Patent ID: 6721898
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: G06F,G06T,H04L,H05B

Abstract:
A method in a computer system for tracking a state of an entity for a client, the state of the entity being up or down, the method comprising:receiving a request from the client to track the state of the entity; watching the state of the entity to detect when the entity enters the up state; when entity enters the up state, performing a behavior specified by the client to be performed when the entity enters the up state; monitoring the state of the entity to detect when the entity enters the down state; when the entity enters the down state, performing a behavior specified by the client to be performed when the entity enters the down state; receiving a request from the client for a reference to the entity; and in response to receiving the request for a reference to the entity, when the entity is in the up state, providing to the client the reference to the entity; and when the entity is in the down state, notifying the client that no reference to the entity is being provided.