Name service system and method for automatic updating on interconnected hosts

A computer system including a plurality of interconnected hosts and a name information service system, the computer system comprising:

• a first host arranged to run a first program containing a first file including names of objects running on the computer system, wherein the first file further includes a first network address corresponding to each of said object names;
• for each of said objects, a second host interconnected with said first host, said second host being arranged to run a second program containing a second file including names of objects running on the computer system, wherein the second file further includes a second network address corresponding to each of said object names, said first network address for at least one of said objects including a designation identifying said second program on said second host;
• and
• a method for returning the network address of a particular object upon request from a client in the computer system, said method being arranged to determine whether the network address of said particular object in said first file designates said second program on said second host, return to said client the network address of said particular object from said second file when said network address of said particular object in said first file designates said second program on said host, and return to said client the network address of said particular object from said first file when said network address of said particular object in said first file does not designate said second program on said host.

A computer readable storage medium containing encoded data for use in a computer network having a plurality of interconnected hosts, said computer network including a name information service system, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

• program code that enables a first host to run a first application containing a first file including names of objects running in the network, wherein for a particular one of said object name, the first filed includes a first network address corresponding to said particular object name;
• and
• for each of said objects, program code that enables a second host interconnected with said first host to run a second application containing a second file comprising names of objects running in the network, wherein for said particular object name, said second file further includes a second network address corresponding to said particular object, said first network address including a designation identifying said second application on said second host, said data comprising an application for causing said computer network to perform a method for returning the network address of an object upon request from a client in the computer network, said method comprising the steps of:
• determining whether the network address of said object in said first file designates said second program on said second host;
• when said network address of said object in said first file designates said second program on said second host, returning to said client the network address of said object from said second file;
• and
• when said network address of said object in said first file does not designate said second program on said second host, returning to said client the network address of said object from said first file.

A computer program product for use in a computer network having a plurality of interconnected hosts and a name information service system, the computer program product comprising:

• computer code that embodies a first program containing a first file comprising names of objects running in the computer network, wherein for each of said object names, the first file further comprises a first network address corresponding to said object name;
• computer code that causes a first host to run the first program;
• computer code that embodies a second program containing a second file comprising names of objects running in the computer network, wherein for each of said object names, the second program further comprises a second network address corresponding to said object;
• computer code that causes a second host interconnect with said first host to run the second program, wherein said first network address includes a designation identifying said second program on said second host;
• and
• a computer readable medium that contains the computer codes.