Object-oriented distributed communications directory service

A method for connecting a client node having a memory to a server node having a memory with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) connecting the client node to the network system with a dynamically programmable network stack;
• (b) creating in the client node, a directory service program having means for storing in the client node memory stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the network system;
• (c) installing a service program in the server node for providing the service and using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the client node memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service;
• and
• (d) using the request with the directory service to locate and retrieve the stored service object in order to use the stack definition referenced therein to dynamically program the network stack to operate with a communication protocol required by the service program so that the client node can receive the service without becoming involved in the details of communication protocols.

A computer program product for connecting a client node having a memory to a server node having a memory with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, including:

• program code for connecting the client node to the network system with a dynamically programmable network stack;
• program code for creating in the client node, a directory service program having means for storing, in the client node memory, stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the network system;
• program code for installing a service program in the server node for providing the service, the program code using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the client node memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service;
• and
• program code for using the request with the directory service to locate and retrieve the stored service object in order to use the stack definition referenced therein to dynamically program the network stack to operate with a communication protocol required by the service program so that the client node can receive the service without becoming involved in the details of communication protocols.

A server node for use with a computer network for connecting to a client node with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the server node comprising:

• a memory;
• a dynamically programmable network stack connecting the server node to the network system;
• a communications directory service program having means for storing stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the computer network;
• a service program for providing the service;
• installer apparatus for installing the service program in the server node, the installer apparatus using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service program and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service;
• and
• means for making an entry in the directory service program associating the service with the service object.

A client node for use in a computer network system for connecting to a server node with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the server node having installer apparatus therein for installing a service program in the server node for providing the service, the installer apparatus using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the client node memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service, the client node comprising:

• a memory;
• a dynamically programmable network stack connecting the client node to the network system;
• a directory service program having means for storing in the memory stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the network system;
• and
• apparatus responsive to the service request for using the directory service to locate and retrieve the stored service object and for using the stack definition referenced therein to dynamically program the network stack to operate with a communication protocol required by the service program so that the client node can receive the service without becoming involved in the details of communication protocols.