Source code annotation language
US7584458B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/3624
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques and tools for implementing a source code annotation language are described. In one aspect, keywords are added to a function interface to define a contract for the function independent of function call context. In another aspect, annotations are inserted at global variables, formal parameters, return values, or user-defined types. The annotations include, for example, properties and qualifiers. A property can indicate, for example, a characteristic of a buffer. In another aspect, an annotation indicates that a value has usability properties sufficient to allow a function to rely on the value, where the usability properties depend on value type.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.