System and method for transmitting data content in a computer network

Abstract

A system for transmitting data content and performing operations on the data content within a distributed system. Client machines within the system transmit to a server a request for a particular operation. The server constructs a response message, transmits it to the client, and also transmits it to other machines including a reference to the requested information.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for performing operations on data within a network, comprising: 
 a receive module for receiving from a machine in the network a request for an operation to be performed on particular data content;    a store module for locally storing, associated with the machine, information related to the operation; and    a transmit module, associated with the entity, for implementing the operation and for transmitting an event relating to the operation for use in communicating the operation to subscribers referencing the machine.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the receive module includes a module for receiving an identification of the machine.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the receive module includes a module for transmitting a data cell including the request.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the transmit module includes a module for transmitting a data cell including the event.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the receive module includes a module for receiving an add, update, delete, or find operation.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for generating a subscription to events occurring within a network, comprising: 
 a generate module for generating a subscription event for a machine in the network using a local notification service;    a transmit module for transmitting the subscription event to a global notification service for registration of the event for subsequent use in notifying the machine of particular events occurring within the network; and    a receive module for receiving from the global notification service a notification of the registration of the event.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein: 
 the generate module includes a module for generating an unsubscription event; and  
 the transmit module includes a module for transmitting the unsubscription event to the global notification service for removing the registration.  
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further including a module for locally storing in a cache associated with the machine information related to the notification.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further including a process engine for controlling operation of the local notification service.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for broadcasting notification of events occurring within a network, comprising: 
 a receive module for receiving a broadcast event concerning occurrence of a particular event within the network;    a determine module for determining subscribers having subscriptions registered for a notification of the event; and    a transmit module for transmitting the notification to a local notification service associated with each of the subscribers for use in notifying the subscribers of the occurrence of the event.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the determine module includes a module for mapping the broadcast event to the subscribers.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the receive module includes a module for receiving an object as the broadcast event.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the determine module includes a module for determining whether each of the subscribers is located remote from the receiving of the broadcast event.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the determine module includes a comparator for matching the subscribers to the subscriptions.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the determine module includes a module for accessing a global subscriber cache for obtaining mappings between subscribers and subscriptions.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the transmit module includes a module for transmitting the notification to an event queue associated with the subscribers.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for downloading files in a network along with changes in a format of the files, comprising: 
 a receive module for receiving a request for a file including an identifier for the file;    a determine module for determining whether the file exists in an associated memory;    a search module for searching for the file by manipulating the identifier and comparing the manipulated identifier with available files; and    a download module for downloading a located file and associated changes in a format of the file based upon the determining and the searching.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further including a module for comparing a first time stamp of a first file located from the determining with a second time stamp of a second file located from the searching.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further including a module for selecting a file for downloading among the first and second files based upon the comparing.  
     
     
         20 . A method for performing operations on data within a network, comprising: 
 receiving from a machine in the network a request for an operation to be performed on particular data content;    locally storing, associated with the machine, information related to the operation; and    implementing the operation and transmitting an event relating to the operation for use in communicating the operation to subscribers referencing the machine.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the receiving step includes receiving an identification of the machine.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the receiving step includes transmitting a data cell including the request.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting a data cell including the event.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the receiving step includes receiving an add, update, delete, or find operation.  
     
     
         25 . A method for generating a subscription to events occurring within a network, comprising: 
 generating a subscription event for a machine in the network using a local notification service;    transmitting the subscription event to an LNS from a global notification service for registration of the event for subsequent use in notifying the machine of particular events occurring within the network; and    receiving from the global notification service a notification of the registration of the event.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein: 
 the generating step includes generating an unsubscription event; and  
 the transmitting step includes transmitting the unsubscription event from the global notification service to an LNS for removing the registration.  
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further including locally storing in a cache associated with the machine information related to the notification.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further including controlling operation of the local notification service using a process engine.  
     
     
         29 . A method for broadcasting notification of events occurring within a network, comprising: 
 receiving a broadcast event concerning occurrence of a particular event within the network;    determining subscribers having subscriptions registered for a notification of the event; and    transmitting the notification to a local notification service associated with each of the subscribers for use in notifying the subscribers of the occurrence of the event.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the determining step includes mapping the broadcast event to the subscribers.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the receiving step includes receiving an object as the broadcast event.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the determining step includes determining whether each of the subscribers is located remote from the receiving of the broadcast event.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the determining step includes using a comparator for matching the subscribers to the subscriptions.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the determining step includes accessing a global subscriber cache for obtaining mappings between subscribers and subscriptions.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the notification to an event queue associated with the subscribers.  
     
     
         36 . A method for downloading files in a network, comprising: 
 receiving a request for a file including an identifier for the file;    determining whether the file exists in an associated memory,    searching for the file by manipulating the identifier and comparing the manipulated identifier with available files; and    downloading a located file based upon the determining and the searching.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further including comparing a first time stamp of a first file located from the determining with a second time stamp of a second file located from the searching.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further including selecting a file for downloading among the first and second files based upon the comparing.  
     
     
         39 . An article of manufacture specifying a representation of an object stored in a computer-readable storage medium and capable of electronic transmission between machines in a distributed system, the article of manufacture comprising: 
 a data cell object to be transmitted in a network, the data cell object including an indication of code identifying the object, a plurality of content flags identifying types of content within the object, a plurality of transmission flags specifying how to broadcast the content in the network, and a plurality of error flags specifying errors in the content.    
     
     
         40 . An article of manufacture specifying a representation of an object stored in a computer-readable storage medium and capable of electronic transmission between machines in a distributed system, the article of manufacture comprising: 
 an enumeration data cell object to be transmitted in a network, the enumeration data cell object specifying an indication of a plurality of data cell objects, each of the data cell objects including a plurality of content flags identifying types of content within the object, a plurality of transmission flags specifying how to broadcast the content in the network, and a plurality of error flags specifying errors in the content.    
     
     
         41 . An article of manufacture specifying a representation of an object stored in a computer-readable storage medium and capable of electronic transmission between machines in a distributed system, the article of manufacture comprising: 
 an hierarchical data cell object to be transmitted in a network, the hierarchical data cell object specifying an indication of a plurality of data cell objects, each of the data cell objects including a plurality of content flags identifying types of content within the object, a plurality of transmission flags specifying how to broadcast the content in the network, and a plurality of error flags specifying errors in the content, the hierarchical data cell object further specifying a pointer identifying a parent data cell associated with the hierarchical data cell within a hierarchical structure of content.