Methods and systems for providing a data access layer

1. A system for providing a re-usable data access framework, the system comprising:

first and second application modules generating requests for information; and

a data access layer, including a first server that includes an application program interface and a plurality of service providers, the application program interface configured to:

receive a request from the first application module, and

delegate the request to at least one of the plurality of service providers to manage data associated with the request,

wherein the plurality of service providers comprise:

a synchronization manager configured to:

maintain, in response to a determination that the request is an update shared data request for updating the shared data, data consistency for shared data held in a memory of the first server and a memory of a second server and

send information associated with the update shared data request to the second application module from a first message service provider located in the first server to a second message service provider located in the second server;

a cache manager configured to:

cache results of a first database query in response to the request being a database access request, and

provide a portion of the results of the first database query to one of the first or second application modules in response to receipt of a second database query from one of the first or the second application modules;

a pre-fetch service configured to cause the cache manager to:

perform a third database query in response to the first or the second application module predicting a user action,

cache results of the third database query, and

provide the results of the third database query to the application program interface when the user action is received by the one of the first or the second application modules; and

a security manager configured to determine a restriction on the request based upon a role of a user associated with the request.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second application modules executes instructions using the Java programming environment.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-fetch service causes the data to be pre-fetched from the database and stored in cache for future requests.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cache manager causes the portion of the database query results that resides in the cache to expire after a first period of time.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user action sends data from a hyperlink identified in the request.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the restriction comprises one of a granted request, a declined request, and a revised request.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of service providers further comprise a monitoring service, the monitoring service being configured to:

monitor a plurality of connections between the first server and the database and

close a first connection within the plurality of connections if the first connection is idle for greater than a second period of time.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a database utility configured to provide database access to the service providers.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a layer, located between an application server and a database server, which centralizes data access and management-related activities.

10. A method for providing a re-usable data access framework, the method comprising:

receiving a request from at least one of first and second application modules by a data access layer having an application program interface located in a first server;

delegating the request to at least one of a plurality of service providers, located in the first server, to manage data associated with the request;

maintaining, using at least one of the plurality of service providers in response to a determination that the request is an update shared data request for updating the shared data, data consistency for shared data held in a memory of the first server and a memory of a second server;

sending information associated with the request to the second application module from a first message service provider located in the first server to a second message service provider located in the second server;

caching results of a first database query, using at using at least one of the plurality of service providers, in response to a determination that the request is a database access request for updating;

providing a portion of the results of the first database query to one of the first or second application module in response to receiving a second database query from one of the first or the second application module;

causing at least one of the plurality of service providers to:

perform a third database query in response to the first or the second application module predicting a user action,

cache results of the third database query, and

provide the results of the third database query to the application program interface when the user action is received by one of the first or the second application module; and

determining a restriction on the request based upon a role of a user associated with the request if the request is received by a third service provider of the plurality of service providers.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first or second application modules executes instructions using the Java programming environment.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pre-fetch service causes data to be pre-fetched from the database and stored in cache for future requests.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cache manager causes the portion of the database query results that resides in the cache to expire after a first period of time.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the user action sends data from a hyperlink identified in the request.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the restriction comprises one of a granted request, a declined quest, and a revised request.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

monitoring a plurality of connections between the first server and the database; and

closing a first connection within the plurality of connections if the first connection is idle for greater than a second period of time.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing database access through a database utility.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the method provides a layer, located between an application server and a database server, which centralizes data access and management-related activities.

19. A computer-readable storage medium on which is stored a set of instructions for providing a re-usable data access framework, which when executed, perform stages comprising:

receiving a request from at least one of first and second application modules by a data access layer having an application program interface located in a first server;

delegating the request to at least one of a plurality of service providers, located in the first server, to manage data associated with the request;

maintaining, using at least one of the plurality of service providers in response to a determination that the request is an update shared data request for updating the shared data, data consistency for shared data held in a memory of the first server and a memory of a second server;

sending information associated with the request to the second application module from a first message service provider located in the first server to a second message service provider located in the second server;

caching results of a first database query, using at using at least one of the plurality of service providers, in response to a determination that the request is a database access request for updating;

providing a portion of the results of the first database query to one of the first or second application module in response to receiving a second database query from one of the first or the second application module;

causing at least one of the plurality of service providers to:

perform a third database query in response to the first or the second application module predicting a user action,

cache results of the third database query, and

provide the results of the third database query to the application program interface when the user action is received by one of the first or the second application module; and

determining a restriction on the request based upon a role of a user associated with the request if the request is received by a third service provider of the plurality of service providers.