Method for coordinating activities and sharing information using a data definition language
AssigneeNextPage, Inc.
InventorsSelene K. Makarios, Robert C. Fitzwilson, Heather L. Downs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A widely-used data definition language such as the Extensible Markup Language is used to implement a tuple space-based coordination mechanism. Entries and template entries can represent any type of networked or network-proxied resource, object or service. Using this framework, diverse entry spaces can be aggregated and operated upon as though they were a single large entry space. The flexibility and power of XML constructs can be leveraged to make such aggregation straightforward and efficient.
Claims6
A method of sharing data between a plurality of processors in communication with one another comprising:
- using a first computer to generate an entry using an extensible markup language, the entry comprising a plurality of fields, each of the fields having a value;
- using a computer to store the entry in an entry universe;
- using a second computer to read the entry from the entry universe;
- wherein the entry universe comprises:
- a plurality of entry spaces;
- and
- a plurality of metaspaces;
- wherein each one of a first group of the metaspaces is associated with multiple ones of the plurality of entry spaces and contains a generalized description of entries in its associated entry spaces;
- and
- each one of a second group of the metaspaces is associated with multiple ones of the plurality of first group of metaspaces and contains a generalized description of descriptions in its associated first group metaspaces.
A method of accessing an entry in an entry universe comprising:
- causing a computer to access an entry space in the entry universe using a template;
- when the entry space does not contain an entry matching the template, causing a computer to access a first metaspace associated with the entry space and containing generalized descriptions of entry spaces associated therewith;
- when the template matches a generalized description in the first metaspace, accessing an entry space corresponding to the generalized description;
- and
- when the template does not match a generalized description in the first metaspace, accessing a second metaspace containing a generalized description of the first metaspace.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.