/*
 * JBoss, the OpenSource EJB server
 *
 * Distributable under LGPL license.
 * See terms of license at gnu.org.
 */
package javax.ejb;

import javax.xml.rpc.handler.MessageContext;

/**
 * The SessionContext interface provides access to the runtime session
 * context that the container provides for a session enterprise Bean
 * instance. The container passes the SessionContext interface to an
 * instance after the instance has been created. The session context
 * remains associated with the instance for the lifetime of the instance.
 * @version $Revision: 1.4 $
 */
public interface SessionContext extends EJBContext
{

  /**
   * <P>Obtain a reference to the EJB local object that is currently associated with the instance.</P>
   *
   * <P>An instance of an entity enterprise Bean can call this method only when the instance is associated
   * with an EJB local object identity, i.e. in the ejbActivate, ejbPassivate, ejbPostCreate, ejbRemove, ejbLoad,
   * ejbStore, and business methods.</P>
   *
   * <P>An instance can use this method, for example, when it wants to pass a reference to itself in a method
   * argument or result.</P>
   *
   * @return The EJB local object currently associated with the instance.
   * @exception java.lang.IllegalStateException - Thrown if the instance invokes this method while the instance
   * is in a state that does not allow the instance to invoke this method, or if the instance does not have a
   * local interface.
   */
  public EJBLocalObject getEJBLocalObject() throws IllegalStateException;

  /**
   * <P>Obtain a reference to the EJB object that is currently associated with the instance.</P>
   *
   * <P>An instance of a session enterprise Bean can call this method at anytime between the ejbCreate()
   * and ejbRemove() methods, including from within the ejbCreate() and ejbRemove() methods.</P>
   *
   * <P>An instance can use this method, for example, when it wants to pass a reference to itself in a method
   * argument or result.</P>
   *
   * @return The EJB object currently associated with the instance.
   * @exception java.lang.IllegalStateException - Thrown if the instance invokes this method while the instance
   * is in a state that does not allow the instance to invoke this method, or if the instance does not have a
   * remote interface.
   */
  public EJBObject getEJBObject() throws IllegalStateException;

   /** Obtain a reference to the JAX-RPC MessageContext. An instance of a
    * stateless session bean can call this method from any business method
    * invoked through its web service endpoint interface. 
    * 
    * @return The MessageContext for this web service invocation.
    * @throws IllegalStateException - Thrown if this method is invoked while
    * the instance is in a state that does not allow access to this method.
    */ 
   public MessageContext getMessageContext() throws IllegalStateException;
}