use with a computer system having i) an application program interfacing mechanism adapted to send and/or receive messages and message responses; ii) a framework mechanism adapted to provide at least one of: connection management, thread management, and multicasting; so as to provide an interface to at least one online service; and iii) a routing mechanism adapted to route messages and message responses between the application program interfacing mechanism and the framework mechanism, The Method Including the Steps Of a) initiating operation of the application program interfacing mechanism so as to provide networked communication between an online service and a prospective user of that service over a communication network; b) initiating operation of the framework mechanism by reading one or more configuration parameters stored in a storage device coupled to the framework mechanism and, in response thereto, initiating one or more online services in accordance with service availability; and c) the framework mechanism causing the broadcast of periodic heartbeat messages on the network to identify and prioritize any of a plurality of available online services.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for use with a computer system having i) an application program interfacing mechanism adapted to send and/or receive messages and message responses; ii) a framework mechanism adapted to provide at least one of: connection management, thread management, and multicasting; so as to provide an interface to at least one online service; and iii) a routing mechanism adapted to route messages and message responses between the application program interfacing mechanism and the framework mechanism, The Method Including the Steps Of a) initiating operation of the application program interfacing mechanism so as to provide networked communication between an online service and a prospective user of that service over a communication network; b) initiating operation of the framework mechanism by reading one or more configuration parameters stored in a storage device coupled to the framework mechanism and, in response thereto, initiating one or more online services in accordance with service availability; and c) the framework mechanism causing the broadcast of periodic heartbeat messages on the network to identify and prioritize any of a plurality of available online services.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 14 further including the step of the computer system executing a common program that provides an interface to any of a plurality of online services.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15 further including the step of providing interoperability with legacy programming and applications.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 14 further including the step of providing access to a given application service by replicating the application service on any of a plurality of linked servers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 17 further including the step of balancing load among the plurality of linked servers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14 further including the step of utilizing the message-based protocol to provide for development and/or expansion of software applications.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 17 further including the step of providing application service access to any of a plurality of remotely located subscribers over the Internet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 17 further including the step of providing fault tolerant operation by which multiple instances of the same application are provided across the plurality of linked servers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 21 wherein, upon failure of an application at a linked server, the computer system performs the step of rerouting traffic for that application to a functioning version of that same application.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 17 further including at least one of the steps of: routing messages throughout the computer system, performing load balancing among the plurality of servers, and maintaining schedules and directories related to administration of the computer system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 further including the step of logging so as to track subscriber application use and demand.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5768510A
Cited
US6047324A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-04-15 | 2005-10-15 | 2006-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-04-15 | 2009-10-15 | 2010-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-04-15 | 2013-10-15 | 2014-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |