Platform-independent programmable batch processing engine

Abstract

A data processing system includes a multitude of client computers and server computers, of various platform types, interconnected by a network. A batch processing engine permits an application resident on a client computer to specify processing to be performed by one or more of the computers connected to the network, regardless of the platform type of such computers. The batch processing engine is implemented in part by middleware.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A programmable batch processing engine, comprising: 
 a design tool subsystem operable on a first computer that creates a set of specifications in response to user input;    a processing subsystem adapted to perform processing in response to the specifications; and    a middleware subsystem providing communication of the specifications from the design tool subsystem to the processing subsystem.    
     
     
         2 . An engine as in    claim 1   , wherein the processing subsystem is implemented using the first computer.  
     
     
         3 . An engine as in    claim 1   , wherein the processing subsystem is implemented using a second computer.  
     
     
         4 . An engine as in    claim 1   , further comprising a second computer, wherein the specifications are sent from the first computer to the second computer for storage, and are sent from the second computer to the processing subsystem for processing.  
     
     
         5 . An engine as in    claim 1   , further comprising a network having database facilities and further comprising a database middleware subsystem adapted to direct access to the database facilities in accordance with the specifications.  
     
     
         6 . An engine as in    claim 1   , further comprising a network having input-output facilities and further comprising an input-output middleware subsystem adapted to direct access to the input-output facilities in accordance with the specifications.  
     
     
         7 . An engine as in    claim 1   , wherein said processing subsystem is implemented using a second computer adapted to send to the first computer completion data in response to completion of processing in accordance with the specifications by the second computer.  
     
     
         8 . An engine as in    claim 1   , wherein said processing subsystem is implemented using a second computer adapted to send to the first computer error data in response to detection of an error in processing according to the specifications by the second computer.  
     
     
         9 . An engine as in    claim 6   , wherein the input-output middleware subsystem is adapted to selectively route an input-output data stream to one of a plurality of input-output devices and to convert the data stream to a format suitable for the selected one of the plurality of input-output devices.  
     
     
         10 . A data processing method, comprising: 
 defining a set of specifications for an application;    storing the set of specifications on a specifications server, the specifications thereby being available to a plurality of users;    sending the set of specifications to a processing subsystem for processing; and    sending the results of the processing to one of said plurality of users.    
     
     
         11 . A method as in    claim 10   , further comprising directing access to database facilities in accordance with the specifications by using database middleware.  
     
     
         12 . A method as in    claim 10   , further comprising directing access to input-output facilities in accordance with the specification by using input-output middleware.  
     
     
         13 . A method as in    claim 10   , further comprising sending completion data from the processing subsystem in response to completion of processing in accordance with the specifications by the processing subsystem.  
     
     
         14 . A method as in    claim 10   , further comprising sending error data from the processing subsystem in response to detection of an error in processing in accordance with the specifications by the processing subsystem.  
     
     
         15 . A method as in    claim 12   , further comprising selectively routing, by the input-output middleware, an input-output data stream to one of a plurality of input-output devices and converting the data stream to a format suitable thereto.