JP4550085B2 - Object linkage device that uses message types - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an object cooperation apparatus that performs cooperation processing such as dialogue / cooperation of a computer group or an object group, and a plurality of processes are created in an object-oriented environment, flexibly responding to environmental changes through a computer network, The present invention relates to an object linkage apparatus for constructing a system that changes gradually.

  In recent years, with the progress of networking, a system in which a plurality of objects distributed on a network perform processing in cooperation with each other is increasing. Researches such as object-oriented programming and component technology have been made as techniques for processing such a plurality of objects in cooperation.

  CORBA (The Common Object Request Broker: Architecture and Specification) is known as an object-oriented programming common specification. FIG. 10 shows an example of object cooperation in a client / server system based on CORBA. In this system, a client application and a server application cooperate with each other, that is, perform a series of processes by object cooperation.

  In CORBA, an interface of a service provided by each client and server is described in IDL (Interface Definition Language). Here, for the operations that can be requested to the object, the operation name, parameter definition, return value definition, exception handling when an error occurs, additional information, etc. are defined. By compiling the contents defined in IDL with a dedicated compiler, a stub for a client and a skeleton for a server are generated. The client application activates and uses the operation by calling a routine provided by the stub. The stub and skeleton are generated in a programming language used by the corresponding client application or server application. As described above, it has become easy to construct an object cooperation process using CORBA or the like. However, in order to actually construct such a cooperative process, if it is the above-mentioned CORBA, it is necessary to understand the CORBA itself and to design an object according to the CORBA specification and to define it by IDL. In other words, the person who builds the system needs to know how to use it. In addition, it is necessary to be strongly aware of the relationship between each object. In other words, it is necessary to clarify what kind of processing each object performs and what the delivery parameters are necessary to perform the processing.

  Here, when a person is replaced with an object, each object receives / does not receive the information that flows, and what kind of processing is performed on the received information Are different, in other words, it is desired that the relationship between objects is free. As a technique for solving this problem, there is an object cooperation device. According to the technology of this object cooperation apparatus, a message (that does not specify the recipient object) flows in the communication space shared by each object, and each object takes in the object. Each object has a message / action reaction table, and checks whether or not an action for the captured message is described in the retained message / action reaction table, and if so, executes the corresponding action. To do. If you pay attention to how the object works, it will take action in response to a specific message and will not respond to other messages. According to this object cooperation apparatus, objects are loosely and flexibly linked via a message, and a linkage relationship between objects can be easily constructed and changed easily. As described above, the object linkage apparatus using the message / action reaction table is an excellent technology. The above-mentioned object cooperation device discloses the basic configuration of the object cooperation device using the message / action reaction table, and further applied technologies have been studied for the following points.

  The first is research that flexibly handles differences in message structures suitable for each platform when object collaboration is performed using various platforms. Any platform that can receive messages, such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) with OS for small devices, personal computers, UNIX workstations, mainframes with OS for large machines, etc. Are assumed to have different message structures and message lengths that are easy to handle for each range of platforms. It would be convenient if it was possible to provide a mechanism that could be received by the platforms of all objects participating in the object collaboration and that could bring out sufficient performance for each range of platforms.

  The second is research on improving processing speed and speeding up when the number of objects and the number of platforms that perform object cooperation become large and the number of messages that flow through the core field as a communication path increases.

  The third is research on the construction of synchronous cooperation between objects. Here, the synchronization cooperation means that an event of a specific object (cooperation destination object) follows an event of a specific object (cooperation source object). Typically, the cooperation destination object executes the same event in synchronization with the event of the cooperation source object, such as the movement of the mouse.

  It is an object of the present invention to fully utilize the characteristics of a conventional object cooperation apparatus and to provide further excellent technical characteristics.

  First, the object linkage apparatus of the present invention is constructed using platforms of various ranges assuming a wide range of scalability, and a message structure that is easy to handle objects operating on these platforms and message processing based on message length are realized. With the goal.

  A second object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for reducing the load and speeding up the object message collating process and the like even when the object cooperation apparatus scale is large.

  Third, there is a mechanism that enables simple and flexible change of the object cooperation relationship when an action related to the information of the name of the object subject of the message is described, such as a synchronization process between the object cooperation devices. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first object cooperation apparatus according to the present invention includes a message receiving unit that monitors and captures a message transmitted by each object on a network, and a message that stores an action content that is a response to the message. An action response relationship storage unit and an action execution unit that executes processing according to the action content, and stores message types handled by the message / action reaction relationship storage unit in an object linkage apparatus that operates according to the message / action reaction relationship Holding and analyzing the message type of the received message, and performing a collation process to determine whether or not the received message type matches the message type handled by the message / action reaction relation storage unit. Action It includes a message-type classification and matching unit to pass to reaction relation storage unit, and executes the action according to the message action response relationship based on a message passed to the Message action reaction relation storage unit.

  With the above configuration, received messages can be selected and captured using message type classification, and collation processing can be performed only on messages handled by the object, so a message structure and message length suitable for each platform An object linkage relationship can be constructed using. Further, since unnecessary collation processing can be omitted, it is possible to reduce the load on the object and speed up the collation processing.

  Here, it is preferable that the message type classification has a hierarchy, and further, the message type classification hierarchy has a classification hierarchy of a class-derived message type and a class-derived message type using the concept of inheritance in object-oriented programming. With the configuration, it is possible to further reduce the load on the object and speed up the collation process.

  Next, in order to achieve the above object, the second object cooperation apparatus of the present invention includes a message receiving unit that monitors and captures a message transmitted from each object to the network, and an action content that is a response to the message. A message / action reaction relationship storage unit for storing and an action execution unit for executing processing according to the action content, and in an object cooperation apparatus that operates according to the message / action reaction relationship, for a message received from one object subject The apparatus includes a subject name rewriting object in which object subject name information in a message representing the one object subject is rewritten to object subject name information representing another object subject and returned on the network.

  With the above-described configuration, the information of the object subject name that sent the message can be rewritten to another object subject name, and the object cooperation relationship can be constructed and changed easily and flexibly. For example, in the message action response relation storage unit of the object that is the slave of the synchronization process, the action content to be subjected to the synchronization process is described using the object subject name that is the rewrite destination, and the object to be rewritten by the subject name rewriting object If the subject name is rewritten with the object subject name that becomes the master object of the synchronization processing, the synchronization processing between the objects can be realized easily and flexibly.

  Next, in order to achieve the above object, in a computer-readable recording medium storing a processing program for realizing an object cooperation device that operates according to the message / action reaction relationship of the present invention, each object is transmitted over a network. A message reception processing step for monitoring and capturing a message; a message / action reaction relation storage processing step for storing an action content that is a response to the message; an action execution processing step for executing processing according to the action content; and the message action A processing step of storing and holding a message type handled in the reaction relation storage processing step, a processing step of analyzing a message type of a received message, and the received message type being the message action A processing step for performing a collation process to check whether or not the message type handled by the reaction relation storage unit matches, and a processing step for passing to the message / action reaction relation storage unit only when the message type matches, only a message having a matching message type Is stored, and a processing program for realizing an object linkage apparatus that executes an action in accordance with the message / action reaction relationship is stored.

  In addition, a computer-readable recording medium storing a processing program for realizing an object cooperation apparatus that operates according to the message / action reaction relationship of the present invention receives a message received by monitoring each object transmitted on the network. A processing step, a message / action reaction relation storage processing step for storing an action content that is a response to a message, an action execution processing step for executing processing according to the action content, and a message received from one object subject A subject name rewriting process step of rewriting object subject name information in a message representing one object subject to object subject name information representing another object subject and returning it to the network. For example, and characterized by storing a processing program for realizing the object collaboration apparatus to rewrite the principal name of outgoing messages of one object to another principal name.

  By reading the processing program for realizing the object cooperation device into a computer via the recording medium, the object cooperation device of the present invention can be constructed using the computer device, and the user can further establish the object cooperation relationship. An object linkage device that can be easily and positively understood can be constructed.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an object cooperation device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
As the first embodiment, an object cooperation apparatus using message pattern type classification and message pattern matching will be described.

  First, the basic principle of object cooperation will be briefly explained. Object linkage does not make the relationship between the linked objects a close relationship that depends on each other's internal state or internal function, but functions by linking the objects that define the sparse relationship of the linked objects. It is configured dynamically. To understand the principle of object cooperation, the Awareness model found in communication between humans and actions in cooperation with each other is useful. In cooperation between distributed objects, information processing similar to Awareness intervening between humans is performed between objects, and the cooperation processing of objects based on detected Awareness is a prerequisite. The cooperation of distributed objects or the cooperation of computers based on the Awareness analogy can be realized by the following configuration.

