Method, data structure, and computer program product for object state storage in a repository

Claim 3

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said state retrieval occurs implicitly during object navigation.

Claim 4

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said state retrieval occurs explicitly by reference to said stored state identifier means.

Claim 5

A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising a method of instantiating objects through a request to a generic repository object that accesses a stored class definition library, the method of instantiation comprising the steps of: identifying and storing in a stored class definition library one or more class definitions, each of said class definitions identifying one or more class means that implements one or more interface means having (a) one or more properties that are capable of describing the state of an object, (b) one or more method means for accessing and modifying said properties and exposing other behavior, and (c) an interface identifier means for uniquely identifying an interface means so as to enable accessing of said one or more method means; forming a generic repository object for interpreting a request to instantiate a new object based upon said one or more said class definitions that identify the new object class; searching said stored class definition library and retrieving therefrom a class definition corresponding to said request; and enabling said generic repository object to take on the interfaces corresponding to the requested new object class so as to thereby instantiate the new object.

Claim 6

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said later created object is instantiated from the same class as that of said object represented by said stored object state.

Claim 7

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said later created object is instantiated from a different class than that of said object represented by said stored object state, said later created object capable of implementing different interface means having different methods or properties than said object represented by said stored object state.

Claim 8

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said later created object is instantiated from a different class than that of said object represented by said stored object state, said later created object class being a binary extension of the class of said object represented by said stored object state.

Claim 9

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said executable code means is broken into subroutines, each subroutine corresponds to a method of said interface means, and said class identifier means and said interface identifier means are GUIDs.

Claim 10

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said one or more objects further comprises an indicating interface common to every one of said one or more objects, said indicating interface providing means for accessing each and every other interface means supported by each of said one or more objects.

Claim 11

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said properties comprise relationships implemented as a collection of relationship objects between an origin interface and a destination interface.

Claim 12

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said properties comprise relationships implemented as a collection of target objects.

Claim 13

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said repository of stored object states is organized into a row-column database format comprising the steps of: forming a stored object state table wherein the rows identify each said stored object state and the columns identify one or more generic properties common to all said persisted object states; and forming an interface table for each interface means supported by said one or more objects wherein the rows for said interface table identify said stored object state and the columns identify the properties for said each interface means.

Claim 14

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said repository of stored object states is stored in an object oriented database.

Claim 15

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure consisting of a repository for storing the state of a plurality of objects and for permitting retrieval of the stored state for use in later created objects that is independent of any underlying language used to form the objects, said data structure comprising: one or more interface means, each interface means comprising (a) one or more properties that are capable of describing the state of an object, (b) one or more method means for accessing and modifying said properties and exposing other behavior, and (c) an interface identifier means for uniquely identifying an interface means so as to enable accessing of said one or more method means; one or more class means, each consisting of executable code means that implements one or more said interface means and having a unique class identifier means; one or more objects as instances of one or more said class means, the properties of the interface means implemented by said class means defining the state of the object, each object accessible through at least one of said one or more interface means; and a repository of stored object states for each of said one or more objects, the repository including a database interface means included in said objects, said database interface means storing for each object: (a) said class identifier means used to instantiate said object, (b) said properties for each one or more said interface means defining the state of the object, (c) said interface identifier means for each interface means implemented in said object, and (d) a stored state identifier means for identifying the stored object state, thereby enabling said stored object state to be retrieved from said repository for use in a later created object, and thereafter enabling further use of said later created object in the state defined by said properties.

Claim 16

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure consisting of a repository for storing the state of a plurality of objects and for permitting retrieval of the stored state for use in later created objects that is independent of any underlying language used to form the objects, said data structure comprising: one or more interface means, each interface means comprising (a) one or more properties that are capable of describing the state of an object, (b) one or more method means for accessing and modifying said properties and exposing other behavior, and (c) an interface identifier means for uniquely identifying an interface means so as to enable accessing of said one or more method means; one or more class means, each consisting of executable code means that implements one or more said interface means and having a unique class identifier means; one or more objects as instances of one or more said class means, the properties of the interface means implemented by said class means defining the state of the object, each object accessible through at least one of said one or more interface means; and a repository of stored object states for each of said one or more objects, the repository including a database interface means included in said objects, said database interface means storing for each object: (a) said class identifier means used to instantiate said object, (b) said properties for each one or more said interface means defining the state of the object, (c) said interface identifier means for each interface means implemented in said object, and (d) a stored state identifier means for identifying the stored object state, thereby enabling said stored object state to be retrieved from said repository for use in a later created object, and thereafter enabling further use of said later created object in the state defined by said properties.

