Network component server

A system for integrating, exposing and managing distributed components residing on a computer network, comprising:

• managing means for controlling requests for distributed components;
• and
• registry means for accessing registered components in response to requests from said managing means, said registry means including,
• first means for performing an initial look up function based on the type of the request,
• second means for receiving the request when the component type is located in said first means and having instances of components stored therein, an instance of said components being accessed when the instance matches the request,
• third means having implementations of the components registered in said second means stored therein, an implementation being invoked corresponding to the component instance accessed by said second means, and
• fourth means for storing interface specifications for the implementations stored in said third means, an interface specification being passed to said managing means for the invoked implementation;
• said managing means providing the necessary binding between the requested and offered components.

A method for integrating, exposing and managing distributed components residing on a computer network, comprising the steps of:

• (a) controlling requests for distributed components;
• (b) accessing registered components in response to requests from said step (a), said step (b) including the steps of,
• (i) performing an initial look up function based on the type of the request,
• (ii) receiving the request when the component type is located at said step (i) and having instances of components stored therein, an instance of said components being accessed when the instance matches the request,
• (iii) invoking a registered implementation corresponding to the component instance accessed at said step (ii), and
• (iv) storing interface specifications for the registered implementations, an interface specification being passed to said step (a) for the invoked implementation;
• and
• (c) providing the necessary binding between the requested and offered components.

A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions for integrating, exposing and managing distributed components residing on a computer network, the executable program instructions comprising the program instructions for:

• (a) controlling requests for distributed components;
• (b) accessing registered components in response to requests from said step (a), said step (b) including the steps of,
• (i) performing an initial look up function based on the type of the request;
• (ii) receiving the request when the component type is located at said step (i) and having instances of components stored therein, an instance of said components being accessed when the instance matches the request;
• (iii) invoking a registered implementation corresponding to the component instance accessed at said step (ii), and
• (iv) storing interface specifications for the registered implementations, an interface specification being passed to said step (a) for the invoked implementation;
• and
• (c) providing the necessary binding between the requested and offered components.