Method and apparatus for interprocess communication in a multicomputer system

Abstract

Abstract Disclosed is a method and system for providing communications services between multiple processes running in multiple computer systems. A mechanism of creating logical process hierarchies within a distributed environment is provided. Extensions beyond the logical process hierarchy are similarly provided. The communication mechanism is implemented as a library of functions available for use by individual processes. An arbitrary definition of context may be used, such that processes need not be related within the operating system process space by name or any other attribute. Rather, a single system semantic can be used to access processes, whether such processes reside on a local or remote computer. A mechanism is provided to allow processes to register as part of a distributed context. Registration may be accomplished explicitly by any child process to name it's parent in the hierarchy, or automatically by the parent process when spawning children. This mechanism allows the additional flexibility that destination nodes in the distributed environment may be selected at run time without requiring knowledge on the part of the executing process. This allows the ability to cause processes to be distributed based on machine type, facilities available on a specific node or load balancing considerations. This registration mechanism is expandable to allow general purpose server implementations in a distributed environment, thus providing to the user system transparent facilities for control in a distributed environment.

Inventors

• 👤 Eric Ross Carpenter
• 👤 Christopher Shane Claussen
• 👤 James Otis Cox

Bibliographic Details