Apparatus and method for interfacing host computer and computer nodes using redundant gateway data lists of accessible computer node data

In a data processing system having a host processor and a network of working computer nodes linked to the host processor over the network for communication therebetween according to a predefined host processor protocol, each one of said working computer nodes having respective computer node data and the network of working computer nodes including object oriented data handling, a method of interfacing between the host processor and the network of working computer nodes, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of gateways, each having a data list indicating names of items of computer node data;
• coupling each gateway between the host processor and a respective multiplicity of working computer nodes such that said gateways serve as interpreters between respective working computer nodes and programs executed on the host processor by each gateway having a data list indicating names of items of computer node data at the respective working computer nodes which items are accessible by the host processor via the gateway which has the data list, such that programs executed on the host processor use the host processor protocol to request computer node data by item name and the gateways support access to the computer node data according to item name;
• storing in a data handling means a relationship between each computer node data item and a gateway which has a data list which includes the computer node data item name such that requests for computer node data by item name are identified with gateways which support the requests;
• executing a program on the host processor;
• with said data handling means, receiving from the host processor a request for a computer node data item by data item name;
• referencing by said data handling means the stored relationship between data items and gateways to identify the gateway which supports access to the requested computer node data item;
• accessing the requested computer node data item with support from the identified gateway;
• and
• changing location of a data list by copying the data list from one gateway to a second functioning gateway during times of the one gateway disfunctioning and modifying the stored relationship between the computer node data items and the gateways, such that the second gateway supports access to the computer node data items whose names are indicated in the copied data list instead of the one gateway, said copying of the data list from the one gateway to the second gateway enabling programs executed on the host processor to continue requesting computer node data by item name and in a manner that is free of change in host processor protocol.