Abstract: A data structure recorded in computer memory comprises a head reference, an ordered list of pages and an ordered list of elements. In the data structure, the head reference includes an address of a first page. Each page, except the final page, includes an address of a subsequent page. Each page includes a stored integer equal to the number of elements linked to the page, and an address of a first element in the page. Each element that is linked to a page, except the final element, includes an address of a subsequent element.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for processing business data processing activities, the apparatus comprising: an activity instance; and a descriptor for the activity instance associated uniquely with the activity instance; wherein the descriptor includes parameters for determining lifecycle behaviors of said activity instance. The descriptor may be programmable to modify the lifecycle behaviors according to a use made of said activity instance. The use of the activity instance may be responsive to a request by a client. It may also be responsive to a request by an activity instance. The descriptor may be programmable to modify the lifecycle behaviors according to a position in a system hierarchy of the activity instance.

Abstract: Disclosed is data processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving inputs indicative of results from one or more participants of said one or more sets of data processing tasks; means for mapping each of said inputs to a corresponding mapped value by accessing a mapping table; outcome processor means for accepting the mapped values as inputs and determining an outcome for said one or more sets of data processing tasks; and means, responsive to said means for determining, for transmitting an indicator of said outcome to said one or more participants; wherein the inputs and mapped values of the mapping table are programmably changeable to thus provide a high degree of flexibility with respect to said inputs.

Abstract: A data processing system comprising an object framework, and a plurality of components for supporting an application program utilizing the plurality of components. In the object framework, each of the plurality of components registers with the object framework. Then, in response to the registering, each of the plurality of components is associated with one of a plurality of context groups. Furthermore, each of the plurality of components creates an instance of itself. A first instance is associated with a first context group of a first respective component and a second instance is associated with a second context group of a second respective component. The first instance and the second instance operate independently of each other.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus has a direct access non-volatile memory storage device having a plurality of extent files for storing log records therein; an allocating unit for allocating a current extent file to be used for storing log records; a writing unit for writing log records into the current extent file until the current extent file cannot store any further log records; and a key-pointing unit for performing a key-pointing operation on the written log records when the writing unit has reached the point where no further log records can be stored in the current extent file.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus (10, FIG. 1) has a direct access non-volatile storage device (103) on which log records are stored in one or more log files. The processor (101) allocates storage for the log based on possible future requirements. The processor sets the maximum amount of new data that can be written to the log before a key-point operation is performed. When the maximum is reached a key-point is performed. As a result the maximum possible size of the active data written as part of the next key-point can be calculated and storage is allocated accordingly. Should storage become restricted such that the required storage cannot be allocated the data processing apparatus runs in a restricted mode during which the records that are written to the log are concerned with reducing the size of the active data and therefore the next key-point.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus for carrying out a specific business logic data processing task, has a plurality of business activities running on at least one data processing machine, each activity communicates with other activities via a communications protocol in order to carry out the specific business logic data processing task. At least one of the activities includes a plurality of message broker data processing nodes.

Abstract: A data processing system comprising an object framework, and a plurality of components for supporting an application program utilizing the plurality of components. In the object framework, each of the plurality of components registers with the object framework. Then, in response to the registering, each of the plurality of components is associated with one of a plurality of context groups. Furthermore, each of the plurality of components creates an instance of itself. A first instance is associated with a first context group of a first respective component and a second instance is associated with a second context group of a second respective component. The first instance and the second instance operate independently of each other.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system, method and computer program for component-based processing, comprising a component specification element, a control flow specification element, a data flow specification element, a resource specification element, a quality of service specification derivation element having for output an application model in combination with a quality of service specification derived by implication from relations between components, control flows, data flows and resources, and a runtime engine for deploying said quality of service specification as a runtime contract in a runtime processing environment. Examples of such qualities of service are requirements of a process to have provided for it support for transactionality, recoverability, asynchronous messaging and the like.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus (10, FIG. 1) has a direct access non-volatile storage device (103) on which log records are stored in one or more log files. The processor (101) allocates storage for the log based on possible future requirements. The processor sets the maximum amount of new data that can be written to the log before a key-point operation is performed. When the maximum is reached a key-point is performed. As a result the maximum possible size of the active data written as part of the next key-point can be calculated and storage is allocated accordingly. Should storage become restricted such that the required storage cannot be allocated the data processing apparatus runs in a restricted mode during which the records that are written to the log are concerned with reducing the size of the active data and therefore the next key-point.