  1. The Awareness message is shared or broadcast.

  2. Each object that receives an Awareness message has a corresponding relationship between the message and the action.

  3. In an object that transmits or receives an Awareness message, the relationship between the message and the action is separated.

  By using the nature of messages and actions in the Awarenes analogy to be separated or separable, two important elements of participation and intervention can be added as interactions between objects and connected to the network. It is possible to increase the degree of freedom of the cooperation between the object and the object or the cooperation between the computer and the computer.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating sparse cooperation between objects in the Awareness analogy.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes an object A, and 12 denotes an object B, each of which is a subject that transmits and receives an Awareness message. M1 is a message indicating an Awareness message. a1 represents an action defined in the object A (11), and a2 represents an action defined in the object B (12). Note that arrows in the figure indicate message transmission when the starting point is an object and message reception when the end point is an object. Each object has its own action as an internal state.

  In FIG. 1, cooperation between an object A (11) and an object B (12) is performed via a message M1. In the Awareness analogy, the object A (11) basically sends out a message without knowing about the object B (12) or the internal function of the object B (12). Further, there is no need to specify the object B (12) itself and send a message, and the object A (11) sends a message M1 based on its own state and processing contents. The object B (12) monitors the message flowing on the communication path, reacts when the message M1 is detected, and activates the action a2. In this way, the object A and the object B can take a significant cooperation, but this is not due to the direct connection between the object A (11) and the object B (12), but the action of the message M1 and the object B (12). It can be said that a2 is linked to a2. Conversely, if the message is different from M1, object B (12) will not react unless there is another action associated with message M1. In this way, the cooperation between the objects is gently performed via the message, so that the degree of freedom of the cooperation between the objects is increased. That is, it is not necessary to specify the address of the communication partner and the content of the processing request as in conventional computer network communication, and each terminal that monitors the network by sending an Awareness message indicating its state, processing result, etc. on the network Detects the message and reacts autonomously if the corresponding action is specified.

  In the Awareness analogy, the communication path is not limited to a physical path as long as it is not only a physical network such as a LAN but also a medium that can be commonly received such as wireless, voice, and light. Further, it may be a recording medium such as a memory that can be called in common. Further, it may be a virtual existence depending on the port address of the communication path.

  The above is the basic concept of object cooperation based on the Awareness analogy.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of objects are connected on a core field, which is a common communication space, and object cooperation is realized through a message. Reference numeral 20 (20a to 20d) is an object, which is a reactor and an object, paying attention to the role of being able to cause an action reaction to a received message. A service based on a message-action reaction relationship is provided with this object as a unit, and a plurality of objects in this unit cooperate with each other via a message to constitute an object cooperation apparatus. In the example of FIG. 2, four of 20a to 20d are shown. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which one object 20 is constructed for each platform such as a personal computer, and a large number of objects 20 may be constructed in one platform. Reference numeral 21 denotes a core field, which is a communication space that serves as a basic unit for connecting messages between the objects 20 and flowing messages. This core field may be a virtual communication path that connects many objects in one platform, or may be a communication path such as a LAN that connects a plurality of platforms. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the object 20a flows the message M1 on the core field 21, and the message M1 is received by the objects 20a to 20d via the core field. Since the object 20a that has sent the message M1 also monitors and takes in the message on the core field 21, the object 20a itself receives the message M1. In this example, the object 20d reacts to the received message M1 and sends a new message M2 on the core field as one of the actions for the message M1. This message M2 is also received by the objects 20a to 20d via the core field.

  The action reaction relationship for the received message as described above is based on the message action reaction table 103 held in the message action relationship storage unit, as will be described later. It is checked whether or not an action for the fetched message M1 is described in the reaction table 103. When the action is described, the action is executed by the action execution unit 104. In addition to executing services provided by applications and the like, action contents include sending a message on the core field 21. This action or a message transmitted as a part of the action causes a message / action reaction in the next and subsequent stages, thereby realizing loose and flexible object cooperation through messages between objects.

