EP0660231A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and system for dynamically generating object connections
Assignee: Microsoft Corp
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Filing: 1994-12-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for dynamically generating object connections is provided. In a preferred embodiment, a connection can be generated between a source object and a sink object using a connection point object. A source object has connection point objects where each connection point object corresponds to a particular interface. A sink object implements one or more notification interfaces for connecting to a source object. A connection point object of a source object can connect to multiple notification interfaces, which belong to one or more sink objects. A connection point object keeps track of pointers to the notification interfaces to which it has been connected. In order to generate a connection, a sink object requests from a source object a connection point object corresponding to a particular interface. The source object determines whether it supports such a connection point object, and if so returns a pointer to the connection point interface of the determined connection point object. The sink object then requests to be connected to the connection point object using the returned connection point interface pointer and passes a reference to a notification interface of the sink object corresponding to the particular interface. The connection point object then stores the reference to the notification interface of the sink object, creating a connection between the sink object and the source object. At some later time, the source object can utilize the connection to notify the sink object through the connected notification interfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Stutz
- 👤 Christopher A. Zimmerman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/54; G06F9/542; G06F9/44; G06F9/448; G06F9/4488
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method in a computer system for dynamically generating an object connection between a source object and a sink object, the sink object having a notification interface for communicating with the source object, the source object having connection point interfaces for connecting a sink object, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a connection point interface for connecting the source object to the sink object; receiving, through the selected connection point interface, a request to connect the source object and the sink object, the request having an indication of the notification interface of the sink object; and storing the indicated notification interface, whereby the source object communicates with the sink object using the indicated notification interface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of, under control of the source object, invoking the stored notification interface of the sink object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1, the connection point interface for connecting to a plurality of sink objects, wherein the steps of receiving a request to connect and storing the indicated notification interface are performed for each sink object, and further including the step of: invoking the stored notification interface for each sink object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each connection point interface connects to a plurality of sink objects, and wherein the step of selecting a connection point interface chooses a connection point interface based upon the notification interface of the sink object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 4, the source object having a connection point container object for managing interaction with the plurality of connection point interfaces and wherein the step of selecting a connection point interface includes the substep of requesting a connection point interface from the connection point container object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, the connection point interface having an advise member function for requesting a connection to the source object, wherein the step of receiving a request to connect is performed under the control of the advise member function of the connection point interface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting a connection point interface is performed under the control of the source object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of storing the indicated notification interface is performed under the control of the source object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, under control of the sink object, requesting a connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9, the computer system having an initiator object for setting up connections between a source object and a sink object, wherein the step of requesting a connection is performed by the initiator object.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
91 words
A method in a computer system for registering a notification interface of a sink object with a source object, the source object having a function member for registering the notification interface of the sink object, the notification interface for communicating with the sink object from the source object, the sink object having a plurality of notification interfaces, the method including the steps of: selecting a notification interface from the plurality of notification interfaces to register; and requesting registration of the selected notification interface using the function member of the source object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 11, the source object having an advise member function for requesting registration of a notification interface, and wherein the step of requesting registration invokes the advise member function of the source object to make the request.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 11, the sink object having an IUnknown interface for accessing other interfaces of the sink object, and wherein the step of selecting a notification interface chooses the IUnknown interface of the sink object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9, the computer system having an initiator object for registering a notification interface of a sink object, wherein all steps are performed by the initiator object.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
121 words
A method in a computer system for dynamically generating an object connection between a source object and a sink object, the sink object having a plurality of notification interfaces for communicating with the sink object, the source object having connection point interfaces for connecting the sink object, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a connection point interface for connecting the source object to the sink object; selecting a notification interface from the plurality of notification interfaces; using the selected connection point interface to request that the source object and the sink object be connected, wherein the request indicates the selected notification interface; and storing the indicated notification interface so that the sink object can be notified by the source object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, further including the step of invoking the stored notification interface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer system for dynamically connecting objects, the system comprising: a plurality of sink objects, each sink object having a notification function member for communicating with the sink object from the source object; and a plurality of source objects, each source object having a plurality of connection points for storing a notification function member of a sink object, each connection point storing a plurality of notification function members and returning an identification of a notification function member from the plurality of stored notification function members upon request.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 17, further comprising a connection point container for storing the plurality of connection points within each source object, the connection point container having the ability to determine which connection point to use when an object connection is requested.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 17, further comprising an invocation mechanism used by a connection point to invoke a stored notification function member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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