Software components as virtual processors

In a computerized system with a plurality of software objects, including one or more software component objects, each comprising one or more functions, wherein an interface for accessing the one or more software component objects and corresponding one or more functions is based on parameters and return values, a method of dynamically accessing the one or more software component objects in accomplishing a task or goal, wherein the method comprises acts of:

• creating a plurality of nodes, wherein each node includes (i) one or more software component objects each comprising one or more functions implementing a particular functionality, wherein each of the software component objects is independent and unaware of any other software component object, and (ii) a controller object that manages interaction with the one or more software component objects;
• requesting the particular functionality of at least one of the one or more functions of the one or more software component objects;
• dynamically identifying a first software component object that is capable of satisfying the request for the particular functionality, wherein the identification of the first software component object may persist only for the request, independent of any particular requester, allowing another software component object to be dynamically identified for a subsequent request, even where the subsequent request is from a prior requester;
• and
• calling the first software component object.

In a computerized system with a plurality of software objects, including one or more software component objects, each comprising one or more functions, wherein an interface for accessing the one or more software component objects and corresponding one or more functions is based on parameters and return values, a method of dynamically accessing the one or more software component objects in accomplishing a task or goal, wherein the method comprises steps for:

• providing an environment that includes at least one node, wherein the at least one node includes (i) one or more software component objects each comprising one or more functions implementing a particular functionality, and (ii) a controller object that manages interaction with the one or more software component objects;
• generating a request for the particular functionality of at least one of the one or more functions of the one or more software component objects;
• dynamically locating a first software component object that is capable of satisfying the request for the particular functionality, wherein the dynamically locating permits another software component object to be dynamically located for a subsequent request, even where the subsequent request is from a prior requester;
• and
• running the first software component object.

In a computerized system that allows for a plurality of software objects and may include one or more software component objects, each with one or more functions, and may include a controller object that manages interaction with the one or more software component objects, a method of dynamically accessing the one or more software component objects comprising acts of:

• defining an interface for at least two software component objects, the interface specifying (i) each function of the one or more software objects, (ii) any parameters relevant to each function, and (iii) any return values relevant to each function;
• defining one or more relationships between the at least two software components, wherein the relationships or associations are separate and independent from any implementation of the at least two software component objects, and wherein the relationships or associations are stored as platform independent logic to be processed by a controller object;
• and
• defining an environment that specifies the location of the at least two software component objects, wherein the at least two software component objects may be distributed across one or more processing nodes.

A computer program product for implementing, in a computerized system with a plurality of software objects, including one or more software component objects, each comprising one or more functions, wherein an interface for accessing the one or more software component objects and corresponding one or more functions is based on parameters and return values, a method of dynamically accessing the one or more software component objects in accomplishing a task or goal, wherein the computer program product comprises:

• a computer readable medium for carrying machine-executable instructions for implementing the method, wherein the method comprises the acts of:
• creating at least one node, wherein the at least one node includes (i) one or more software component objects each comprising one or more functions implementing a particular functionality, and (ii) a controller object that manages interaction with the one or more software component objects;
• requesting the particular functionality of at least one of the one or more functions of the one or more software component objects;
• dynamically identifying a first software component object that is capable of satisfying the request for the particular functionality, wherein the identification of the first software component object may persist only for the request, independent of any particular requester, allowing another software component object to be dynamically identified for a subsequent request, even where the subsequent request is from a prior requester;
• and
• calling the first software component object.