Method for adding device information by extending an application programming interface
US8516504B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F8/427
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method or apparatus that allows new devices to be easily integrated with computer aided design (CAD) tools via an easily extensible application programming interface (API). In an embodiment, new devices are added by reading a new device type and assigning a sequential index value. Index values are assigned to the new devices by appending a new device type to the end of an enumeration construct. When the data structure is compiled, the new device type is converted to a sequential index value. Data values for the new device are added to a data structure and can be accessed via the index value. Because the added device type is appended to the end of the enumeration construct, the index values assigned to the original data types remain unchanged. Consequently, recompilation is only required for applications that need to access the new devices and is unnecessary for the applications that do not use the new devices.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.