US5872973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for managing dynamic relations between objects in dynamic object-oriented languages
Assignee: ViewSoft Inc
•
Filing: 1995-10-26
•
Granted: 1999-02-16
•
Expires: 2015-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for creating named relations between classes in a dynamic object-oriented programming environment via mappers is disclosed. The mapping objects dynamically bind to the class interfaces of the classes being related. These connections between classes are defined within a visual environment. The relationships can be programmatically attached by name to object instances during program execution. Because these relationships are stored in a resource and are dynamically bound by name to the objects, they can be created and modified without requiring the source code of the objects being associated to be changed. This eliminates hard coded dependencies between objects that impede reuse of the objects in other contexts. The invention requires and takes full advantage of, meta-data, full dynamic binding and probing support in the objects being connected with the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 David C. Mitchell
- 👤 Kelly L. Anderson
- 👤 Andrew V. Osman
- 👤 Dale K. Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/465
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A system for dynamically linking a first object instance and a second object instance written using a dynamic object-oriented language, comprising at least one semantic link relating said first and said second objects instances through their class interfaces using the dynamic binding capabilities of said first and second objects wherein the semantic link comprises: a third object instance that sets at least one probe on a field of the object instance, the probe causing the third object instance to perform an action on the second object instance if the field changes and properties controlling the behavior of the third object instance, the properties not being changed at runtime and being stored separately from program code.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A system for dynamically linking a first object instance and a second object instance written using a dynamic object-oriented language, comprising at least one semantic link relating said first and said second objects instances through their class interfaces using the dynamic binding capabilities of said first and second objects wherein the semantic link comprises: a third object instance that sets at least one probe on a field of the object instance, the probe causing the third object instance to perform an action on the second object instance if the field changes and properties controlling the behavior of the third object instance, the properties not being changed at runtime and being stored separately from program code.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second objects are the same object instance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of semantic links and means for creating a connection comprising a named list of said plurality of links.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 3 further comprising a resource for storing a specification of said connection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 4 further comprising means for creating and initializing said connection during program execution in accordance with said specification.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 3 further comprising means for dynamically creating and destroying said connection during program execution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said link performs transformations on information passed between said first and said second objects.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the first object instance resides on a first machine and the second object instance resides on a second machine, the first machine and the second machine coupled to a computer network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the third object instance resides on a third machine, the third machine coupled to the computer network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the action comprises setting a field in the second object instance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the action comprises calling a function in the second object instance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the action comprises setting a field in the second object instance and calling a function in the second object instance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the action comprises setting a field in the second object instance and calling a function in the second object instance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the third object instance sets a second probe on a field of the second object instance, the second probe causing the third object instance to perform an action on the first object instance if the field of the second object instance is changed.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of establishing communication between a first object instance and a second object instance, the first object and the second object written using a dynamic object-oriented language, the method comprising: instantiating a third object instance, the third object instance having properties that are not changed at runtime and are stored separately from program code; the third object instance setting a first probe on the first object; and based on the probe, if a field changes in the first object instance, communicating with the second object instance.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of establishing communication between a first object instance and a second object instance, the first object and the second object written using a dynamic object-oriented language, the method comprising: instantiating a third object instance, the third object instance having properties that are not changed at runtime and are stored separately from program code; the third object instance setting a first probe on the first object; and based on the probe, if a field changes in the first object instance, communicating with the second object instance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 15, wherein communicating with the second object instance comprises: calling a function in the second object instance.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 16, wherein calling a function comprises: the third object instance collecting parameters from the first object via dynamic binding and the third object instance passing the parameters to the function.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 15, wherein communicating with the second object instance comprises: updating a field in the second object instance.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 15, wherein communicating with the second object instance comprises: firing a second probe on a field of the second object instance.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 15, comprising the third object instance setting a second probe on the second object instance and based on the second probe, if a field changes in the second object instance, communicating with the first object instance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 15, comprising: instantiating a plurality of objects instances; the object instances in the plurality of object instances setting probes on the first object instance; and based on at least a probe in the plurality of probes, if a field changes in the first object instance, communicating with the second object instance.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15, comprising: the third object instance transforming information passed between the first object instance and the second object instance.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the first object instance resides on a first machine and the second object instance resides on a second machine, the first machine and the second machine coupled to a computer network.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the third object instance resides on a third machine, the third machine coupled to the computer network.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of dynamically linking a first object instance and a second object instance written using a dynamic object-oriented language, the method comprising; instantiating a third object instance, the third object instance having properties controlling the behavior of the third object instance, the properties being stored separately from program code; the third object instance setting a probe on a field of said first object instance, the third object instance setting the probe using a class interface of the first object instance; and the probe causing the third object instance to perform an action an the second object instance if the field changes.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of dynamically linking a first object instance and a second object instance written using a dynamic object-oriented language, the method comprising; instantiating a third object instance, the third object instance having properties controlling the behavior of the third object instance, the properties being stored separately from program code; the third object instance setting a probe on a field of said first object instance, the third object instance setting the probe using a class interface of the first object instance; and the probe causing the third object instance to perform an action an the second object instance if the field changes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 25, wherein the action comprises setting a field in the second object instance.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 25, wherein the action comprises calling a function in the second object instance.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 27, wherein calling a function comprises: the third object instance collecting parameters from the first object instance via dynamic binding and the third object instance passing the parameters to the function.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 25, comprising the third object instance setting a second probe on a field of the second object instance, the second probe causing the third object instance to perform an action on the first object instance if the field of the second object instance is changed.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 25, comprising: instantiating a plurality of object instances; the object instances in the plurality of object instances setting a plurality of probes on fields in object instances from among the first object instance and the second object instance, and probes from among the plurality of probes performing actions on object instances from among the first object instance and the second object instance if respective fields are changed.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 25, comprising: the third object instance transforming information passed between one of said first and second object instances and another of said first and second object instances.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the first object instance resides on a first machine and the second object instance resides on a second machine, the first machine and the second machine coupled to a computer network.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 32, wherein the third object instance resides on a third machine, the third machine coupled to the computer network.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5619638A
Cited
US5418964A
Cited
US5359721A
Cited
US5371891A
Cited
US5327562A
Cited
US5339430A
Cited
US5515536A
Cited
US5367633A
Cited
US5437025A
Cited
US5369766A
Cited
US5485671A
Cited
US5423841A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-15 | 2002-08-17 | 2003-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | 2007-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-15 | 2010-08-17 | 2011-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |