Dedicated Search Path for Multi-Version CICS Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CICS transaction servers cannot host multiple versions of applications or different applications with duplicate module names due to the lack of a dedicated search path for dynamic libraries, leading to inefficiencies and costs in managing and updating applications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dedicated search path that prioritizes a dynamic module library for each application, allowing modules with the same name to be located in different datasets, thus enabling multiple versions of applications to be hosted without modifying module names or relying on naming indirection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single global search path is used for module names, then the system structure is simple, but multiple versions of applications with duplicate module names cannot be hosted simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single global search path into multiple application-specific search paths. Each application instance gets its own dedicated search path that isolates its module name space from other applications, enabling multiple versions to coexist without naming conflicts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to the search path structure by adding application instance identification to the traditional single search path. This creates a multi-dimensional search space where module names are resolved in the context of specific application instances, allowing duplicate names across different instances.
2Adaptability or versatility
If module names are modified or naming indirection is used to avoid conflicts, then multiple application versions can be hosted, but development and deployment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically assigns unique search paths to each application instance based on its identification, eliminating the need for manual module name modification or complex naming indirection schemes. The isolation is self-managed through the search path structure rather than requiring changes to application code or deployment procedures.
3Productivity
If a dedicated search path is implemented for each application, then multiple application versions can be hosted simultaneously, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal search path management mechanism that handles both single and multiple application instances through the same infrastructure. The search path structure is designed to be flexible, supporting isolation when needed while allowing shared access to common resources, thus managing complexity through a unified approach.
Data Source
AI summary
Operating an online transaction processing system to perform an application including a first module call by performing the following steps (not necessarily in the following order): (i) assigning a dedicated search path to the application, where the search path specifies an ordered set of location(s) for searching for module code, the set of location(s) includes at least a first dynamic module library and the first dynamic module library is ahead of any other locations which may be included in the dedicated search path; (ii) running the application through the transaction processing system; (iii) receiving the first module call, from the running of the application, specifying a requested module using a requested module name; and (iv) in response to the module call, locating the requested module based on the requested module name and the dedicated search path.