  The above is the basic principle of object cooperation via messages.

  The object linkage apparatus according to the first embodiment classifies a pattern of a message that flows in a common communication space between objects, first performs message pattern matching when the object receives the message, and handles the message pattern and pattern that the object handles. Only the matched message is taken in, and the message / action reaction is executed.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the basic configuration of the object cooperation apparatus according to the first embodiment. Reference numeral 100 denotes a platform constituting the object cooperation apparatus. Since the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention can be realized even when various platforms are mixed, the types of personal computers, workstations, host computers, and the like are not particularly limited. The object collaboration apparatus shown in the first embodiment provides a service based on a message / action reaction relationship with this object as a unit, and a plurality of objects in this unit cooperate with each other via a message to form an object collaboration apparatus. Yes. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which one object is constructed for each platform such as one personal computer, and many objects may be constructed in one platform 100.

  Each element of the object shown in FIG. 3 will be described. Reference numeral 101 denotes a message receiving unit that monitors and captures a message transmitted on the network. Reference numeral 102 denotes a message / action reaction relation storage unit that stores the action content that is a response to a message. The message / action reaction relation storage unit 102 stores a message / action reaction table (reaction table) that holds a message / action reaction relation. ) 103. As described above, this message / action reaction table 103 corresponds to only a specific type in the message type classification. As long as the message types are organized, the message action reaction relation storage unit 102 may hold a plurality of message / action reaction tables 103. In the example of FIG. 3, two of 103a and 103b are stored. I have.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an action execution unit that executes processing according to the specified action content. 105 is a message transmission unit that transmits a message on the network as necessary, 106 is a communication interface, 21 is a core field, and as described above, is a concept including a network such as communication between computers. It is a communication space that is a basic unit for connecting messages and delivering messages. It may be a LAN that connects a plurality of platforms, and also includes a virtual communication path in the platform that connects many objects existing in one platform. Further, if a gateway having a router function is provided on the core field 21 for internetworking, it is possible to connect to objects on other core fields via the gateway.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes a message type classification / collation unit. The message type classification / collation unit 107 stores and holds the message type handled by the message / action reaction relation storage unit 102. Further, it analyzes which message type the message received via the message receiving unit 101 has, and checks whether the message type of the received message matches the message type handled by the message / action reaction relation storage unit 102 Processing is performed. The message type classification can be appropriately determined according to the operation of the system. For example, there are classification based on whether the description of the message is an XML language or a text string tuple, and further classification based on the number of tuples and text structure. An example of message type classification will be described later. By providing the message type classification / collation unit 107, after receiving the message flowing in the core field 21, the message type is collated, the message that does not match the message type is discarded, only the message that matches the message type is captured, and the message action The message action response collating process can be executed by passing it to the reaction relationship storage unit 102. In this way, the selection of messages using message types does not require fixing message types even in an environment where various platforms are mixed, and it is only necessary to send and receive messages using a type that is appropriate for each platform. Object cooperation processing can be operated by any object that receives the type reacting. Further, useless message action collation processing can be eliminated by selective reception of messages, the load on the object as a reactor can be reduced, and collation processing can be speeded up. This is particularly advantageous in a large-scale system having a large number of linked objects.

  Next, message type classification and message type collation processing handled by the object cooperation apparatus of the first embodiment will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a message structure handled by the object cooperation apparatus according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the message 400 includes a message type 401 and a message body 402. As an option, the message type 401 may further have a hierarchical structure of a class derivation source message type 403 and a class derivation message type 404. The message body 402 is a message body, corresponds to the message described in the message / action reaction table 103, and includes data and parameters necessary for the action. The message type 401 represents a type in the message type classification, and typically includes a message string tuple type and an XML message type. Here, the message string tuple type is a set of one or more text strings, and can be further classified into several patterns according to the number of text string sets and the ranking of meaning. For example, as in the English syntax, the main character is S, the action is V, the purpose is O, the first type (SV), the second type (SVO), and the third type (SVOO). is there. This is merely an example, and other types such as SVOOO can be defined.

  An example of a case where the class derivation source message type 403 and the class derivation message type 404 have a hierarchical structure includes a case where a message type can be further classified into a hierarchy in a specific message type. If the type is a message string tuple type and the class derivation source message type is SVO, SVO, SVOO, SVOOO, etc. including the SVO structure can be specified as the class derivation message type.

