as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication oc) Pub. No.: US 2001/0018708 Al
`Shisler et al.
`(43) Pub. Date: Aug. 30, 2001
`
`
`US 2001
`
`0018708A1
`
`(54) PLATFORM-INDEPENDENT
`PROGRAMMABLEBATCH PROCESSING
`ENGINE
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: Harry E. Shisler, Buena Vista, CO
`(US); Kevin D. Reitz, Aurora, CO (US)
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Unt. C7 ccccccceene GO6F 15/16; GO6F 15/177
`
`(52) US. Ch coececccesecsasee 709/220; 709/201; 709/219
`
`Correspondence Address:
`FENWICK & WEST LLP
`TWO PALO ALTO SQUARE
`PALO ALTO, CA 94306 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`09/758,565
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 11, 2001
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 08/743,201, filed on
`Nov. 5, 1996.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A data processing system includes a multitude of client
`computers and server computers, of various platform types,
`interconnected by a network. A batch processing engine
`permits an application resident on a client computer to
`specify processing to be performed by one or more of the
`computers connected to the network,
`regardless of the
`platform type of such computers. The batch processing
`engine is implemented in part by middleware.
`
`System 100
`
`Design Tool
`Subsystem 210
`
`Pracessing
`Subsystem 271
`
`Client
`Middleware
`Subsystem 212
`
`Server
`Computer
`121
`
`Server
`Middleware
`Subsystem 213
`
`Processing
`Subsystem 218
`
`Print
`Server
`Computer
`124
`
`VO
`Middleware
`Subsystem 214
`
`Database
`Middleware
`Subsystem 215
`
`Database
`Server
`Computer
`127
`
`Spec. Server
`Middleware
`Subsystem 219
`
`Batch
`Processing
`Engine
`200
`
`[=]
`
`Specification
`Server
`Computer
`126
`
`Google Exhibit 1012
`Google v. VirtaMove
`
`Google Exhibit 1012
`Google v. VirtaMove
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 3 of 43
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`US 2001/0018708 Al
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 4 of 43
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`US 2001/0018708 Al
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`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 5 of 43
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`US 2001/0018708 Al
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 30, 2001 Sheet 6 of 43
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`US 2001/0018708 Al
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`Figure 6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 7 of 43
`
`US 2001/0018708 Al
`
`704
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 8 of 43
`
`US 2001/0018708 Al
`
`801
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`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 9 of 43
`
`US 2001/0018708 Al
`
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 10 of 43
`
`US 2001/0018708 Al
`
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`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 30, 2001 Sheet 11 of 43
`
`US 2001/0018708 Al
`
`
`
`
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`
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` Page Footer
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`Section 1116
`
`Figure 11A
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 12 of 43
`
`US 2001/0018708 Al
`
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 13 of 43
`
`US 2001/0018708 Al
`
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 15 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 16 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 17 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 19 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 21 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 22 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 26 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 27 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 28 of 43
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`US 2001/0018708 Al
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 29 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 30 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 32 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 33 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 34 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 35 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 36 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 37 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 38 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 39 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 40 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 41 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 42 of 43
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 30,2001 Sheet 43 of 43
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`US 2001/0018708 Al
`
`Aug. 30, 2001
`
`PLATFORM-INDEPENDENT PROGRAMMABLE
`BATCH PROCESSING ENGINE
`
`BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`[0001] This invention relates generally to client/server
`data processing systems, and specifically to systems permit-
`ting applications prepared on a client computer to be sub-
`mitted for processing on any of a variety of connected server
`computers, which servers may beofdifferent platform types.
`
`[0002] Modem data processing systems are often imple-
`mented in “client-server” configurations in which a number
`of “client” computers,
`typically personal computers or
`workstations, communicate with one or more “server” com-
`pulers and request such server computers to perform pro-
`cessing tasks.