Claim 17

A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein said state retrieval occurs implicitly during object navigation.

Claim 18

A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein said state retrieval occurs explicitly by reference to said stored state identifier means.

Claim 19

A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein said data structure further comprises computer-executable instructions for implementing a method of instantiating objects through a request to a generic repository object that accesses a stored class definition library, wherein the computer-executable instructions when executed, perform the steps of: identifying and storing in a stored class definition library one or more class definitions, each of said class definitions identifying one or more class means that implements one or more interface means having (a) one or more properties that are capable of describing the state of an object, (b) one or more method means for accessing and modifying said properties and exposing other behavior, and (c) an interface identifier means for uniquely identifying an interface means so as to enable accessing of said one or more method means; forming a generic repository object for interpreting a request to instantiate a new object based upon said one or more said class definitions that identify the new object class; searching said stored class definition library and retrieving therefrom a class definition corresponding to said request; and enabling said generic repository object to take on the interfaces corresponding to the requested new object class so as to thereby instantiate the new object.

Claim 20

A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein said later created object is instantiated from the same class as that of said object represented by said stored object state.

Claim 21

A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein said later created object is instantiated from a different class than that of said object represented by said stored object state, said later created object capable of implementing different interface means having different methods or properties than said object represented by said stored object state.

Claim 22

A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein said later created object is instantiated from a different class than that of said object represented by said stored object state, said later created object class being a binary extension of the class of said object represented by said stored object state.

Claim 23

A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein said executable code means is broken into subroutines, each subroutine corresponds to a method of said interface means, and said class identifier means and said interface identifier means are GUIDs.

Claim 24

A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein each of said one or more objects further comprises an indicating interface common to every one of said one or more objects, said indicating interface providing means for accessing each and every other interface means supported by each of said one or more objects.

Claim 25

A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein said properties comprise relationships implemented as a collection of relationship objects between an origin interface and a destination interface.

Claim 26

A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein said properties comprise relationships implemented as a collection of target objects.

Claim 27

A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein said repository of stored object states is organized into a row-column database format comprising of: a stored object state table wherein the rows identify each said stored object state and the columns identify one or more generic properties common to all said persisted object states; and an interface table for each interface means supported by said one or more objects wherein the rows for said interface table identify said stored object state and the columns identify the properties for said each interface means.

Claim 28

A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein said repository of stored object states is stored in an object oriented database.

Claim 29

A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium; and computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for forming a repository for storing the state of a plurality of objects and for permitting retrieval of the stored state for use in later created objects that is independent of any underlying language used to form the objects, said computer readable program code means comprising; means for forming one or more interface means, each interface means comprising (a) one or more properties that are capable of describing the state of an object, (b) one or more method means for accessing and modifying said properties and exposing other behavior, and (c) an interface identifier means for uniquely identifying an interface means so as to enable accessing of said one or more method means; means for forming one or more class means, each consisting of executable code means that implements one or more said interface means and having a unique class identifier means; means for forming one or more objects as instances of one or more said class means, the properties of the interface means implemented by said class means defining the state of the object, each object accessible through at least one of said one or more interface means; and means for forming a repository of stored object states for each of said one or more objects by including in said objects a database interface means, said database interface means storing for each object: (a) said class identifier means used to instantiate said object, (b) said properties for each one or more said interface means defining the state of the object, (c) said interface identifier means for each interface means implemented in said object, and (d) a stored state identifier means for identifying the stored object state, thereby enabling said stored object state to be retrieved from said repository for use in a later created object, and thereafter enabling further use of said later created object in the state defined by said properties.

