Systems, methods and computer program products for chaining Java servlets across networks

A method of invoking a chain of servlets, wherein each servlet in the chain is configured to perform a respective processing task using a response from a preceding servlet in the chain, wherein each servlet in the chain resides within a different respective host computer in communication with a network, and wherein a Java® Virtual Machine (JVM) is implemented within each host computer, the method comprising the steps of:

• invoking a first servlet to perform a first processing task, wherein the first servlet resides within a first host computer and performs the first processing task within the first host computer;
• determining, via a filter within the first host computer that examines a fully qualified universal resource locator (URL) used to invoke the first servlet, whether one or more additional servlets are chained to the first servlet;
• invoking a second servlet in the chain to perform a second processing task using a response produced by the first servlet upon determining that one or more additional servlets are chained to the first servlet, wherein the second servlet resides within a second host computer and performs the second processing task within the second host computer;
• determining, via a filter within the second host computer that examines a fully qualified universal resource locator (URL) used to invoke the second servlet, whether one or more additional servlets are chained to the second servlet;
• and
• forwarding a response produced by the second servlet to a user upon determining that no additional servlets are chained to the second servlet.

A system for creating a chain of servlets, wherein each servlet in the chain is configured to perform a respective processing task using a response from a preceding servlet in the chain, wherein each servlet in the chain resides within a different respective host computer in communication with a network, and wherein a Java® Virtual Machine (JVM) is implemented within each host computer, comprising:

• means for defining an order in which each servlet in the chain is to perform a respective processing task, wherein each servlet in the chain resides within a different respective host computer, and wherein each servlet in the chain performs its respective processing task within its respective host computer;
• means for mapping a location of each servlet within the chain to a filter within each host computer;
• and
• means for registering the location of each servlet with a network directory accessible by each host computer.

A system of invoking a chain of servlets, wherein each servlet in the chain is configured to perform a respective processing task using a response from a preceding servlet in the chain, wherein each servlet in the chain resides within a different respective host computer in communication with a network, and wherein a Java® Virtual Machine (JVM) is implemented within each host computer, comprising:

• means for invoking a first servlet to perform a first processing task, wherein the first servlet resides within a first host computer and performs the first processing task within the first host computer;
• means for determining, via a filter within the first host computer that examines a fully qualified universal resource locator (URL) used to invoke the first servlet, whether one or more additional servlets are chained to the first servlet;
• means for invoking a second servlet in the chain to perform a second processing task using a response produced by the first servlet upon determining that one or more additional servlets are chained to the first servlet, wherein the second servlet resides within a second host computer and performs the second processing task within the second host computer;
• means for determining, via a filter within the second host computer that examines a fully qualified universal resource locator (URL) used to invoke the second servlet, whether one or more additional servlets are chained to the second servlet;
• and
• means for forwarding a response produced by the second servlet to a user upon determining that no additional servlets are chained to the second servlet.

A computer program product for creating a chain of servlets, wherein each servlet in the chain is configured to perform a respective processing task using a response from a preceding servlet in the chain, wherein each servlet in the chain resides within a different respective host computer in communication with a network, and wherein a Java® Virtual Machine (JVM) is implemented within each host computer, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code means comprising:

• computer readable program code means for defining an order in which each servlet in the chain is to perform a respective processing task, wherein each servlet in the chain resides within a different respective host computer, and wherein each servlet in the chain performs its respective processing task within its respective host computer;
• computer readable program code means for mapping a location of each servlet within the chain to a filter within each host computer;
• and
• computer readable program code means for registering the location of each servlet with a network directory accessible by each host computer.

A computer program product for invoking a chain of servlets, wherein each servlet in the chain is configured to perform a respective processing task using a response from a preceding servlet in the chain, wherein each servlet in the chain resides within a different respective host computer in communication with a network, and wherein a Java® Virtual Machine (JVM) is implemented within each host computer, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code means comprising:

• computer readable program code means for invoking a first servlet to perform a first processing task, wherein the first servlet resides within a first host computer and performs the first processing task within the first host computer;
• computer readable program code means for determining, via a filter within the first host computer that examines a fully qualified universal resource locator (URL) used to invoke the first servlet, whether one or more additional servlets are chained to the first servlet;
• computer readable program code means for invoking a second servlet in the chain to perform a second processing task using a response produced by the first servlet upon determining that one or more additional servlets are chained to the first servlet, wherein the second servlet resides within a second host computer and performs the second processing task within the second host computer;
• computer readable program code means for determining, via a filter within the second host computer that examines a fully qualified universal resource locator (URL) used to invoke the second servlet, whether one or more additional servlets are chained to the second servlet;
• and
• computer readable program code means for forwarding a response produced by the second servlet to a user upon determining that no additional servlets are chained to the second servlet.