Product interface method and system which allow class evolution
US6058396A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 2, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 29, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99944
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides for an object-oriented software product interface method which gives a tighter coupling between the software product interface and internals than traditional methods. The product interface scheme includes a Factory Class (44) and an Interface Class (46) which control object life cycles; bend compile-time time and runtime type checking; bind virtual abstract interface classes and hidden internal class hierarchies through multiple inheritance; and provide interface parameter abstraction. The present invention thus provides users of the software product with a stable product interface while preserving the designer's freedom to modify the software product's internal architecture.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.