Mechanism to cache references to Java RMI remote objects implementing the unreferenced interface

A method, in a client, for reusing a connection to a server, comprising:

• identifying a weak reference to a connection object for a connection to a server;
• determining whether the connection object has been destroyed;
• and
• reusing the connection if the connection object has not been destroyed.

A method, in a client, for caching connections to a server, comprising:

• adding a reference to a connection object for a connection to a weak hash map and a hash map;
• responsive to conclusion of a communication process using the connection, starting a timer;
• and
• responsive to conclusion of a predetermined time period measured by the timer, removing the reference to the connection object from the hash map.

An apparatus, in a client, for managing connections to a server in a distributed environment, comprising:

• connection means for establishing a connection to a server;
• timer means for starting a timer responsive to conclusion of a communication process using the connection;
• normal reference means for maintaining a normal reference to a connection object for the connection;
• weak reference means for maintaining a weak reference to the connection object responsive to conclusion of a predetermined time period measured by the timer;
• and
• garbage collection means for periodically destroying connection objects maintained by weak references.

An apparatus, in a client, for reusing a connection to a server, comprising:

• identification means for identifying a weak reference to a connection object for a connection to a server;
• determination means for determining whether the connection object has been destroyed;
• and
• connection means for reusing the connection if the connection object has not been destroyed.

An apparatus, in a client, for caching connections to a server, comprising:

• reference means for adding a reference to a connection object for a connection to a weak hash map and to a hash map;
• timer means for starting a timer responsive to conclusion of a communication process using the connection;
• and
• removal means for removing the reference to the connection object from the hash map responsive to conclusion of a predetermined time period measured by the timer.

A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for managing connections in a distributed environment, comprising:

• instructions for establishing a connection;
• instructions for starting a timer responsive to conclusion of a communication process using the connection;
• instructions for maintaining a normal reference to a connection object for the connection;
• instructions for maintaining a weak reference to the connection object responsive to conclusion of a predetermined time period measured by the timer;
• and
• instructions for periodically destroying connection objects maintained by weak references.

A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for reusing a connection to a server, comprising:

• instructions for identifying a weak reference to a connection object for a connection;
• instructions for determining whether the connection object has been destroyed;
• and
• instructions for reusing the connection if the connection object has not been destroyed.

A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for caching connections to a server, comprising:

• instructions for adding a reference to a connection object for a connection to a weak hash map and a hash map;
• instructions for starting a timer responsive to conclusion of a communication process using the connection;
• and
• instructions for removing the reference to the connection object from the hash map responsive to conclusion of a predetermined time period measured by the timer.