EXECUTING COMPUTATIONS EXPRESSED AS GRAPHS

A method and apparatus by which a graph can be used to invoke computations directly. Methods get information into and out of individual processes represented on a graph, move information between the processes, and define a running order for the processes. An application writer informs a system incorporating the invention how processes should access necessary data. The invention adds "adaptor processes", if necessary, to assist in getting information into and out of processes. In general, in one aspect, a method executes on a computer system a computation expressed as a graph comprising a plurality of vertices representing computational processes, each vertex having an associated access method, and a plurality of links, each connecting at least two vertices to each other and representing a flow of data between the connected vertices, comprising the steps of: (1) accepting the graph into the computer system as user input; (2) preparing the graph for execution by performing, on the computer system, graph transformation steps until each vertex is in a runnable state, and each link is associated with at least one communication method compatible with the access methods of the vertices connected by the link; (3) launching each link by creating, by means of the computer system, a combination of communication channels and/or data stores, as appropriate to the link's communication method; and (4) launching each process by invoking execution of the process on the computer system.