Patent ID: 8122144

Claim:
A method of reliable messaging using redundant message streams in a data communications environment, the method comprising: brokering, by a stream administration server, establishment of an active message stream to a subscribing client device from an active feed adapter, the active message stream capable of communicating active application messages, each active application message characterized by an active source stream identifier, an active source stream sequence number, and an active message sequence number; brokering, by the stream administration server, establishment of a backup message stream to the subscribing client device from a backup feed adapter, the backup message stream capable of communicating backup application messages representing duplicates of the active application messages, each backup application message characterized by a backup source stream identifier, a backup source stream sequence number, and a backup message sequence number; receiving the active application messages in messaging middleware of the subscribing client device from the active feed adapter; receiving, in response to a failover from the active feed adapter to the backup feed adapter, the backup application messages in the messaging middleware of the subscribing client device from the backup feed adapter; administering, by the messaging middleware of the subscribing client device, the backup application messages in dependence upon the active stream source identifier, the active stream source sequence number, the backup stream source identifier, and the backup stream source sequence number, wherein each feed adapter comprises a device configured to convert messages on a feed adapter source stream having a first format to messages on a feed adapter output stream having a second format and transmit the messages on the feed adapter output stream to subscribing client devices; receiving, in the backup feed adapter from the active feed adapter, an administrative application message and an active message sequence number that specifies a point in a transmission sequence when the active feed adapter will transmit the administrative application message to the subscribing client device; identifying, by the backup feed adapter, a backup message sequence number of a most recent backup application message processed in the backup feed adapter prior to receiving the administrative application message; and determining, by the backup feed adapter, whether the backup feed adapter is capable of synchronizing transmission of the administrative application message to the subscribing client device on the backup message stream in dependence upon the received active message sequence number, the backup sequence number of the most recent message transmitted to the client device, and a predetermined synchronization sequence number threshold.