Mechanism for achieving transparent network computing

This invention relates generally to the field of computer systems and more specifically to a program architecture. A program framework for use in a networked system includes an abstract, protocol-independent storage system in which data sources are stored. The storage system is abstract because it includes data stored anywhere in the networked system, yet references to the data appear to the user as references to a local storage system. Associated with each data source is one or more views, where a view is a user defined logical interface for accessing the data source. The view is mapped to an implementation which identifies either or both of a communication protocol for accessing the data source and one or more tasks to be performed on the data source. As such, the logical interface to the data source is separated from the methods for implementing accessing or operating the resource. A programmer accesses data using one of the available views of the data. The functionality of the system may be easily expanded by adding different views to the data sources. In addition, because any program may access a data source using any of the available views, information can be seamlessly transferred between programs, thereby significantly reducing inter-program communication difficulties.