Method and system for dynamic object clustering
US6088739A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 11, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4488
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for dynamically modifying the behavior of a statically declared object that represents a simulated entity is provided. In a preferred embodiment, a clustering mechanism is provided that represents each simulated entity as a composite object, which is implemented as a composite object of component objects. The clustering mechanism allows the behavior of the composite object to be dynamically modified by adding interfaces to or removing interfaces from the composite object. Each interface, referred to as a role interface, includes methods that implement the behavior associated with a role that the composite object may assume. The clustering mechanism provides a negotiation procedure for attaching roles to the composite object. The component objects that comprise a composite object include a cluster object and zero or more role objects. The cluster object keeps track of the role objects currently within the composite object and exposes each of the role interfaces of each role object outside the composite object. The cluster object also contains functions for retrieving role interfaces and for invoking a function of an exposed role interface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.