Patent ID: 6199116
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A method for adding a new computer system to a plurality of interconnected computer systems, each of the plurality of interconnected computer systems sharing an application program and having a synchronized data area, without interrupting the sharing of the application program while the new computer system acquires shared data in the synchronized data area, each of the plurality of interconnected computer systems and the new computer system further having an object management system, an input device, and an output device, the method comprising the steps of:broadcasting a joining message to the plurality of interconnected computer systems from the object management system of the new computer system;broadcasting, responsively to receiving the joining message, a node identification message by the object management system at each of the plurality of interconnected computer systems;receiving from each other computer system a node identification that identifies that computer system;selecting a particular computer system from the plurality of interconnected computer systems, by the new computer system to be a helper computer system;sending a data message from the object management system of the new computer to the helper computer system for requesting a copy of the data in the synchronized data area;responding to the data message reception, at the helper computer, by transmitting to the new computer system the shared data from the synchronized data area of the helper computer, the synchronized area comprising a control section and at least one application section corresponding to the shared registered application, and wherein the helper computer locks the control section in the plurality of interconnected computer systems while transmitting data from the control section.