Temporal context programming in object-oriented environments

• US 20020129348A1
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Borland Software Corporation (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Borland Software Corporation (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Ledger, Aron, Kerpan, Patrick, Berkovich, Stan
• Granted Patent: US 7,146,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

An object-oriented context programming system is formed with data objects. Each data object defines a class of object which will typically have at least one attribute. This attribute is stored in the database with an indication of the effective context, e.g., time, of the attribute. Any change in attribute, e.g., over time, is also stored in the data object along with an indication the context in which it is effective. In a temporal context, it would be saved with the time of effect of the change in the attribute. Methods associated with the class, and which the class can carry out, have an argument which includes the context, which could be time. These methods are also stored in the database with an indication of the effective context (e.g., time) of the method. Any change in the method is stored in the data base along with an indication of the context in which it is effective, e.g., the time of effect of a change in the method in a temporal context. Execution of the method with a particular context argument utilizes the attributes of the effected data objects and the particular method which were in effect for the context. The context can be a particular time specified or a point of view or vantage point.

Claims

1. An object-oriented temporal context programming system comprising:

data objects, each data object defining a class of object with at least one attribute, said attribute being stored in the database with an indication of the effective time of the attribute, any change in attribute also being stored in the data object along with an indication of the time of effect of the change in the attribute; and

methods which the class can carry out, said methods having an argument which is effective time, said method being stored in the database with an indication of the effective time of the method, any change in said method also being stored in the data object along with an indication of the time of effect of the change in the method, execution of said method with a particular time argument utilizing the attributes of the effected data objects and the particular method in effect for the particular time specified.

2. An object-oriented temporal context programming system comprising:

data objects, each data object defining a class of object with at least one attribute, said attribute being stored in the database with an indication of the effective time of the attribute, any change in attribute also being stored in the data object along with an indication of the time of effect of the change in the attribute; and

methods which the class can carry out, said methods having an argument which is effective time, execution of said method with a particular time argument utilizing the attributes of the effected data objects in effect for the particular time specified.

5. An object-oriented temporal context programming system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the context is a version of an application program, so that by identifying a particular context a different version of the application program runs and gives the user a different vantage point from which to experience the program.

3. An object-oriented temporal context programming system comprising:

data objects, each data object defining a class of object with at least one attribute, said attribute being stored in the database, any change in attribute also being stored in the data object; and

methods which the class can carry out, said methods having an argument which is effective time, said method being stored in the database with an indication of the effective time of the method, any change in said method also being stored in the data object along with an indication of the time of effect of the change in the method, execution of said method with a particular time argument utilizing the particular method in effect for the particular time specified.

4. An object-oriented temporal context programming system comprising:

data objects, each data object defining a class of object with attributes, at least one attribute of one data object being stored in the database with an indication of the context of the attribute, any change in attribute also being stored in the data object along with an indication of the context of the change in the attribute; and

methods which the class can carry out, at least one of said methods having an argument which is an indication of context, said method being stored in the database with an indication of the context of the method, any difference in said method also being stored in the data object along with an indication of the context of the difference in the method, a method executed with a particular context argument utilizing the attributes of the effected data objects and the method in effect for the particular context.

6. An object-oriented temporal context programming system comprising:

data objects, each data object defining a class of object with attributes, at least one attribute of one data object being stored in the database with an indication of the context of the attribute, any change in attribute also being stored in the data object along with an indication of the context of the change in the attribute; and

methods which the class can carry out, at least one of said methods having an argument which an indication of context, a method executed with a particular context argument utilizing the attributes of the effected data objects in effect for the particular context.

7. An object-oriented temporal context programming system comprising:

data objects each defining a class of object with attributes; and

methods which the class can carry out, at least one of said methods having an argument which is an indication of context, said method being stored in the database with an indication of the context of the method, any difference in said method also being stored in the data object along with an indication of the context of the difference in the method, a method executed with a particular context argument utilizing the method in effect for the particular context.