System and method for modular network transaction processing with plug-in processing modules and interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing network transactions by breaking down the transactions into several stages and performing the processing corresponding to each stage using a different plug-in module. One embodiment of the invention comprises an application programming interface (API) that enables the use of individual plug-in modules to perform different stages of the processing of a transaction. The API defines a series of interfaces to corresponding plug-in processing modules, where each interface corresponds to a stage of processing of a transaction and the API conveys transaction information from one plug-in module to the next, until all of the processing stages have been completed. The API may be embodied in a network transaction processing application that is adaptable to different functionalities and different protocols by plugging different modules into the interface provided by the API.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 354,976, entitled “A Plug-In API For Modular Network Transaction Processing,” by Jeremy S. de Bonet, filed Feb. 7, 2002 which is hereby fully incorporated by reference herein. Additionally, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 349,344, entitled “Modular Plug-In Transaction Processing Architecture” by de Bonet et al., filed Jan. 18, 2002 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 349,424, entitled “Network Proxy Platform that Simultaneously Supports Data Transformation, Storage, and Manipulation for Multiple Protocols” by de Bonet et al., filed on Jan. 18, 2002, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 342,113, entitled “Method and System of Performing Transactions Using Shared Resources and Different Applications,” by de Bonet et al., filed Jan. 14, 2003 are incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates generally...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] The various embodiments of the invention may provide a number of advantages over prior art systems and methods. For example, because many modules can run within the same program, a single port can be shared by different modules and thereby different tasks can be performed on requests to a single port. Further, the present architecture supports listening to multiple ports, each with the same or different protocols and module dispatching rules. Further, rather than dispatching requests to completely new programs, the present method allows for dynamically selecting different series of modules to process the transaction, making possible substantial overlap and reuse of functionality. Still further, changing the tasks performed by a program can be achieved by writing new modules or simply by rearranging or recombining preexisting modules. Still further, modules within the program may access common resources and make calls to functions provided by other modules (e.g., caching, logging, configuration, authorization, monitoring, communications, etc.). Thus, for example, different caching modules (which might have slightly different behaviors) can store and retrieve their content from the same cache—thus maximizing the chances of achieving a cache hit.

[0015] Further, by creating a system that breaks down network transactions into a series of stages, and by processing each of the stages in a modular fashion, the number of protocols supported by the system may be rapidly increased. The modular processing of the stages may also increase the ability of the system to adjust and modify the functionality that is provided in the processing of the transactions (e.g., adding new tasks). The use of the API may therefore provide greater control and flexibility over the various stages of transaction processing. Still further, by extending the API to include plug-in functionality, new modules can be created by parties other than the producer of the server application and plugged into the system without the need to expose source code.

Problems solved by technology

The only restriction on these programs is that only one program can bind to a specific TCP or UDP port at a time.

Prior art programs that perform multiple tasks are actually quite rare.

Prior art programs therefore present a number of difficulties in designing a system that performs multiple tasks.

Further, because different programs are typically used to perform different tasks (e.g., as in the foregoing example of the Web server that dispatches requests to other programs), there is little or no sharing of functionality between these programs.

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