Patents by Inventor Robert W. Scheifler
Robert W. Scheifler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20020174224Abstract: A system regulates access to resources requested by an operation executing on a computer. The operation invokes a plurality of methods that operate upon code during execution. The system includes a policy file, a call stack, and an execution unit. The policy file stores permissions for each of the resources. The permissions authorize particular types of access to the resource based on a source of the code and an executor of the code. The call stack stores representations of the methods and executors in an order of invocation by the operation. The execution unit grants access to the resource when the types of access authorized by the permissions of all of the methods and executors on the call stack encompass the access requested by the operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Inventors: Robert W. Scheifler, Li Gong
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Patent number: 6480863Abstract: A database system wherein one or more entry databases store a plurality of entries. Each entry is of a given type that defines the fields of the entry. Each field contains or identifies an object with associated attributes or data. The type of each entry may further define behavior in the form of methods the entry can implement. An entry type which is a subtype of another inherits all fields and behavior of its super-type, and contains additional fields and/or defines new/modified behavior. Entries may be expressed in a Java™ programming language. The database system may further employ a search engine which allows queries to be made upon entries in the database. In one implementation, the queries include a read operation, a take operation, and a notify operation. Each query request includes a command indicating the type of operation, and a template which is an entry object having some or all of its fields set to specific values that must be matched exactly.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2000Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Scheifler, Kenneth C. R. C. Arnold, James H. Waldo
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Patent number: 6389540Abstract: A system regulates access to resources requested by an operation executing on a computer. The operation invokes a plurality of methods that operate upon code during execution. The system includes a policy file, a call stack, and an execution unit. The policy file stores permissions for each of the resources. The permissions authorize particular types of access to the resource based on a source of the code and an executor of the code. The call stack stores representations of the methods and executors in an order of invocation by the operation. The execution unit grants access to the resource when the types of access authorized by the permissions of all of the methods and executors on the call stack encompass the access requested by the operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Scheifler, Li Gong
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Publication number: 20020046228Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that facilitate access to a service via a lookup service. A lookup service defines a network's directory of services and stores references to these services. A client desiring use of a service on the network accesses the lookup service, which returns the stub information that facilitates the user's access of the service. The client uses the stub information to access the service.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2001Publication date: April 18, 2002Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Scheifler, Ann M. wollrath, James H. Waldo
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Publication number: 20020002614Abstract: An improved lookup service is provided that allows for the dynamic addition and deletion of services. This lookup service allows for the addition and deletion of services automatically, without user intervention. As a result, clients of the lookup service may continue using the lookup service and its associated services while the updates occur. Additionally, the lookup service provides a notification mechanism that can be used by clients to receive a notification when the lookup service is updated. By receiving such a notification, clients can avoid attempting to access a service that is no longer available and can make use of new services as soon as they are added to the lookup service.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2001Publication date: January 3, 2002Applicant: Sun Microsystems Inc.Inventors: Brian T. Murphy, Robert W. Scheifler, Zane Pan, James H. Waldo, Ann M. Wollrath, Kenneth C.R.C. Arnold
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Patent number: 6282652Abstract: A system separately designates security requirements for each of a plurality of methods invoked on a server. The system includes a security class library and an execution unit. The security class library stores a plurality of security objects that correspond to the plurality of methods. Each of the security objects stores the security requirements for the corresponding method. The execution unit receives from a client a method invocation request that includes security requirements of the client. From the request, the execution unit identifies one of the security objects in the security class library that corresponds to the requested method, and determines whether to invoke the requested method based on a comparison of the client security requirements and the security requirements stored in the security object.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1998Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventor: Robert W. Scheifler
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Publication number: 20010002473Abstract: An improved lookup service is provided that allows for the dynamic addition and deletion of services. This lookup service allows for the addition and deletion of services automatically without user intervention. As a result, clients of the lookup service may continue using the lookup service and its associated services while the updates occur. Additionally, the lookup service provides a notification mechanism that can be used by clients to receive a notification when the lookup service is updated. By receiving such a notification, clients can avoid attempting to access a service that is no longer available and can make use of new services as soon as they are added to the lookup service.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2001Publication date: May 31, 2001Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: James H. Waldo, Ann M. Wollrath, Robert W. Scheifler, Kenneth C.R.C. Arnold
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Patent number: 6226746Abstract: A system obtains the security requirements for an action requested by a thread executing on a computer. The thread invokes a plurality of methods during its execution. The system includes a call stack and a determination unit. The call stack stores an identifier and security requirements for each of the methods in the order that the methods were invoked by the thread. The determination unit combines the method security requirements from the call stack to obtain the security requirements for the requested action.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1998Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventor: Robert W. Scheifler
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Patent number: 6185611Abstract: An improved lookup service is provided that allows for the dynamic addition and deletion of services. This lookup service allows for the addition and deletion of services automatically, without user intervention. As a result, clients of the lookup service may continue using the lookup service and its associated services while the updates occur. Additionally, the lookup service provides a notification mechanism that can be used by clients to receive a notification when the lookup service is updated. By receiving such a notification, clients can avoid attempting to access a service that is no longer available and can make use of new services as soon as they are added to the lookup service.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1998Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Assignee: Sun Microsystem, Inc.Inventors: James H. Waldo, Ann M. Wollrath, Robert W. Scheifler, Kenneth C. R. C. Arnold
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Patent number: 6182083Abstract: A database system wherein one or more entry databases store a plurality of entries. Each entry is of a given type that defines the fields of the entry. Each field contains or identifies an object with associated attributes or data. The type of each entry may further define behavior in the form of methods the entry can implement. An entry type which is a subtype of another inherits all fields and behavior of its super-type, and contains additional fields and/or defines new/modified behavior. Entries may be expressed in a Java™ programming language. The database system may further employ a search engine which allows queries to be made upon entries in the database. In one implementation, the queries include a read operation, a take operation, and a notify operation. Each query request includes a command indicating the type of operation, and a template which is an entry object having some or all of its fields set to specific values that must be matched exactly.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1998Date of Patent: January 30, 2001Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Scheifler, Kenneth C. R. C. Arnold, James H. Waldo
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Patent number: 6138238Abstract: A system regulates access to resources requested by an operation executing on a computer. The operation invokes a plurality of methods that operate upon code during execution. The system includes a policy file, a call stack, and an execution unit. The policy file stores permissions for each of the resources. The permissions authorize particular types of access to the resource based on a source of the code and an executor of the code. The call stack stores representations of the methods and executors in an order of invocation by the operation. The execution unit grants access to the resource when the types of access authorized by the permissions of all of the methods and executors on the call stack encompass the access requested by the operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1998Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Scheifler, Li Gong
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Patent number: 6134603Abstract: A method and system is provided to uniquely identify a remote method to invoke on a server using a hash value computed from the method signature sent from the client to the server with the call request. When a client wishes to invoke a remote method located on a server, the client sends a hash value identifying the remote method to the server in the "remote method invocation" (RMI) call. In one implementation, this hash value is created by applying a hash function to the method string name and the parameter type list and possibly the return type. When the server receives the RMI call, the server identifies which method is being called using the received hash value. The server maintains a mapping of hash values to their associated remote methods located on the server and references the correct method using the hash value. Additionally, in one implementation, the server creates the mapping table dynamically when a remote object is created.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1998Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Peter C. Jones, Ann M. Wollrath, Robert W. Scheifler