Control of software object lifetime
US6681263B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 23, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99957
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A software object's lifetime may be controlled to allow it to complete certain tasks asynchronously after all references to the object have been released. The object may be created in a first state and transitioned to a second state under certain circumstances. For example, if it is known that the object needs to complete certain tasks asynchronously after all references to the object have been released, the object may be transitioned to the second state. If the object is created in a technology which uses reference counting, the reference count may be artificially incremented upon state transition. After the object transitions from the first state to the second state, and all references to the object have been released, the object is so notified and if appropriate, the object can undertake certain tasks appropriate under those circumstances.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.