Dynamic data-driven application integration adapters

1. A method of application integration, the method comprising:

constructing an application integration adapter in dependence upon a profile comprising data describing the adapter;

receiving instructions to alter the adapter; and

altering the adapter in dependence upon the instructions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the application integration adapter comprises:

data communications transports, including senders and receivers, and

optionally, data transfer managers.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the data describing the adapter comprises:

data identifying communications protocols, and

data identifying applications programs.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating integration messages among applications through the adapter as altered.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving instructions to alter the adapter further comprises detecting changes in the adapter profile.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein detecting changes in the adapter profile further comprises:

creating a copy of the profile; and

periodically comparing the profile and the copy.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving instructions to alter the adapter further comprises receiving from an application an administrative integration message bearing the instructions to alter the adapter.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein altering the adapter in dependence upon the instructions further comprises updating the profile.

9. A system of application integration, the system comprising:

means for constructing an application integration adapter in dependence upon a profile comprising data describing the adapter;

means for receiving instructions to alter the adapter; and

means for altering the adapter in dependence upon the instructions.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the application integration adapter comprises:

data communications transports, including senders and receivers, and

optionally, data transfer managers.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the data describing the adapter comprises:

data identifying communications protocols, and

data identifying applications programs.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for communicating integration messages among applications through the adapter as altered.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein receiving means for instructions to alter the adapter further comprises means for detecting changes in the adapter profile.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein means for detecting changes in the adapter profile further comprises:

means for creating a copy of the profile; and

means for periodically comparing the profile and the copy.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein means for receiving instructions to alter the adapter further comprises means for receiving from an application an administrative integration message bearing the instructions to alter the adapter.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein means for altering the adapter in dependence upon the instructions further comprises means for updating the profile.

17. A computer program product of application integration, the computer program product comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for constructing an application integration adapter in dependence upon a profile comprising data describing the adapter;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving instructions to alter the adapter; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for altering the adapter in dependence upon the instructions.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the application integration adapter comprises:

data communications transports, including senders and receivers, and

optionally, data transfer managers.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the data describing the adapter comprises:

data identifying communications protocols, and

data identifying applications programs.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising means, recorded on the recording medium, for communicating integration messages among applications through the adapter as altered.

21. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein receiving means, recorded on the recording medium, for instructions to alter the adapter further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for detecting changes in the adapter profile.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for detecting changes in the adapter profile further comprises:

means, recorded on the recording medium, for creating a copy of the profile; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for periodically comparing the profile and the copy.

23. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving instructions to alter the adapter further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving from an application an administrative integration message bearing the instructions to alter the adapter.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for altering the adapter in dependence upon the instructions further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for updating the profile.