System and method for enabling pointers to be passed from computer programs written using computer programming languages that do not support pointers
US5809302A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 31, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 15, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 31, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/547
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Described herein is a system and method for enabling an application to pass a structure containing a pointer member to an external entity, wherein the application represents a computer program executing in a computer system, and the computer program is written in a computer programming language that does not support pointers. The application declares a variable V, a structure type having a member P, and a variable M of the structure type. The application invokes a function written in a computer programming language that supports pointers. A reference to the variable V is passed to the function. The function, when executed, obtains and returns an address of the variable V. The application sets the member P in the variable M equal to the address of the variable V. The application then passes the variable M to an external entity. In this manner, the present invention enables a structure having a pointer embedded therein to be passed to the external entity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.