Claim 30

A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium; and computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for forming a repository for storing the state of a plurality of objects and for permitting retrieval of the stored state for use in later created objects that is independent of any underlying language used to form the objects, said computer readable program code means comprising; means for forming one or more interface means, each interface means comprising (a) one or more properties that are capable of describing the state of an object, (b) one or more method means for accessing and modifying said properties and exposing other behavior, and (c) an interface identifier means for uniquely identifying an interface means so as to enable accessing of said one or more method means; means for forming one or more class means, each consisting of executable code means that implements one or more said interface means and having a unique class identifier means; means for forming one or more objects as instances of one or more said class means, the properties of the interface means implemented by said class means defining the state of the object, each object accessible through at least one of said one or more interface means; and means for forming a repository of stored object states for each of said one or more objects by including in said objects a database interface means, said database interface means storing for each object: (a) said class identifier means used to instantiate said object, (b) said properties for each one or more said interface means defining the state of the object, (c) said interface identifier means for each interface means implemented in said object, and (d) a stored state identifier means for identifying the stored object state, thereby enabling said stored object state to be retrieved from said repository for use in a later created object, and thereafter enabling further use of said later created object in the state defined by said properties.

Claim 31

A computer program product as recited in claim 27 wherein said state retrieval occurs implicitly during object navigation.

Claim 32

A computer program product as recited in claim 27 wherein said state retrieval occurs explicitly by reference to said stored state identifier means.

Claim 33

A computer program product as recited in claim 27 further comprising computer program code means for instantiating objects through a request to a generic repository object that accesses a stored class definition library, the computer code means further comprising: means for identifying and storing in a stored class definition library one or more class definitions, each of said class definitions identifying one or more class means that implements one or more interface means having (a) one or more properties that are capable of describing the state of an object, (b) one or more method means for accessing and modifying said properties and exposing other behavior, and (c) an interface identifier means for uniquely identifying an interface means so as to enable accessing of said one or more method means; means for forming a generic repository object for interpreting a request to instantiate a new object based upon said one or more said class definitions that identify the new object class; means for searching said stored class definition library and retrieving therefrom a class definition corresponding to said request; and means for enabling said generic repository object to take on the interfaces corresponding to the requested new object class so as to thereby instantiate the new object.

Claim 34

A computer program product as recited in claim 27 wherein said later created object is instantiated from the same class as that of said object represented by said stored object state.

Claim 35

A computer program product as recited in claim 27 wherein said later created object is instantiated from a different class than that of said object represented by said stored object state, said later created object capable of implementing different interface means having different methods or properties than said object represented by said stored object state.

Claim 36

A computer program product as recited in claim 27 wherein said later created object is instantiated from a different class than that of said object represented by said stored object state, said later created object class being a binary extension of the class of said object represented by said stored object state.

Claim 37

A computer program product as recited in claim 27 wherein said executable code means is broken into subroutines, each subroutine corresponds to a method of said interface means, and said class identifier means and said interface identifier means are GUIDs.

Claim 38

A computer program product as recited in claim 27 wherein each of said one or more objects further comprises an indicating interface common to every one of said one or more objects, said indicating interface providing means for accessing each and every other interface means supported by each of said one or more objects.

Claim 39

A computer program product as recited in claim 27 wherein said properties comprise relationships implemented as a collection of relationship objects between an origin interface and a destination interface.

Claim 40

A computer program product as recited in claim 27 wherein said properties comprise relationships implemented as a collection of target objects.

Claim 41

A computer program product as recited in claim 27 wherein said repository of stored object states is organized into a row-column database format by computer program code means comprising: means for forming a stored object state table wherein the rows identify each said stored object state and the columns identify one or more generic properties common to all said persisted object states; and means for forming an interface table for each interface means supported by said one or more objects wherein the rows for said interface table identify said stored object state and the columns identify the properties for said each interface means.

Claim 42

A computer program product as recited in claim 27 wherein said repository of stored object states is stored in an object oriented database.