Method and apparatus for implementing fast subclass and subtype checks
US6714991B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4492
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for performing fast subtype checks during program execution are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for determining whether a class associated with an object that is a part of an object-based computing system is a subtype of another type includes obtaining a candidate type from a dynamic storage location that is associated with a class which is associated with the object, and comparing the candidate type against a first type that is potentially the same as the candidate type. A determination is then made as to whether the candidate type is substantially equal to the first type. When the determination is that the candidate type is substantially equal to the first type, an indication that the candidate type is a subtype of the first type is provided. In one embodiment, the candidate type obtained from the dynamic storage location is obtained from a cache element in the class associated with the object.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.