Abstract: Techniques are provided to integrate two or more application systems by using an declarative approach that describes functions or rules to be performed to integrate application systems. Particular integration functions are defined that may be useful for common integration activities. Integration functions may be defined for particular objects and may be assembled to form a declarative business process flow. The declarative business process flow identifies the objects to be exchanged between two or more systems, the sequence of particular transformation functions, the physical field to field transformations required, and the physical connection to be established between the systems. An application integration workstation is described that provides a framework and tools to design, develop and modify (or maintain) application integration software.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for debugging computer programs is disclosed for enabling a programmer to step backwards through instructions by checking for exceptions, remembering which instruction generates an exception, and for providing an interface that allows the programmer to easily step back through the instructions in order to isolate the cause of the exception, without the undue repetition.

Abstract: Techniques for binding a data exchange format with a computer program application having source code in a particular language include receiving comment data from a particular file that includes the source code. The comment data includes first data indicating a parameter of the data exchange format. Second data from the particular file is also received. The second data is associated with the comment data and includes a statement that defines a class of data objects in the particular language. Based on the first data and the second data, third data for configuring the data exchange format is generated. When the particular language is Java and the data exchange format is XML, these techniques allow a developer to automatically produce an XML grammar document that is based on Java data objects defined by the developer and that is responsive to the developer's choices for options in the XML grammar. Individual classes or multiple nested classes are handled.

Abstract: Software and methods for extending preexisting objects to support persistence. One use of the present invention is to extend component object model (COM) objects to support persistence in a simple, predefined system. COM objects may be saved to persistence storage and loaded from persistence storage using user-provided save and load methods. When objects are constructed, the objects are added to a Persistent Object Registry. Objects preferably utilize smart pointers, rather than simple pointers, in order to enable restoration of the pointer values after a save and load cycle. The smart pointers include an object ID along with the address. The object ID, together with the information stored in the Persistent Object Registry, may be used to restore a pointer value after loading. Objects may be saved by streaming the objects out and loaded by streaming the objects back into memory from a file.

Abstract: An install apparatus installs printer firmware to a printer through a network in the background of normal print jobs. The Printer (4) includes a storage means (22) to store the firmware consisting of a plurality of blocks, and a processing means (20) for receiving the blocks to store to storage means (22). In case an interruption occurs during the firmware installation and at the time of resuming the installation, the processing means (20) informs install apparatus (6) of a guarantee range of the installed blocks being determined from the data stored in storage means (22). The install apparatus then restarts transferring the firmware from the succeeding transfer block of the guarantee range.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for upgrading a software, including a version comparing unit for comparing a version of a software code and a version of a previously installed software code to determine a newer version and an upgrade processing unit for installing the software by abstracting software data in the software code, can automatically install an upgraded system software in a corresponding apparatus for receiving digital broadcasting by detecting the code of the system software simultaneously included in an advertisement broadcasting and an advertisement broadcasting signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that allows developers to create installation programs in which variables and variable values used during a product installation are automatically stored in a system product registry and/or a fileset object. During installation of a product, variables and variable values may be stored in a hashtable. The hashtable is saved as part of a fileset object. When the fileset is reinstated at uninstall time, the installation information is contained within the reinstated fileset. Objects used by the uninstall program can make use of this information to affect the uninstall behavior. Alternatively, the variable and variable values may be stored in a hashtable that is saved to the system product registry at the end of the installation process so other programs and tools may have access to the information. This allows other installation programs to query the registry for information used in the installation of other products.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that enables an undefined variable reference check on a dynamic variable. A dynamic variable specifying section specifies target dynamic variables from a source file. An area specifying section specifies areas ensured in the case of dynamic variables specified by the dynamic variable specifying section being developed into a memory at the time of executing a load module. An initializing section initializes areas specified by the area specifying section to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A virtual machine in an object-oriented system includes an interpreter. In order to provide trace information from a program about specific method calls, a user defines a selection of methods to be traced. As the program runs on the interpreter, it is determined, whether or not the method is included within the selection to be traced. For those methods included within the selection, trace information about the method call is outputted. A method block is associated with each method and is used by the interpreter to invoke the method. For each method within the user-defined selection, a flag is set within the method block associated with the method. The status of this flag is checked when the interpreter invokes a method, in order to determine whether or not the method is included within the selection.