US 5,339,434 A · Heterogeneous data translation system

Abstract

A method and apparatus facilitating the exchange of data between application programs written in a higher level language and running on separate heterogeneous computer platforms, without concern for possible differences in internal data formats in the separate platforms. Each message format to be the subject of exchange among heterogeneous computer platforms is preregistered with each such platform by writing and executing a computer program that contains a definition of the message format in the higher level language. Preregistration produces a message description file in each platform, which is used at initialization time to generate a field descriptor tree in each platform. When a message is to be transmitted, it is first translated to a universal meta format, making use of the field descriptor tree, and on receipt at another platform is translated back to the native format of the receiving platform. Thus, data messages are exchanged without concern for the internal data formats used by the separate platforms.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for exchanging data between application programs running on heterogeneous computer platforms having different internal data formats, the method comprising the steps of:

preregistering each message format with each of the platforms that will be involved in the exchange of data, wherein the step of preregistering a message format generates a definition of the message format in a message description file;
initializing each platform to contain field descriptors for each message format preregistered with the platform, wherein the initializing step uses the message descriptor files to generate the field descriptors, and each field descriptor completely defines a field in the message format;
prior to transmission of a message from a platform, translating the message from its native format to a meta format, using the field descriptors obtained from preregistering the message format;
transmitting the message in meta format from one platform to another;
receiving the message at another platform;
and
translating the received message from the meta format to the native format of the receiving platform, using the field descriptors obtained from preregistering the message format, whereby application programs running on heterogeneous platforms can communicate without regard to possible differences in internal message and memory formats.

4 more elements

Apparatus for exchanging data between application programs running on heterogeneous computer platforms having different internal data formats, the apparatus comprising:

means for preregistering each message format with each of the platforms that will be involved in the exchange of data, wherein the means for preregistering a message format generates a definition of the message format in a message description file;
means for initializing each platform to contain field descriptors for each message format preregistered with the platform, wherein the means for initializing uses the message descriptor files to generate the field descriptors, and each field descriptor completely defines a field in the message format;
for use prior to transmission of a message from a platform, means for translating the message from its native format to a meta format, using the field descriptors obtained from preregistering the message format;
means for transmitting the message in meta format from one platform to another;
means for receiving the message at another platform;
and
means for translating the received message from the meta format to the native format of the receiving platform, using the field descriptors obtained from preregistering the message format, whereby application programs running on heterogeneous platforms can communicate without regard to possible differences in internal message and memory formats.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Heterogeneous data translation system

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Heterogeneous data translation system

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Abstract

Claims10