Patent ID: 6434594
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
In a network that includes computers and devices capable of performing functions, a method of using a computer node of the network to control distributed execution of a process in the network, comprising the acts of:using the computer node, defining objects in the network by performing the acts of: defining each of one or more functional components of a computer that are available in the network as objects by defining functions that the particular functional component is capable of performing; and defining each of one or more devices other than computers that are available in the network as objects by defining functions that the particular device is capable of performing; using the computer node, defining the process by defining a plurality of procedures, each being associated with one or more functions that are to be performed by an object in the network; using the computer node, defining an environment of the network by defining a logical arrangement of the objects in the network; and executing the process in the network by using the computer node to identify the objects in the network that are available to perform the functions associated with the plurality of procedures of the process.