Message parsing in message processing systems

Abstract

Methods are provided for parsing, in a message parser P, Pof a message processing system, a plurality of messages comprising respective corresponding sets of data fields arranged in a predetermined format, to extract a corresponding data field from each message. The format is defined by format information which is stored in the systemand which indicates a name for each data field in a said set. In response to a handle request, which indicates the name of a required data field, received from a componentof the system, the format information is accessed to determine the location of the required data field in a said message. A handle, indicative of this location, is then supplied to the component. In response to subsequent parsing requests, each comprising the handle and a said message, from the component, the required data field is extracted from the message in each parsing request according to the location indicated by the handle. Message parsing apparatus for handling a plurality of different message formats is also provided. The apparatusmay include a plurality of message parsers P, P, one for each message format, and a parsing managerThe parsing managermanages communications between system applicationsand the parsers P, Pto enable different-format message series to be parsed by the appropriate parsers using the improved parsing methods.