Patent ID: 7490183
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing an application programming configuration for embedded device that enables independent component communications via object and expression protocols; implementing an information kit that provides virtual nodes for connecting both a first publishing component and a second subscribing component and that enables indirect communication exchange between said first component and said second component, wherein said information kit registers the request for said data and, when said data is published by said first component to the information kit, the information kit provides a copy of said data to said second component; enabling a plurality of components including: packaging said request as an information kit subscription object that comprises an identifier (ID) of the requested data along with request parameters and a node ID for said second component; publishing said data within an information kit publication object that comprises an identifier (ID) of the data and the value of the data; wherein said enabling said IK manager further comprises: wherein said enabling said information kit further comprises providing multiple virtual nodes for expanding said modular computer system to include additional components; providing a queue for storing published data, said queue having means for arranging said published data according to some predefined criteria, and means for issuing the published data at a front of said queue to components that registered a request to receive said published data; wherein said queue is a priority-based FIFO queue, and said implementing said IK manager further comprises arranging published data within the queue, wherein published data having a same priority are issued in an order of entry into the queue while published data having a higher priority are published prior to published data with lower relative priority; monitoring a level of freshness for a publication object on the information kit; triggering a publication of more current publication data from said first component, when a freshness of said publication data is below a predetermined level; wherein said triggering occurs based on one of multiple triggering conditions from among: (1) said publication data arrives at a front of said queue for issuing out to said system; (2) said IK manager issues a refresh command with respect to the publication data; and (3) said publication object self monitors its level of freshness and dynamically initiates a refresh operation; wherein published data of a stale publication object is discarded when a refresh operation provides a more current publication object; generating and publishing said publication object based one of multiple triggers from among: (1) an expiration of a predefined interval tracked by said first component; (2) an expiration of a refresh period for a previously published object; (3) a notification received by said first component that a particular action has occurred on said system, wherein said action includes publication of another publication object to said information kit; and wherein said second component is an intelligent agent and said method includes receiving a notification of publication of the publication object and responding to said notification by completing a function within said modular computer system.