`
`In conventional client-server configurations, each
`[0003]
`client computeris required to be compatible in some manner
`with each server computer so that the client and server
`computers can understand one another. In some environ-
`ments, this requirement is easily met, as each client and
`server computer is of the same platform type, e.g., UNIX,
`Windows, Macintosh OS. In other environments, special
`translation protocols are implemented to permit a particular
`clicnt platform type to communicate with a particular server
`platform type.
`
`[0004] As client-server systems become larger and serve
`entire enterprises, such as large corporationsorinstitutions,
`conventional
`techniques
`for
`facilitating communication
`between and among client and server computers become
`more difficult to use, while the need for processing that is
`seamlessly distributed among the systems’ constituent client
`and server computers generally increases.
`
`[0005] For example, if a userof a particular client machine
`creates a particular report application program that provides
`a printed report of general value throughout the organiza-
`tion, it would be extremely valuable for other users, perhaps
`working with clients and servers of different platform types,
`to be able to use the report application program.
`
`[0006] Some known systems restrict processing of the
`user-created application to the user’s client computer in
`order to entirely avoid the problems caused by multiple
`platform types. Other systems process the user-created
`application on the clicnt computer but allow acccss to
`databases stored on other computers on the network, typi-
`cally by the use of a common database protocol such as the
`standard known as SQL.Input-output services are typically
`restricted either to directly attached devices or devices such
`as printers shared at a workgroup or local area network
`(LAN) level. These solutions may be adequate in some
`environments, but for applications that make intensive use
`of database or input-output facilities, such implementations
`result in significant processing delays.
`
`[0007] Recognizing the need to reduce dependency on
`platform Ltypes in distributed processing systems, a number
`of known schemeshave been developed that employa layer
`of system services and protocols commonly known as
`“middleware” that operates at a level that is above each
`computer’s operating system and network facilities but
`below each computer’s specific set of application programs.
`For an overview of such known middleware techniques, see,
`
`e.g., P. Bernstein, Middleware: A Model for Distributed
`System Services, 39 COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM 2
`at 86-98 (February 1996), the contents of which are hereby
`incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
`
`is a
`[0008] Still absent from the knownart, however,
`system for allowing a user of a client computer to create an
`application program locally and run that application, as
`desired, either on the user’s own client computer or any
`other computer that is connected by a network to the user’s
`client computer.
`
`In addition, enterprise-wide data processing sys-
`[0009]
`tems commonly use a variety of databases and input-output
`devices, and the need remains for a system to allow such an
`application, regardless of which machine executesthe appli-
`cation, to access any such database or input-outputfacilities
`that are connected to the network, again without regard to
`the type of platform on which such facilities are imple-
`mented.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance with the present invention, a batch
`[0010]
`processing engine includes a design tool subsystem operable
`on a client computer that creates a set of specifications in
`response to user input. A processing subsystem located
`either on the client computer or on some remote computer
`performs processing in response to the specifications. A
`middleware subsystem is used for communication of the
`specifications to the processing subsystem.
`
`In another aspect of the invention, the specifica-
`{0011]
`tions are sent from the client computer to a server computer
`for storage, and are sent from the server computer to the
`processing subsystem for processing.
`
`the network
`In another aspect of the invention,
`[0012]
`includes database facilities, and a database middleware
`subsystem directs access to the database facilities in accor-
`dance with the specifications.
`
`Instill another aspect of the invention, the network
`[0013]
`includes input-outputfacilities, and an input-output middle-
`ware subsystem directs access to the input-outputfacilities.
`
`In yet another aspect of the invention, a remote
`[0014]
`computer that is processing an application in accordance
`with the specifications sends to the client computer comple-
`tion data in response to completion of processing of the
`application.
`
`In a further aspect of the invention, a remote
`{0015]
`computer processing an application in accordance with the
`specifications sends to the client computer error data in
`response to detection of an error in processing of the
`application.
`
`In yet a further aspect of the invention, the input-
`{0016]
`output middleware subsystem selectively routes an input-
`output data stream to one of a plurality of input-output
`devices and converts the data stream to a format suitable for
`
`the selected one of the input-output devices.
