Object access mechanism that dynamically switches between multiple distributed access models

摘要

This present invention incorporates the benefits of the function shipping, page shipping and class shipping remote object access models into a single, industry standard programming model. The fundamental mechanism of the present invention is an underlying shipper mechanism, which dynamically selects and updates the remote object access method being employed for any given access based on the most desirable method available at the time of the object access. The shipper mechanism dynamically decides which underlying access mechanism to use based on (1) object access policy rules, and (2) system operational loads and network traffic heuristics. The shipper is further capable of transparently switching from one access model to another while an object access is on-going.