Run-time object-synthesis and transparent client/server updating of distributed objects using a meta server of all object descriptors

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A run-time object-updating system updates a distributed-object client-server application with client objects and server objects.
The run-time object-updating system has a network connection on a server running the server objects.
The network connection transmits and receives packets from a plurality of remote clients running the client objects.
A meta server catalogs object descriptors for object classes in the distributed-object client-server application.
A database is coupled to the meta server to provide non-volatile storage.
The meta server receives change requests and reads object descriptors from its database and writes modified and new object descriptors to its database in response to the change requests.
A compiler is coupled to the meta server and compiles the modified and new object descriptors from the meta server.
The compiler outputs newly-compiled class definitions.
An object adaptor receives the newly-compiled class definitions.
It creates new server objects and new client objects using the newly-compiled class definitions.
The object adaptor invalidates obsolete objects on the server and on the plurality of remote clients.
The obsolete objects are made obsolete by the change requests.
Other server objects and other client objects continue to run while the object adaptor invalidates the obsolete objects and creates the new server objects and the new client objects.
Thus the distributed-object client-server application is updated while running.
In further aspects of the invention an application database on the server contains data used by the distributed-object client-server application.
The application database is read and written by server objects in response to requests by client objects.
The meta server includes structure-update means for updating field definitions in the application database in response to the change requests.
Thus a structure of the application database is changed when the server objects and the client objects are updated.
In still further aspects a user interface defines changes to the distributed-object client-server application