`
`[0017] The features and advantages described in the speci-
`fication are not all-inclusive, and particularly, many addi-
`tional features and advantages will be apparent to one of
`ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specifica-
`tion, and claims hereof. Moreover, it should be noted that the
`
`

`

`US 2001/0018708 Al
`
`Aug. 30, 2001
`
`language used in the specification has been principally
`selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may
`not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the
`
`inventive subject matter, resort to the claims being necessary
`to determine such inventive subject matter.
`
`FIG.22 is another user interface screen for select-
`[0039]
`ing and sequencing section sort objects.
`
`FIG.23is a user interface screen for group section
`[0040]
`and variable properties.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system (100) for
`data processing in accordance with the present invention.
`
`[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a batch processing
`engine (200), in accordance with the present invention.
`
`[0020] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of processing for a design
`tool subsystem of the batch processing engine illustrated in
`FIG.2.
`
`[0021] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of processing for a
`processing subsystem of the batch processing engineillus-
`trated in FIG,2.
`
`[0041]
`objects.
`
`FIG. 24 is a user interface screen for aligning
`
`[0042] FIG. 25 is a user interface screen for report ren-
`dering.
`
`[0043] FIG. 26 is a user interface screen for connecting
`accumulated objects.
`
`[0044] FIG. 27 is a user interface screen for connecting
`level break objects.
`
`[0045]
`erties.
`
`[0046]
`version.
`
`FIG.28 is a user interface screen for report prop-
`
`FIG. 29 is a user interface screen for adding a
`
`[0022] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the terminate report
`subprocess shown in FIG, 4.
`
`[0047] FIG. 30 is a user interface screen for version
`overrides.
`
`FIG.6 is a flow diagram of the etch Section Data
`[0023]
`Records subprocess shown in FIG. 4.
`
`[0024] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of the Process Level
`Breaks subprocess shownin FIG.6.
`
`[0025] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of the Process Tabular
`Level Breaks subprocess shown in FIG.7.
`
`[0026] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of the Print Objects
`subprocess shown in FIG. 4.
`
`[0027] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of the Process Child
`Sections subprocess shownin FIG.7.
`
`[0028] FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C illustrate exemplary
`reports produced by system 100.
`
`[0029] FIG. 12 illustrates a user interface object librarian
`dialog screen for adding a new object.
`
`[0030] FIG. 13 illustrates a user interface batch engine
`librarian dialog screen for working with version and tem-
`plates.
`
`[0031] FIG. 14 illustrates a user interface pull-down menu
`screen for creating new sections.
`
`[0032] FIG. 15 illustrates a user interface screen for
`setting page header section properties.
`
`[0033] FIG. 16 illustrates a user interface screen for
`inserting objects into reports.
`
`[0034] FIG. 17 a user interface screen for setting proper-
`ties for constants.
`
`{0035] FIG. 18 is a user interface screen for setting
`properties for sections.
`
`[0036] FIG. 19 is a user interface screen for selecting
`business views.
`
`FIG.20 is a user interface screen for quick section
`[0037]
`selection.
`
`[0038] FIG. 21 is a user interface screen for selecting and
`sequencing section sort objects.
`
`FIG.31is a user interface screen for data selection
`[0048]
`in a section.
`
`[0049] FIG. 32 is a user interface screen fora final version
`of a report.
`
`[0050] FIG. 33 is a user interface screen for setting up
`printing for a report.
`
`[0051]
`sections.
`
`FIG. 34 is a user interface screen for joining
`
`[0052] FIG. 35 is a user interface screen for selecting
`business rules.
`
`[0053] FIG. 36 is a user interface screen for event rules
`design.
`
`FIG.37 is a user interface screen for designing a
`[0054]
`calculation.
`
`[0055]
`manager.
`
`FIG.38 is a uscr interface sercen for an expression
`
`[0056] FIG. 39 is a user interface screen for a business
`function search.
`
`[0057] FIG. 40 is a user interface screen for passing
`values in a business function.
