Run-time customization in object-oriented design

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , wherein said locating comprises using a locator to locate a module comprising said implementation for the second function.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 , wherein programming code associated with said interface is compiled prior to compilation of programming code associated with said implementation for the second function.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said interface and said implementation for the second function includes object-oriented design.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 , wherein said interface includes a declaration of a virtual function.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 , wherein said implementation for the second function includes an implementation of said virtual function.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 , wherein said class is a derived class.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 , wherein functionality of said instantiated instance of the class is customized by a user of the application.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying, by a user, said implementation for the second function at run-time.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 , wherein said interface of said instantiated instance of the class is compiled before run-time.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 , further comprising compiling said interface of said instantiated instance of the class, and compiling said implementation for the second function separately from said compilation of said interface.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 , wherein said dynamically loading comprises selecting said implementation for the second function from one or more implementations based upon data being processed by said application.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 , further comprising instantiating another instance of the class, and dynamically loading at run-time another implementation for the second function.

Claim 15

At least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of extending functionality of an application, said method comprising: instantiating an instance of a class, said class having an interface declaring a first function and a second function, wherein an implementation of the first function is defined with the class and included within the interface; and dynamically loading at run-time an implementation for the second function, wherein the dynamically loading comprises: locating said implementation for the second function, wherein said locating comprises initializing a transfer vector usable in accessing said implementation for the second function, wherein said initializing comprises indicating in said transfer vector an indication of a location of said implementation for the second function; and incorporating the implementation for the second function into the interface of the instantiated instance of the class to extend functionality of the instantiated instance of the class, wherein an implementation for the first function is not dynamically loaded at run-time.

Claim 16

At least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of extending functionality of an application, said method comprising: instantiating an instance of a class, said class having an interface declaring a first function and a second function, wherein an implementation of the first function is defined with the class and included within the interface; and dynamically loading at run-time an implementation for the second function, wherein the dynamically loading comprises: locating said implementation for the second function, wherein said locating comprises initializing a transfer vector usable in accessing said implementation for the second function, wherein said initializing comprises indicating in said transfer vector an indication of a location of said implementation for the second function; and incorporating the implementation for the second function into the interface of the instantiated instance of the class to extend functionality of the instantiated instance of the class, wherein an implementation for the first function is not dynamically loaded at run-time.

Claim 17

The at least one program storage device of claim 11 , wherein said locating comprises using a locator to locate a module comprising said.

Claim 18

The at least one program storage device of claim 14 , wherein programming code associated with said interface is compiled prior to compilation of programming code associated with said implementation for the second function.

Claim 19

The at least one program storage device of claim 14 , wherein at least one of said interface and said implementation for the second function includes object-oriented design.

Claim 20

The at least one program storage device of claim 14 , wherein said interface includes a declaration of a virtual function.

Claim 21

The at least one program storage device of claim 18 , wherein said implementation for the second function includes an implementation of said virtual function.

Claim 22

The at least one program storage device of claim 14 , wherein said class is a derived class.

Claim 23

The at least one program storage device of claim 14 , wherein said dynamically loading comprises selecting said implementation for the second function from one or more implementations based upon data being processed by said application.

Claim 24

The at least one program storage device of claim 14 , wherein said method further comprises instantiating another instance of the class, and dynamically loading at run-time another implementation for the second function.

Claim 27

The system of claim 23 , wherein said means for dynamically loading further comprises means for selecting said implementation for the second function from one or more implementations based upon data being processed by said application.

Claim 28

The system of claim 23 , further comprising means for instantiating another instance of the class, and means for dynamically loading at run-time another implementation for the second function.

Claim 29

An article of manufacture, comprising: at least one computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing an extension of functionality of an application, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising: computer readable program code means for causing a computer to instantiate an instance of a class, said class having an interface declaring a first function and a second function, wherein an implementation of the first function is defined with the class and included within the interface; and computer readable program code means for causing a computer to dynamically load at run-time an implementation for the second function, wherein the computer readable program code means for causing a computer to dynamically load comprises: computer readable program code means for locating said implementation for the second function, wherein said computer readable program code means for locating comprises computer readable program code means for initializing a transfer vector usable in accessing said implementation for the second function, wherein said computer readable program code means for initializing comprises computer readable program code means for indicating in said transfer vector an indication of a location of said implementation for the second function; and computer readable program code means for causing a computer to incorporate the implementation for the second function into the interface of the instantiated instance of the class to extend functionality of the instantiated instance of the class, wherein an implementation for the first function is not dynamically loaded at run-time.

Claim 30

An article of manufacture, comprising: at least one computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing an extension of functionality of an application, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising: computer readable program code means for causing a computer to instantiate an instance of a class, said class having an interface declaring a first function and a second function, wherein an implementation of the first function is defined with the class and included within the interface; and computer readable program code means for causing a computer to dynamically load at run-time an implementation for the second function, wherein the computer readable program code means for causing a computer to dynamically load comprises: computer readable program code means for locating said implementation for the second function, wherein said computer readable program code means for locating comprises computer readable program code means for initializing a transfer vector usable in accessing said implementation for the second function, wherein said computer readable program code means for initializing comprises computer readable program code means for indicating in said transfer vector an indication of a location of said implementation for the second function; and computer readable program code means for causing a computer to incorporate the implementation for the second function into the interface of the instantiated instance of the class to extend functionality of the instantiated instance of the class, wherein an implementation for the first function is not dynamically loaded at run-time.