US5956728A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Object graph editing context and methods of use
Assignee: Next Software Inc
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Filing: 1996-07-17
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Granted: 1999-09-21
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Expires: 2016-07-17
Abstract
Abstract The present invention comprises a novel system for managing changes to a graph of data bearing objects In one embodiment, an object graph manager object referred to as an editing context is used to identify changes made to data bearing enterprise objects and to notify other interested objects when changes occur. As a result, data bearing objects need not themselves contain code necessary for monitoring changes. In another embodiment of the invention, the editing context is used to provide event-based "undo" capabilities. In another embodiment of the invention, each enterprise object has a primary key that is used to maintain the identification between an enterprise object instance and a corresponding database row. In another embodiment of the invention, multiple levels of editing contexts are used to provide multiple isolated object graphs, each of which allows independent manipulation of the underlying data bearing objects.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig Federighi
- 👤 Dan Willhite
- 👤 Eric Noyau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:04
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/20; G06F8/24; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/21; G06F16/217; G06F16/23; G06F16/2358; G06F16/25; G06F16/258; G06F16/28; G06F16/289; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/953; Y10S707/955; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
In a computer system, a method for monitoring changes made to an object graph comprising a plurality of data bearing objects containing data from a database comprising the steps of: prior to making any change to a first data bearing object in said object graph in response to an event that initiates execution of application code, transmitting a message indicating that said first data bearing object expects to undergo a change from said first data bearing object to an object graph manager; taking a snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said message indicating said expected change; making one or more changes to said first data bearing object during said execution of application code in response to said event; transmitting a message indicating an end of said execution of application code in response to said event to said object graph manager.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a computer system, a method for monitoring changes made to an object graph comprising a plurality of data bearing objects containing data from a database comprising the steps of: prior to making any change to a first data bearing object in said object graph in response to an event that initiates execution of application code, transmitting a message indicating that said first data bearing object expects to undergo a change from said first data bearing object to an object graph manager; taking a snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said message indicating said expected change; making one or more changes to said first data bearing object during said execution of application code in response to said event; transmitting a message indicating an end of said execution of application code in response to said event to said object graph manager.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: transmitting a message indicating that said first data bearing object has undergone a change from said object graph manager to an interested object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said interested object is an object registered with said object graph manager as an object to be informed of any changes to said first data bearing object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting a message indicating that said first data bearing object expects to undergo a change comprises the steps of: registering said object graph manager as an observer with said first data bearing object; broadcasting said message indicating that said first data bearing object expects to undergo a change from said first data bearing object to registered observers of said data bearing object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said interested object comprises a user interface manager object managing values displayed in a user interface, and further comprising the steps of: after said user interface manager object has received said message indicating that said first data bearing object has undergone a change, transmitting a message from said user interface manager object to said first data bearing object requesting values for data of said first data bearing object; transmitting said values for said data of said first data bearing object from said first data bearing object to said user interface manager object, updating said values displayed in said user interface corresponding to said values for said data of said first data bearing object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a computer system, a method for modifying a database in accordance with changes made to an object graph comprising a plurality of data bearing objects containing data from said database comprising the steps of: prior to making any change to a first data bearing object in said object graph, transmitting a message indicating an expected change to said first data bearing object to an object graph manager; taking a snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said message indicating said expected change; making one or more changes to said first data bearing object; transmitting a commit message to said object graph manager requesting that changes made to said first data bearing object be committed to said database; taking a second snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said commit message; detecting said one or more changes to said first data bearing object by comparing said second snapshot to said first snapshot; storing data corresponding to said detected one or more changes in said database.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a computer system, a method for modifying a database in accordance with changes made to an object graph comprising a plurality of data bearing objects containing data from said database comprising the steps of: prior to making any change to a first data bearing object in said object graph, transmitting a message indicating an expected change to said first data bearing object to an object graph manager; taking a snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said message indicating said expected change; making one or more changes to said first data bearing object; transmitting a commit message to said object graph manager requesting that changes made to said first data bearing object be committed to said database; taking a second snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said commit message; detecting said one or more changes to said first data bearing object by comparing said second snapshot to said first snapshot; storing data corresponding to said detected one or more changes in said database.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of storing data corresponding to said detected one or more changes in said database comprises the step of sending a change request from said object graph manager to an object store.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said object store comprises an object store coordinator that interfaces between said object graph manager and a plurality of databases.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said plurality of databases comprise databases distributed over a computer network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a computer system, a method for undoing changes made to an object graph comprising a plurality of data bearing objects containing data from a database comprising the steps of: prior to making any change to a first data bearing object in said object graph in response to an event that initiates execution of application code, transmitting a message indicating that said first data bearing object expects to undergo a change from said first data bearing object to an object graph manager; taking a snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said message indicating said expected change; making one or more changes to said first data bearing object during said execution of application code in response to said event; transmitting a message indicating an end of said execution of application code in response to said event to said object graph manager; recording said snapshot on an undo stack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a computer system, a method for undoing changes made to an object graph comprising a plurality of data bearing objects containing data from a database comprising the steps of: prior to making any change to a first data bearing object in said object graph in response to an event that initiates execution of application code, transmitting a message indicating that said first data bearing object expects to undergo a change from said first data bearing object to an object graph manager; taking a snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said message indicating said expected change; making one or more changes to said first data bearing object during said execution of application code in response to said event; transmitting a message indicating an end of said execution of application code in response to said event to said object graph manager; recording said snapshot on an undo stack.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of determining whether a previous snapshot of said data bearing object has already been taken during said execution of application code in response to said event prior to taking said snapshot of said data bearing, and taking said snapshot only if no such previous snapshot has been taken.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: recording said snapshot in a recent snapshot table after taking said snapshot; clearing said recent snapshot table after recording said snapshot on said undo stack.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
