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).

  • Publication number: 20020174224
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Robert W. Scheifler, Li Gong
  • Patent number: 6480863
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Scheifler, Kenneth C. R. C. Arnold, James H. Waldo
  • Patent number: 6389540
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Scheifler, Li Gong
  • Publication number: 20020046228
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Scheifler, Ann M. wollrath, James H. Waldo
  • Publication number: 20020002614
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Murphy, Robert W. Scheifler, Zane Pan, James H. Waldo, Ann M. Wollrath, Kenneth C.R.C. Arnold
  • Patent number: 6282652
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Scheifler
  • Publication number: 20010002473
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Waldo, Ann M. Wollrath, Robert W. Scheifler, Kenneth C.R.C. Arnold
  • Patent number: 6226746
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Scheifler
  • Patent number: 6185611
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystem, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Waldo, Ann M. Wollrath, Robert W. Scheifler, Kenneth C. R. C. Arnold
  • Patent number: 6182083
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Scheifler, Kenneth C. R. C. Arnold, James H. Waldo
  • Patent number: 6138238
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Scheifler, Li Gong
  • Patent number: 6134603
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Jones, Ann M. Wollrath, Robert W. Scheifler