  The object linkage apparatus includes one or a plurality of message action reaction tables 103 for each message type, class derivation message type, and class derivation source message type. For example, in the example of FIG. The action reaction table can be 103a, and the message string tuple type and SVOO structure message action message action table can be 103b. When the two message action reaction tables 103a and 103b are provided, the message type classification / collation unit 107 stores and holds the XML message type and the message type of the message string tuple type and the SVOO structure as the message type to be captured. It will be. The processing operation is as follows. For example, when a message whose message type is an XML message type (a message in which the class derivation source message type 403 is described as XML msg) flows on the core field 21, the message receiving unit 101 receives the message via the communication interface 106. Capture messages. The fetched message is transferred to the message type classification / collation unit 107 for message type collation. Since the XML message type is described in the class derivation source message type 403, the message type classification / collation unit 107 takes in the message as matching the message type, and attaches information indicating that the message is an XML message type message. Then, the message body 402 is transferred to the message action reaction relation storage unit 102. The message action reaction relationship storage unit 102 searches for a corresponding action using the message body 402 as a search key using the message action reaction table 103a corresponding to the XML message type. If an action for the message body 402 is described, the action is executed (reacted). Next, for example, when a message type is a message string tuple type and an SVOOO structure type message (a class derivation source message type 403 is described as SVO, a class derivation message type SVOOO) flows on the core field 21 Similarly, the message receiving unit 101 fetches the message via the communication interface 106, and the message type collation / collation unit 107 performs message type collation. Since the SVO type is described in the class derivation source message type 403, the message derivation class matches, but the message derivation class does not match because the class derivation message type is SVOOO. The message type classification / collation unit 107 determines that the message type collation of the received message is a fault, discards the message body 402, and does not pass it to the message action reaction relation storage unit 102.

  In this way, by selecting received messages using message types, only messages that match the message types are retrieved, the corresponding actions are searched, and message action reaction tables classified by message type are further displayed. By using it, it is possible to reduce the load on the object and speed up the message action reaction process.

  As described above, the introduction of the message type can introduce the concept of inheritance in object-oriented programming into the message type collation process. For reference, a specific example in which the message type is introduced based on the class notation in object-oriented programming is shown below. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are examples of a message string tuple type and a message type corresponding to the SVOO format and a message type conforming to XML called XMLLMsg.

  In FIG. 5, the first line of the description shows that the message type msg String Tup1e is derived from the message type msg ObjType. In addition, msg Srting Tup1e includes four variables, String, subject, verb, obj1, and obj2, and a function that matches the message and type called isMatch. This isMatch is a function for matching a message with a type, but one feature is that it is included in a part of a transmitted message. Even if the receiving object does not have a matching function of the message and type, the object can be dynamically provided with a matching function.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the message type XMLMsg is derived from the message type msgObjTtpe, and the variable is held as a type Parser. XMLMsg indicates that it has a function SetPattern for setting the message type and a function called isMatch for matching the message and the pattern.

  In this way, the introduction of message types makes it possible to introduce the concept of inheritance in object-oriented programming into message type collation processing. It becomes possible to keep. It is also possible to collate only the common part between types that inherit the same type. Furthermore, by introducing a message type, it is possible to dynamically introduce the matching logic itself of the type from the outside as necessary, and the matching logic itself can be introduced and replaced in the system later.

(Embodiment 2)
The second embodiment is an embodiment of an object cooperation apparatus that realizes synchronous cooperation of an object using a subject name rewriting object that rewrites a message description using an anonymous subject name and a subject name.

  The configuration of one object device constituting the object cooperation device according to the second embodiment may be the same as that shown in FIG. 3, and description of each element will be omitted as appropriate. In the object collaboration apparatus according to the second embodiment, a plurality of object apparatuses cooperate with each other via a core field, and one of the object apparatuses functions as a subject name rewriting object.

  In the following, the mechanism of each object device and its linkage processing will be described using mouse event synchronization linkage processing as an example. The message type used by each object is a message string tuple type, SVO.

