FRAMEWORK AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING CLIENT-SERVER PROGRAMMING AND INTERACTIONS

The inventive framework provides the tools for management of requests for services by clients, by assigning the request to the right service-providing entity in the server. In addition, the framework allows a two-tiered view into the functions of the server. The invention also provides the means to start the server from a client location, and/or to start other remotely-located partner applications from a client location. Most significantly, the framework allows virtually any type of function (e.g., database management and lookups, file transfers, graphical status displays, etc.) to be added to the client-server code without the need for changing the code in the framework itself. The inventive framework is independent of the implementation language of the client; the location of the client (i.e., remotely located or local to the server location); and the means of communication between the client and the server (e.g., TCP/IP, Novell LAN protocols, IPC, etc.). While the base classes and abstract interfaces are provided in an implementation language such as C++, it is not necessary to write the client in the same language, thereby providing greater flexibility across a myriad of systems.