Data store for arbitrary data types with type safe storage and retrieval

• US 20040187100A1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Thiruvillamalai, Varadarajan
• Granted Patent: US 7,165,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/141
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/41 Compilation

Abstract

A compile-time data store that contains arbitrary data types is accessed via methods that ensure type safety. A type construct (e.g., a C++ template) is instantiated at compile time and generates a data store that contains arbitrarily-typed data objects, such as integers, characters, pointers and so forth. The construct includes a Put method to put any element (object) of a listed type (e.g., of a typelist) in the data store, and a Get method to retrieve the element from the data store. The Put method maintains a type index in association with each stored in the data store. The Get method validates that the type of object that was requested in the call to the Get method matches the object type that was stored in the Put method. When run, the Get method returns the element data upon a type match, otherwise the Get method generates an exception.

Claims

1. In a computer system, a method, comprising:

receiving requests from a compiler compiling source code, including requests to store elements of at least two different data types, and requests to retrieve at least some of the stored elements;

executing storage method code in response to a request to store an element having a data type and a key, the storage method code storing the element in a data store according to the key and in association with data type information; and

executing retrieval method code in response to a request to retrieve an element based on its key, the retrieval method code comparing the data type information associated with the requested element with data type information provided for the element in conjunction with the retrieval request, and if the type information matches, returning the element in response to the request, and if the type information does not match, generating an exception.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, creating the data store.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein creating the data store comprises obtaining a typelist that indicates types of data that the data store is to contain.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising, receiving the typelist from the compiler.

5. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

6. In a computing environment, a system comprising:

a compile-time construct that generates a data store in which arbitrary types of data elements are stored based on a key, the compile-time construct having mechanisms instantiated by a compiler to provide access to the data store, including a storage mechanism and a retrieval mechanism;

the storage mechanism configured to store an element having a data type and a key, the storage mechanism storing the element in the data store according to the key and in association with data type information; and

the retrieval mechanism configured to validate that a requested via its key and having a specified data type corresponds to the associated data type information of that element in the data store, and if so, to return data of the element in response to the request, and if not, to generate an exception.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the compile-time construct is instantiated by the compiler, and wherein the storage mechanism and retrieval mechanism each comprise object methods accessed via an object interface.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the compile-time construct generates the data store based on a typelist that lists types of data that the data store is to contain.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the compile-time construct is instantiated by the compiler, and wherein the compile-time construct receives the typelist from the compiler after instantiation.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the compile-time construct comprises a C++ template.

11. In a computing environment, a system comprising:

a compiler including means for compiling source code into compiled code;

a compile-time construct means instantiated by the compiler, and for generating a data store to contain data of arbitrary types as stored elements referenced by keys;

a storage means, the storage means receiving an element having a data type in a request to store the element as referenced by a key, the storage means storing the element in the data store referenced by the key and in association with data type information; and

a retrieval means, the retrieval means operating in response to a request to return an element referenced by a key and having a specified data type, the retrieval means validating that the specified data type corresponds to the data type information associated with the element in the data store, and if so, the retrieval means returning data of the element in response to the request, and if not, the retrieval means generating an exception.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the storage means and retrieval means each comprise object methods accessed via an object interface.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the compile-time construct means includes means for generating the data store based on a typelist that lists types of data that the data store is to contain.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the compile-time construct comprises a C++ template.