  As shown in FIG. 7, an object 70a, an object 70b, and an object 70c are provided on the core field 21 as reactors for executing mouse event synchronization processing. Further, a subject name rewriting object 71 is provided on the core field 21. The objects 70a to 70c and the subject name rewriting object 71 may be provided on different platforms, respectively, or a plurality of objects may be constructed on the same computer platform.

  Correspondences between messages and actions shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C are registered in the message action reaction tables of the objects 70a, 70b, and 70c as reactors. That is, the association of the action “Move” is registered for the SVOO “Master” “MouseMove” “(X coordinate)” “(Y coordinate)” of the message. Here, the action “Move” is to pass the “(X coordinate)” and “(Y coordinate)” obtained from the message to the OS that controls the pointing device as if a mouse event occurred on its own machine. It is. In this way, each object 70a, 70b, 70c performs a mouse operation so as to be synchronized with a mouse event issued by an object whose main subject is “Master”.

  On the other hand, in the subject name rewriting object 71, the correspondence between the message and the action shown in FIG. That is, the action “MasterOut” is described for the SVOO “*” “MouseMove” “(X coordinate)” “(Y coordinate)” of the message. Here, “*” in the message represents a wild card, and all the objects that can be received by the subject name rewriting object 71 are applicable. That is, it responds to all messages representing mouse events “MouseMove”, “(X coordinate)”, and “(Y coordinate)” flowing on the core field. The action “MasterOut” is an action for sending the message shown in FIG. This action is “Master” for a message received as “*”, “MouseMove”, “(X coordinate)”, “(Y coordinate)”, as is clear from FIG. 8 (d) and (e). The messages “MouseMove”, “(X coordinate)”, and “(Y coordinate)” are transmitted, and it is understood that the subject name is being rewritten from “*” to “Master”. The message in which the subject name is rewritten by the subject name rewriting object 71 is received by the objects 70a, 70b, and 70c, and the synchronization processing of the mouse event is performed according to the coordinates described on the objects 70a to 70c.

  Furthermore, by rewriting the message action reaction table held by the subject name rewriting object 71, the synchronization processing can be changed flexibly and easily. For example, when the message action reaction table “*” of the subject name rewriting object 71 is rewritten as “object 70a”, the subject name rewriting object 71 reacts only to the mouse event issued by the object 70a according to FIG. The subject name of the object 70 a is rewritten to “Master” and a message including mouse event information is sent on the core field 21. The objects 70a, 70b, and 70c synchronize mouse events in response to a message with the subject name “Master” in accordance with FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (c). Eventually, the mouse events of the objects 70a, 70b, and 70c are processed in synchronization with the mouse event emitted by the object 70a. Here, according to FIG. 8A, the object 70a itself synchronizes the mouse event in response to the message with the subject name “Master”. According to this method, since the rule that the synchronization with the subject name “Master” is always maintained, even when the subject name rewriting object 71 rewrites “*” with another subject name, the object 70a immediately changes the subject after the rewriting. It will be able to synchronize with the mouse event of the name. As described above, the synchronization process can be changed flexibly and simply by only rewriting the message action reaction table of the subject name rewriting object 71.

  As described above, according to the object linkage apparatus of the present invention, the object to be synchronized is loosely given by the message action reaction relationship in which the object to be synchronized is synchronized according to the subject having the master authority, and the message action response table of the subject name rewriting object An object subject having master authority can be changed to an arbitrary object only by rewriting the contents, and synchronization processing between objects can be easily and flexibly constructed and changed.

(Embodiment 3)
The object cooperation apparatus of the present invention can be constructed using various computers by recording and providing a program describing processing steps for realizing the configuration described above on a computer-readable recording medium. As shown in the example of the recording medium shown in FIG. 9, the recording medium on which the program having the processing steps for realizing the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention is recorded is a portable recording medium 901 such as a CD-ROM 902 and a flexible disk 903. In addition to the recording medium 900 in the recording apparatus on the network and the recording medium 905 such as a computer hard disk or RAM, the program is loaded on the computer 904 when the program is executed, and is stored in the main memory. Executed.

  Furthermore, the configuration may be such that the applet is transmitted to the client computer via a network and executed by the interpreter on the client computer, not just the compiled source program.

  According to the object cooperation device of the present invention, the degree of freedom of cooperation between the object cooperation devices connected to the network can be increased, and cooperation processing such as dialogue / cooperation of the computer group or the object group is performed, and the object-oriented environment Can respond flexibly to changes in the environment.

  According to the object linkage apparatus of the present invention, by selecting received messages using message types, only messages that match the message types are retrieved, corresponding actions are searched, and further classified by message type. The message action reaction table can be used, unnecessary message action collation processing can be removed, the load on the object can be reduced, and the speed of the message action reaction processing can be realized. In addition, the introduction of message types makes it possible to introduce the concept of inheritance in object-oriented programming into message type collation processing, thereby maintaining the consistency of type collation for version upgrades of the entire system, for example. Is possible. It is also possible to collate only the common part between types that inherit the same type.

  According to the object linkage apparatus of the present invention, the object to be synchronized is loosely given by the message action reaction relationship that the contents to be synchronized according to the subject having the master authority, and the contents of the message action reaction table of the subject name rewriting object are rewritten. As a result, the object subject having the master authority can be changed to an arbitrary object, and synchronization processing between objects can be easily and flexibly constructed and changed.

A diagram schematically showing sparse cooperation between objects in the Awarenes analogy A diagram showing how multiple objects are connected on the core field, which is a common communication space, and object collaboration is achieved via messages 1 is a schematic configuration block diagram of an object cooperation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows an example of the message structure handled with the object cooperation apparatus of this Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the message structure which handles the message type corresponding to the SVOO format with a message string tuple type The figure which shows the example of the message structure which handles the message type which conforms to XML called XMLLMsg The figure which shows the concept which reactor object 70a-70c and subject name rewriting object 71 of Embodiment 2 of this invention are provided on the core field 21, and performs a synchronous process The figure which shows the example of the information contained in the message action reaction table of the reactor objects 70a-70c and subject name rewriting object 71 of Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the system configuration using the example of the recording medium of Embodiment 3 of this invention, and the processing program of the said recording medium The figure which shows the example of the object cooperation in the client / server system based on CORBA of a prior art

Claims (2)

A message receiver that monitors and captures messages sent over the network;
A message / action reaction relation storage unit for storing action contents that are responses to messages;
An object cooperation apparatus comprising an action execution unit for executing processing according to the action content, and having an object that operates according to the message / action reaction relationship,
The message includes an event in the object, and an object principal name indicating an object of the principal that executed the event,
The object cooperation apparatus can transmit / receive a message to / from at least one other object via the network, and the other object receives a message including a predetermined object subject name and predetermined event information. in stores a message action response relationship indicating to perform a predetermined action,
For a message received from at least one object among the other objects, a subject name rewriting object for rewriting the object subject name information in the message with other object subject name information and returning it to the network is provided. ,
Other objects that can be transmitted and received by the object cooperation device follow the event that occurred in the master object by reacting to a message that includes object principal name information of the master object that is an object having master authority in the synchronization process . storing message action response relationship to perform the synchronization process, including objects that are synchronous processing of the slave,
When the at least one object issues an event , the subject name rewriting object receives an object subject name of the object and a message including the event, and the object subject in the message is received. An object cooperation apparatus that rewrites name information to an object subject name of the master object and returns the information on the network . Computer
A message receiving unit that monitors and captures a message transmitted over the network; a message / action reaction relation storage unit that stores an action content that is a response to the message; A computer-readable storage medium storing a program that functions as an object cooperation apparatus having an object,
The message includes an event in the object, and an object principal name indicating an object of the principal that executed the event,
The object linkage apparatus
A message can be transmitted / received to / from at least one other object via the network, and the other object performs a predetermined action when receiving a message including a predetermined object subject name and predetermined event information. It remembers the message / action reaction relationship indicating that
A subject name rewriting unit that rewrites the object subject name information in the message to other object subject name information for a message received from at least one of the other objects, and returns the subject subject name information to the network. ,
Other objects that can be transmitted and received by the object cooperation device follow the event that occurred in the master object by reacting to a message that includes object principal name information of the master object that is an object having master authority in the synchronization process . Contains an object to be a slave of synchronous processing, storing message / action reaction relations to execute synchronous processing,
When the at least one object issues an event , the subject name rewriting object receives an object subject name of the object and a message including the event, and the object subject in the message is received. A storage medium storing a program, wherein name information is rewritten to an object subject name of the master object and returned to the network .

Images