Abstract: Under the present invention, when a TCS receives a data command (e.g., a read or write command) pursuant to a communication session between the TCS and an application, it will first request permission from a permission system to execute the data command. By applying a set of rules to a setting of a state variable associated with the TCS, the permission system will determine whether to grant the permission. If so, the TCS will execute the data command and change the setting of the state variable. If a close command is later received by the TCS to close the communication session, permission will once again be requested from the permission system, which will again apply a set of rules to the current setting of the state variable to determine if the session can be safely closed.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for configuring a client-side communications protocol stack. In a method of the invention, a mapping can be consulted to determine a set of client-side protocol stack components which correspond to a set of protocol stack components in a server side protocol stack instance. Subsequently, a listing can be created of the determined set of client-side protocol stack components. Finally, the listing can be published for access by externally disposed client computing processes. Preferably, the listing can be reversed. Also, the consulting step further can include determining at least one attribute to be applied to at least one of the client-side protocol stack components when enabling a client-side protocol stack to interoperate with the server-side protocol stack instance.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for highly efficient connection pool management. In a preferred aspect of the invention, a highly efficient connection pool management system can include a connection pool configured to store one or more idle connections. The system further can include a connection manager programmed for coupling to the connection pool. The connection manager further can be programmed to validate individual ones of the idle connections by issuing a non-blocking input/output (I/O) operation to each of the individual ones of the idle connections.

Abstract: In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a method for augmenting a hierarchy of layered applications and corresponding protocols can include applying a discrimination algorithm to a selection process in which a particular application/protocol layer in a listing of adjacent application/protocol layers is selected to receive traffic flowing through the hierarchy. A new application/protocol layer can be inserted adjacent to the particular application/protocol layer in the hierarchy. Also, the new application/protocol layer can be added to the listing. Finally, the discrimination algorithm can be replaced with another discrimination algorithm programmed to consider the new application/protocol layer during the selection process. Significantly, each of the steps of performing the inserting, adding and replacing steps can be performed without decoupling or disabling other applications and protocols in the hierarchy.