166 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for monitoring changes made to an object graph comprising a plurality of data bearing objects containing data from a database, said method steps comprising the steps of: prior to making any change to a first data bearing object in said object graph in response to an event that initiates execution of application code, transmitting a message indicating that said first data bearing object expects to undergo a change from said first data bearing object to an object graph manager; taking a snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said message indicating said expected change; making one or more changes to said first data bearing object during said execution of application code in response to said event; transmitting a message indicating an end of said execution of application code in response to said event to said object graph manager.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
166 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for monitoring changes made to an object graph comprising a plurality of data bearing objects containing data from a database, said method steps comprising the steps of: prior to making any change to a first data bearing object in said object graph in response to an event that initiates execution of application code, transmitting a message indicating that said first data bearing object expects to undergo a change from said first data bearing object to an object graph manager; taking a snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said message indicating said expected change; making one or more changes to said first data bearing object during said execution of application code in response to said event; transmitting a message indicating an end of said execution of application code in response to said event to said object graph manager.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The program storage device of claim 13 in which said method steps further comprise the steps of: transmitting a message indicating that said first data bearing object has undergone a change from said object graph manager to an interested object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The program storage device of claim 14 wherein said interested object is an object registered with said object graph manager as an object to be informed of any changes to said first data bearing object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
The program storage device of claim 13 wherein said step of transmitting a message indicating that said first data bearing object expects to undergo a change comprises the steps of: registering said object graph manager as an observer with said first data bearing object; broadcasting said message indicating that said first data bearing object expects to undergo a change from said first data bearing object to registered observers of said data bearing object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
125 words
The program storage device of claim 14 wherein said interested object comprises a user interface manager object managing values displayed in a user interface, and wherein said method steps further comprise the steps of: after said user interface manager object has received said message indicating that said first data bearing object has undergone a change, transmitting a message from said user interface manager object to said first data bearing object requesting values for data of said first data bearing object; transmitting said values for said data of said first data bearing object from said first data bearing object to said user interface manager object, updating said values displayed in said user interface corresponding to said values for said data of said first data bearing object.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
196 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for modifying a database in accordance with changes made to an object graph comprising a plurality of data bearing objects containing data from said database, said method steps comprising the steps of: prior to making any change to a first data bearing object in said object graph, transmitting a message indicating an expected change to said first data bearing object to an object graph manager; taking a snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said message indicating said expected change; making one or more changes to said first data bearing object; transmitting a commit message to said object graph manager requesting that changes made to said first data bearing object be committed to said database; taking a second snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said commit message; detecting said one or more changes to said first data bearing object by comparing said second snapshot to said first snapshot; storing data corresponding to said detected one or more changes in said database.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
196 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for modifying a database in accordance with changes made to an object graph comprising a plurality of data bearing objects containing data from said database, said method steps comprising the steps of: prior to making any change to a first data bearing object in said object graph, transmitting a message indicating an expected change to said first data bearing object to an object graph manager; taking a snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said message indicating said expected change; making one or more changes to said first data bearing object; transmitting a commit message to said object graph manager requesting that changes made to said first data bearing object be committed to said database; taking a second snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said commit message; detecting said one or more changes to said first data bearing object by comparing said second snapshot to said first snapshot; storing data corresponding to said detected one or more changes in said database.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
The program storage device of claim 18 wherein said step of storing data corresponding to said detected one or more changes in said database comprises the step of sending a change request from said object graph manager to an object store.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program storage device of claim 19 wherein said object store comprises an object store coordinator that interfaces between said object graph manager and a plurality of databases.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The program storage device of claim 20 wherein said plurality of databases comprise databases distributed over a computer network.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
173 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for undoing changes made to an object graph comprising a plurality of data bearing objects containing data from a database, said method steps comprising the steps of: prior to making any change to a first data bearing object in said object graph in response to an event that initiates execution of application code, transmitting a message indicating that said first data bearing object expects to undergo a change from said first data bearing object to an object graph manager; taking a snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said message indicating said expected change; making one or more changes to said first data bearing object during said execution of application code in response to said event; transmitting a message indicating an end of said execution of application code in response to said event to said object graph manager; recording said snapshot on an undo stack.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
173 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for undoing changes made to an object graph comprising a plurality of data bearing objects containing data from a database, said method steps comprising the steps of: prior to making any change to a first data bearing object in said object graph in response to an event that initiates execution of application code, transmitting a message indicating that said first data bearing object expects to undergo a change from said first data bearing object to an object graph manager; taking a snapshot of said first data bearing object upon said object graph manager receiving said message indicating said expected change; making one or more changes to said first data bearing object during said execution of application code in response to said event; transmitting a message indicating an end of said execution of application code in response to said event to said object graph manager; recording said snapshot on an undo stack.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
63 words
The program storage device of claim 22 wherein said method steps further comprise the step of determining whether a previous snapshot of said data bearing object has already been taken during said execution of application code in response to said event prior to taking said snapshot of said data bearing, and taking said snapshot only if no such previous snapshot has been taken.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
The program storage device of claim 22 wherein said method steps further comprise the steps of: recording said snapshot in a recent snapshot table after taking said snapshot; clearing said recent snapshot table after recording said snapshot on said undo stack.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-20 | 2003-03-22 | 2003-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-20 | 2007-03-22 | 2007-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-20 | 2011-03-22 | 2011-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |