System, method and apparatus for modularized transformation processing in a network environment

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a system, method and apparatus for modularized transformation processing in a client-server network environment. In one embodiment, a network transaction between a client and a server is broken down into non-transformation and transformation stages, each handled by a module that can be plug-in to an application programming interface (API). As the network transaction is modularized, portions of the transaction information such as client requests and corresponding server responses may be transformed before delivery to their destinations. In one embodiment, transformed responses are cached at a proxy implementing the API.

1 . A method for processing a network transaction, comprising: 
 transforming a portion of said network transaction at a proxy having an application programming interface capable of handling said network transaction through a plurality of plug-in processing modules, including at least one upstream transformation processing plug-in module and at least one downstream transformation processing plug-in module; and    caching said portion of said network transaction.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said plug-in processing modules pass transaction information of said network transaction from one module to next through a series of interfaces of said application programming interface.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving a client request, wherein said transforming a portion of said network transaction further comprises transforming said client request.    
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said transforming said client request further comprises providing additional information to a server.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving a server response, wherein said transforming a portion of said network transaction further comprises transforming said server response.    
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said transforming said server response further comprises removing or modifying information present in said server response.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 receiving a request from a client; and    sending a transformed response to said client in response to said request.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 dynamically installing at least one plug-in processing module at said proxy.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 dynamically de-installing one of said plug-in processing modules.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 dynamically installing at least one plug-in processing module in place of a de-installed plug-in processing module.    
   
   
       11 . A computer-readable medium embodying computer-executable instructions for 
 transforming a portion of said network transaction at a proxy having an application programming interface capable of handling said network transaction through a plurality of plug-in processing modules, including at least one upstream transformation processing plug-in module and at least one downstream transformation processing plug-in module.    
   
   
       12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 computer-executable instructions implementing said application programming interface, wherein said application programming interface defines a series of interfaces enabling said plug-in processing modules to pass transaction information of said network transaction from one module to next.    
   
   
       13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 computer-executable instructions for receiving and transforming a client request.    
   
   
       14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 computer-executable instructions implementing said at least one upstream transformation processing plug-in module, wherein said computer-executable instructions implementing said at least one upstream transformation processing plug-in module further comprise computer-executable instructions for providing additional information to a server before sending said client request to said server.    
   
   
       15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 computer-executable instructions for receiving and transforming a server response.    
   
   
       16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 computer-executable instructions implementing said at least one downstream transformation processing plug-in module, wherein said computer-executable instructions implementing said at least one downstream transformation processing plug-in module further comprise computer-executable instructions for removing or modifying information present in said server response.    
   
   
       17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 computer-executable instructions for dynamically installing at least one plug-in processing module at said proxy.    
   
   
       18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 computer-executable instructions for dynamically de-installing one of said plug-in processing modules.    
   
   
       19 . A computer system, comprising: 
 a processor;    a computer-readable medium embodying computer instructions executable by said processor; 
 wherein said computer instructions implement an application programming interface;  
 wherein said application programming interface defines a series of interfaces enabling a plurality of plug-in processing modules to pass transaction information of a network transaction from one module to next; and  
 wherein said plurality of plug-in processing modules include at least one upstream transformation processing plug-in module and at least one downstream transformation processing plug-in module; and  
   a memory for storing a portion of said network transaction transformed by said at least one downstream transformation processing plug-in module.    
   
   
       20 . The computer system of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one upstream transformation processing plug-in module transforms client requests and said at least one downstream transformation processing plug-in module transforms server responses.