Inter-process Communication via Rendezvous Files
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inter-process communication methods for applications running on a single computer are either too heavy-weight for cross-platform compatibility or are operating system-dependent, making it difficult to port software between different operating systems.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight inter-process communication mechanism using rendezvous files that contain platform-dependent information for establishing connections between application processes, allowing for cross-platform compatibility through a platform-independent API, ensuring only one instance of each application runs and enabling easy portability across different operating systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cross-platform inter-process communication methods like CORBA are used, then platform compatibility is improved, but system complexity and overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential communication functionality from complex cross-platform protocols and implements it through simple platform-specific files. Instead of using heavy-weight CORBA infrastructure, the invention extracts only the necessary file-based communication mechanism that works natively on each platform, eliminating unnecessary complexity while maintaining compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses lightweight platform-specific files as temporary communication intermediaries rather than establishing persistent complex communication infrastructure. These files are created, read, and discarded as needed for each communication task, providing a simple disposable mechanism that avoids the overhead of maintaining complex cross-platform protocol stacks.
2Ease of manufacture
If operating system-dependent methods like COM are used, then implementation simplicity is improved, but portability to other platforms deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication mechanism into platform-specific file handling layers. Each operating system has its own simple file-based implementation, allowing each platform to use its native simple mechanism while the overall system achieves portability through this segmented architecture. This avoids the need to port complex OS-dependent protocols like COM to different platforms.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method of inter-process communication between at least two application processes on one computer. One embodiment of the invention includes a first process of a first application determining a name of a first file in a file system of the computer, the name of the first file being associated with a second application, the first file containing information for the first process to connect to a second process of the second application for inter-process communication; and the first process initiating a first connection to the second process using the information contained in the first file; the first process communicating with the second process using the first connection if the first connection is successfully established; and the first process starting a third process of the second application if the first process fails to establish a connection with the second process.