XML in the MASP client-server protocol
A method and system for using XML for both a protocol layer and application data are described. The method comprises the steps of initiating a connection by a client to a server to form a session, responding by said server to said client indicating that said connection has been successfully completed, submitting a request by said client to said server for service, responding by said server to said client by providing said service and terminating the connection by said client. A session is maintained and a plurality of requests for service by a client and a server responds to those requests by providing the requested service or an error message. The session is maintained until all requests made by a client have been serviced and the requests made by a client may be either synchronous or asynchronous. The system comprises a client and a server coupled to said client by a communications link.
1. A method for using XML for both a protocol layer and application data, the protocol layer and application data having an XML-based structure, the method comprising:
at a client, indicating a connection between the client and a server, by initiating an XML document and writing the XML document directly to a transport and network layer socket connection;
at the client, requesting that the server perform a service; and
terminating the connection.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the transport and network layer socket connections is a TCP/IP socket connection.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the XML document is ongoing and the method further comprises:
using an XML parser, incrementally interpreting and processing the XML document.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:
monitoring activity of the client by using XML comments that are ignored by the XML parser.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
compressing the XML to reduce overhead.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
augmenting the XML to handle descriptive verbosity by forming an index that establishes a co-reference to an attribute that is already fully described.
7. A method for using XML for both a protocol layer and application data, the protocol layer and application data having an XML-based structure, the method comprising:
at a server, indicating that a connection between the client and the server has been initiated, by initiating an XML document and writing the XML document directly to a transport and network layer socket connection so as to indicate that the connection has been established; and
at the server, responding to a service request from the client by providing the service.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein:
the transport and network layer socket connection is a TCP/IP socket connection.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the XML document is ongoing and the method further comprises:
using an XML parser, incrementally interpreting and processing the XML document.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
monitoring activity of the server by using XML comments that are ignored by the XML parser.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
compressing the XML to reduce overhead.
12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
augmenting the XML to handle descriptive verbosity by forming an index that establishes a co-reference to an attribute that is already fully described.
13. A client using XML for both a protocol layer and application data, the protocol layer and application data having an XML-based structure, the client comprising:
means for initiating a connection between the client and a server, by initiating an XML document and writing the XML document directly to a transport and network layer socket connection;
means for submitting a service request to the server; and
means for terminating the connection.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein:
the transport and network layer socket connection is a TCP/IP socket connection.
15. The client of claim 13 wherein the XML document is ongoing and the client further comprises:
means for using an XML parser to incrementally interpret and process the XML document.
16. The client of claim 15 further comprising:
means for monitoring activity of the client by using XML comments that are ignored by the XML parser.
17. A server using XML for both a protocol layer and application data, the protocol layer and application data having an XML-based structure, the server comprising:
means for indicating that a connection between a client and the server has been initiated, by initiating an XML document and writing the XML document directly to a transport and network layer socket connection so as to indicate that the connection has been established; and
means for responding to a service request by providing the service.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein:
the transport and network layer socket connection is a TCP/IP socket connection.
19. The server of claim 17 wherein the XML document is ongoing and the server further comprises:
means for using an XML parser to incrementally interpret and process the XML document.
20. The server of claim 19 further comprising:
means for monitoring activity of the server by using XML comments that are ignored by the XML parser.