Mechanism for dynamically associating a service dependent representation with objects at run time
US6044224A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/465
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A data structure for dynamically associating a service dependent representation with a servant object at run time is used in a distributed object computing system that incorporates subcontracts. Subcontracts supply different functionalities to objects. The data structure exists before run time, and is used at run time to perform the dynamic association. An arrangement also exists at run time. The structure comprises a service representation class representing a single subcontract, a servant base class associated with servant objects created at run time, and a linking mechanism to form a run time link between the server rep class and a servant object at run time. The server rep class provides functionality unique to a subcontract. At run time, servant objects are instantiated from the servant base class or a more derived class. The servant object uses the functionality provided by a subcontract by way of the linking mechanism. An arrangement exists at run time for dynamically linking a servant object to a subcontract. Included are a servant object, a server rep object, and a pointer from the servant object to the server rep object. Methods and apparatus allow a servant object itself…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.