Patent US4320254A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5940616A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5940616A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tracker class for object-oriented programming environments
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1996-05-31
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Granted: 1999-08-17
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Expires: 2016-05-31
Abstract
Abstract The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing object tracking capabilities in object-oriented programming environments using a tracker class and associated functions, and a memory for storing tracker objects. The tracker class, once defined as a base class of any target class that needs the tracking capability, automatically tracks all the objects instantiated from the target class in a linked list. Objects instantiated from classes derived from the tracker class are automatically tracked when the target objects are initialized, be it on a heap or on a stack, because the constructor of the tracker class is invoked by the constructor of the target class. The tracker class is defined as a template, so that it can be applied to any type of target object.
Inventors
- 👤 I-Shin Andy Wang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:27
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/36; G06F11/362; G06F11/3636; G06F8/00; G06F8/20; G06F8/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of tracking objects in an object-oriented programming environment executed by a computer, comprising the steps of: (a) creating a target object and associated tracker object in a memory of the computer, wherein the tracker object is associated with the target object through inheritance of a tracker class that generates the tracker object by a target class that generates the target object; (b) storing a pointer to the target object in the associated tracker object; (c) inserting the associated tracker object into a data structure in the memory of the computer, so that the target object can be managed in a well-defined manner; and (d) performing a management function on the target object using a member function of the tracker object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of tracking objects in an object-oriented programming environment executed by a computer, comprising the steps of: (a) creating a target object and associated tracker object in a memory of the computer, wherein the tracker object is associated with the target object through inheritance of a tracker class that generates the tracker object by a target class that generates the target object; (b) storing a pointer to the target object in the associated tracker object; (c) inserting the associated tracker object into a data structure in the memory of the computer, so that the target object can be managed in a well-defined manner; and (d) performing a management function on the target object using a member function of the tracker object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the creating step comprises the step of performing a constructor function for the target class in the memory of the computer to create the target object, wherein the constructor function for the target class invokes a constructor function for the tracker class that is performed by the computer to create the tracker object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the tracker class comprises a template that is customized according to a data type for the target class.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the storing step further comprises the step of casting the pointer to the target object stored in the associated tracker object to adjust an address for a first memory location of the target object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the data structure comprises a linked list.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of allocating a static root pointer for the data structure in the memory of the computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of preventing member-by-member copying of the target objects when creating the tracker objects.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of deleting the target object from the memory of the computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the deleting step comprises the step of performing a destructor function for the target class in the memory of the computer to delete the target object, wherein the destructor function for the target class invokes a destructor function for the tracker class that is performed by the computer to delete the tracker object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the performing step comprises the steps of removing the associated tracker object from the data structure in the memory of the computer, deleting the target object from the memory of the computer, and deleting the associated tracker object from the memory of the computer.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for tracking objects in an object-oriented programming environment executed by a computer, comprising: (a) a computer having a memory; (b) means, performed by the computer, for creating a target object and associated tracker object in a memory of the computer, wherein the tracker object is associated with the target object through inheritance of a tracker class that generates the tracker object by a target class that generates the target object; (c) means, performed by the computer, for storing a pointer to the target object in the associated tracker object; (d) means, performed by the computer, for inserting the associated tracker object into a data structure in the memory of the computer, so that the target object can be managed in a well-defined manner; and (e) means, performed by the computer, for performing a management function on the target object using a member function of the tracker object.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for tracking objects in an object-oriented programming environment executed by a computer, comprising: (a) a computer having a memory; (b) means, performed by the computer, for creating a target object and associated tracker object in a memory of the computer, wherein the tracker object is associated with the target object through inheritance of a tracker class that generates the tracker object by a target class that generates the target object; (c) means, performed by the computer, for storing a pointer to the target object in the associated tracker object; (d) means, performed by the computer, for inserting the associated tracker object into a data structure in the memory of the computer, so that the target object can be managed in a well-defined manner; and (e) means, performed by the computer, for performing a management function on the target object using a member function of the tracker object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
156 words
A program storage device, readable by a computer having a memory and coupled to a data storage device, tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for tracking objects in an object-oriented programming environment executed by the computer, the method comprising the steps of: (a) creating a target object and associated tracker object in a memory of the computer, wherein the tracker object is associated with the target object through inheritance of a tracker class that generates the tracker object by a target class that generates the target object; (b) storing a pointer to the target object in the associated tracker object; (c) inserting the associated tracker object into a data structure in the memory of the computer, so that the target object can be managed in a well-defined manner; and (d) performing a management function on the target object using a member function of the tracker object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
