Multiple inheritance mechanism for an object oriented programming environment
US5918052A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/449
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The data structures, apparatus, methods, and mechanisms of the present invention cooperate to provide the user with a flexible multiple inheritance OOP environment. OOP environments comprise composite data structures and internal mechanisms for manipulating those structures. The structures are used to allow a user to realize the power of OOP. Hence, the layout of these structures, the way in which the structures inter-relate, and the manner in which they are built and used are all critical to the utility of a particular OOP environment. It is no surprise, then, that manufacturers and suppliers of OOP environments are constantly striving to design composite data structures and internal mechanisms which maximize user productivity. The composite data structures and organization of the MOM OOP environment provide significant benefits that are not provided by the multiple inheritance environments of the prior art. Of particular significance is the ability to add method programs to a class definition without the need to recompile the majority of the code base.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.