`
`FIG.41 is a user interface screen for displaying an
`[0058]
`eventrule.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`[0059] The figures depict a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention for purposes of illustration only. One
`skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following
`discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures
`
`and methods illustrated herein may be employed without
`departing from the principles of the invention described
`herein.
`
`[0060] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is showna system
`100 for data processing in accordance with the present
`invention. The operation of system 100 is illustrated by
`discussion of the componentparts illustrated in FIG. 1. As
`
`

`

`US 2001/0018708 Al
`
`Aug. 30, 2001
`
`illustrated in FIG. 1, system 100 includes a numberofclient
`computers, e.g., 111, 112, and a numberof server computers,
`e.g., 121-128, all of which are interconnected by a network
`150.
`
`In a preferred embodiment, client computers 111,
`[0061]
`112 are implemented using conventional personal computer
`workstations, such as conventional machines using the Win-
`dowsoperating environment. It should be noted that in an
`alternate embodiment, not all of the client computers need
`be of the same platform type. For instance,
`in such an
`embodiment client computer 111 may be a Windows-based
`machine, while client computer 112 may be a UNIX-based
`workstation.
`
`Similarly, server computers 121-128 may be of a
`[0062]
`variety of platforms. For example, in one embodimentserver
`computers 121 and 122 are conventional mid-range server
`computers operating as UNIX platform machines, while
`server computer 123 is a mainframe host computer using the
`MVSoperating system.
`
`[0063] Server computers 124 and 125 are conventional
`print servers specifically designed to provide certain types of
`printing facilities. For instance, in one embodiment print
`server computer 124 is a conventional high speed shared-
`access laser printer and print server computer 125 is a high
`speed shared access line printer. It should be noted that these
`devices may or may not operate according to a common
`protocol.
`
`[0064] Server computer 126 is a conventional server used
`as a repository of report templates as described below.
`
`[0065] Server computers 127 and 128 are conventional
`database server computers specifically designed to provide
`database facilities. In one embodiment, database server 127
`is a UNIX-based server computer implementing an Oracle®
`relational database facility, and database server 128 is a
`Windows-based server computer
`implementing a SQL
`Server relational database facility.
`
`[0066] Clients 111, 112 and servers 121-128 are intercon-
`nected by a conventional network 150.
`In a preferred
`embodiment, network 150 is implemented by conventional
`network hardware and software for implementation of local
`area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs),
`providing,for instance, conventional “intranet” connectivity
`of computers 111, 112, and 121-128.
`
`[0067] Since the various computers connected using net-
`work 150 are of a variety of platform types, they cannot
`interoperate in a conventional manner. Therefore, to provide
`the features and advantages discussed above and referring
`nowalso to FIG. 2, system 100 includes a batch processing
`engine 200 implemented by the various components of
`system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. Specifically, batch pro-
`cessing engine 200 includes a design tool subsystem 210, a
`local processing subsystem 211, a client middleware sub-
`system 212, a server middleware subsystem 213, an input/
`output middleware subsystem 214, and a database middle-
`ware subsystem 215.
`
`[0068] Design tool subsystem 210 is an application soft-
`ware program operable on client computer 111. In a pre-
`ferred embodiment, design tool subsystem 210 provides a
`user with facilities for requesting certain services from
`system 100, for instance a report of all customers whose
`
`names are stored in system 100 and whoreside in the state
`of Colorado. In response to user input, design tool sub-
`system 210 generates a set of specifications describing the
`processing services desired by the user of client computer
`111. For purposesofillustration, the example of reports is
`used for the description below, but other processing services
`are attainable in a similar manneras well.
`
`[0069] Client middleware subsystem 212 and server
`middleware subsystem 213 are used to send messages to
`other computers in system 100 through a high level appli-
`cation programming interface (API) that insulates a pro-
`grammer of system 100 from concerns about platform
`differences among the various computers of system 100.
`These conventional middleware subsystems send datafiles
`and launch processes across system 100 and also receive
`message