156 words
A program storage device, readable by a computer having a memory and coupled to a data storage device, tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for tracking objects in an object-oriented programming environment executed by the computer, the method comprising the steps of: (a) creating a target object and associated tracker object in a memory of the computer, wherein the tracker object is associated with the target object through inheritance of a tracker class that generates the tracker object by a target class that generates the target object; (b) storing a pointer to the target object in the associated tracker object; (c) inserting the associated tracker object into a data structure in the memory of the computer, so that the target object can be managed in a well-defined manner; and (d) performing a management function on the target object using a member function of the tracker object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
130 words
A memory for storing data for tracking objects in an object-oriented programming environment executed by a computer, comprising: a data structure stored in a memory of the computer, the data structure including: one or more tracker objects, each associated with a target object residing in the memory of the computer, wherein the tracker object is associated with the target object through inheritance of a tracker class that generates the tracker object by a target class that generates the target object, wherein the tracker object stores a pointer to the associated target object, so that the target object can be tracked, so that the target object can be managed in a well-defined manner, and wherein the tracker object includes a method function for performing a management function on the target object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
130 words
A memory for storing data for tracking objects in an object-oriented programming environment executed by a computer, comprising: a data structure stored in a memory of the computer, the data structure including: one or more tracker objects, each associated with a target object residing in the memory of the computer, wherein the tracker object is associated with the target object through inheritance of a tracker class that generates the tracker object by a target class that generates the target object, wherein the tracker object stores a pointer to the associated target object, so that the target object can be tracked, so that the target object can be managed in a well-defined manner, and wherein the tracker object includes a method function for performing a management function on the target object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for creating comprises the means for performing a constructor function for the target class in the memory of the computer to create the target object, wherein the constructor function for the target class invokes a constructor function for the tracker class that is performed by the computer to create the tracker object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tracker class comprises a template that is customized according to a data type for the target class.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for storing further comprises the means for casting the pointer to the target object stored in the associated tracker object to adjust an address for a first memory location of the target object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data structure comprises a linked list.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the means for allocating a static root pointer for the data structure in the memory of the computer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the means for preventing member-by-member copying of the target objects when creating the tracker objects.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the means for deleting the target object from the memory of the computer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for deleting comprises the means for performing a destructor function for the target class in the memory of the computer to delete the target object, wherein the destructor function for the target class invokes a destructor function for the tracker class that is performed by the computer to delete the tracker object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for performing comprises: means for removing the associated tracker object from the data structure in the memory of the computer; means for deleting the target object from the memory of the computer; and means for deleting the associated tracker object from the memory of the computer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
61 words
The program storage device of claim 12, wherein the creating step comprises the step of performing a constructor function for the target class in the memory of the computer to create the target object, wherein the constructor function for the target class invokes a constructor function for the tracker class that is performed by the computer to create the tracker object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The program storage device of claim 12, wherein the tracker class comprises a template that is customized according to a data type for the target class.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
The program storage device of claim 12, wherein the storing step further comprises the step of casting the pointer to the target object stored in the associated tracker object to adjust an address for a first memory location of the target object.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The program storage device of claim 12, wherein the data structure comprises a linked list.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The program storage device of claim 12, further comprising the step of allocating a static root pointer for the data structure in the memory of the computer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The program storage device of claim 12, further comprising the step of preventing member-by-member copying of the target objects when creating the tracker objects.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The program storage device of claim 12, further comprising the step of deleting the target object from the memory of the computer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
61 words
The program storage device of claim 29, wherein the deleting step comprises the step of performing a destructor function for the target class in the memory of the computer to delete the target object, wherein the destructor function for the target class invokes a destructor function for the tracker class that is performed by the computer to delete the tracker object.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
52 words
The program storage device of claim 30, wherein the performing step comprises the steps of removing the associated tracker object from the data structure in the memory of the computer, deleting the target object from the memory of the computer, and deleting the associated tracker object from the memory of the computer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-16 | 2003-02-15 | 2003-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-16 | 2007-02-15 | 2007-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-16 | 2011-02-15 | 2011-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |