Method and apparatus for dynamically brokering object messages among object models

Abstract

The present invention dynamically brokers object messages between object models. A mediating component provides a bridge between object models such that messages can be transmitted in either direction between object models. The mediating component can be resident on a client machine, a server machine, or both. The mediating component can be used as a bridge between two instances of the same object model running on different machines. Thus, network communication is made possible for objects of an object model that otherwise lacks a networking capability. A client object's message is forwarded to a server object. The mediating component performs any necessary translation of arguments or format of the message. In addition, the mediating component translates a server object's response.

1 . A method of dynamically communicating an object message between a client and a server comprising the steps of:
 intercepting a message generated by said client in a first object model;   examining a second object model for interface information for said server;   using the interface information to generate a translated message for said server; and   forwarding said translated message to said server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of transmitting a response from said server to said client. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 said client sending a query to determine if said server is able to respond to said message; and 
 responding affirmatively to said query regardless of whether said server is able to respond to said message. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of mapping further comprises the steps of:
 creating a proxy object; 
 creating a stub object; and 
 creating an association between said proxy object and said stub object. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of creating an association between said client and said proxy object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of creating an association between said server and said stub object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of creating an association between said server and said proxy object. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of creating an association between said client and said stub object. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said message includes an operation and a plurality of arguments, said step of generating further comprises the steps of:
 translating said operation for said server, 
 translating said plurality of arguments for said server; and 
 generating a translated message using a message protocol of said server. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said step of translating said arguments further comprises the steps of:
 determining the expected number and type of arguments of said server; 
 determining whether an expected argument type is different than an argument type; and 
 translating one of said plurality of arguments to an expected argument type when its type is different than said expected argument type. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said step of transmitting further comprises the steps of:
 determining the expected type of said response; 
 determining whether said type of said response is different than said expected type; 
 translating said response from said type to said expected type when said type is different than said expected type; 
 generating a translated response using a message protocol of said client; and 
 transmitting, using said mapping, said translated response to said client. 
 
     
     
         12 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 a non-transitory computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for dynamically handling an object message between a client and a server, the computer readable program code in said article of manufacture comprising:   computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to intercept a message generated by said client in a first object model;   computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to examine a second object model for interface information for said server;   computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to use the interface information to generate a translated message for said server; and   computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to forward said translated message to said server.   
     
     
         13 . The article of manufacture of  claim 12  further comprising:
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to send a query to determine if said server is able to respond to said message; and 
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to respond affirmatively to said query regardless of whether said server is able to respond to said message. 
 
     
     
         14 . The article of manufacture of  claim 12  wherein said program code configured to cause a computer to generate a map of said client to said sever further comprises:
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to create a proxy object; 
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to create a stub object; and 
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to create an association between said proxy object and said stub object. 
 
     
     
         15 . The article of manufacture of  claim 14  further comprising computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to create an association between said client and said proxy object. 
     
     
         16 . The article of manufacture of  claim 14  further comprising computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to create an association between said server and said stub object. 
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 14  further comprising computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to create in association between said server and said proxy object. 
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 14  further comprising computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to create an association between said client and said stub object. 
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 12  wherein said message includes an operation and a plurality of arguments, said program code configured to cause a computer to generate a translated message further comprises:
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to translate said operation for said server; 
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to translate said plurality of arguments for said server; and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a translated message using a message protocol of said server. 
 
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 19  wherein said program code configured to cause a computer to translate said arguments further comprises:
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine the expected number and type of arguments of said server; 
 a computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine whether an expected argument type is different than an argument type; and 
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to translate one of said plurality of arguments to an expected argument type when its type is different than said expected argument type. 
 
     
     
         21 . The article of manufacture of  claim 12  wherein said program code configured to cause a computer to transmit said response further comprises the steps of:
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine the expected type of said response; 
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine whether said type of said response is different than said expected type; 
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to translate said response from said type to said expected type when said type is different than said expected type; 
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a translated response using a message protocol of said client; 
 and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to transmit, using said mapping, said translated response to said client. 
 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A computer system, comprising:
 a communication interface; and   a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to:   intercept a message generated in a first object model;   examine a second object model for interface information of a server;   use the interface information to generate a translated message for said server; and   forward said translated message to said server via the communication interface.