Patent ID: 7181747

Claim:
A computer system, comprising: a client computer system comprising means adapted to implement a method for requesting the execution of a function in a client computer system in a client-server environment, the function being applicable to a data object processed by a server, the method comprising: obtaining an interface of the object; selecting a function from the interface; determining the types of different results sent back as a result of the execution of the function, from result type identification information, encoded in said interface; selecting at least one desired result type from said result type identification information; generating a message invoking the function, the invoking message including a selected type of result; sending the message invoking the function to said server; and a server computer system, comprising means adapted for the implementation of a first method of executing a function in a server computer system in a client-server environment, the method comprising: receiving a message invoking the function, coming from a client; extracting the arguments of the function invoked by said invoking message; extracting from said invoking message, at least one type of execution result desired in return by said client; executing the function while applying to it the extracted arguments; selecting, among the results obtained during the execution of the function, the result desired by the client extracted from said invoking message; generating a function execution response message, said response message containing the execution result desired by said client; sending said function execution response message to said client.