System and method for interoperating with foreign objects from a single language computing environment

• US 20080114804A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Foti, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/103R
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/465 Distributed object oriented systems remote method invocation [RMI] G06F9/548
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/548 Object oriented; Remote method invocation [RMI] non-remote method invocation G06F9/449

Abstract

A mechanism for providing automatic interoperation between native objects created in a single language computing environment and objects created in external virtual machines and foreign class systems is discussed. Embodiments of the present invention provides a class definition syntax for objects created in the single language computing environment that provides the ability to directly subclass external classes and implement external interfaces. One embodiment of the present invention also permits a foreign object system to instantiate native objects and to create foreign subclasses of native classes. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention provides bidirectional mapping between metadata associated with objects created with each of a plurality of different types of foreign object systems and metadata created in a form supported by the single language computing environment.

Claims

1. A computing device implemented method of supporting interoperation between a single language computing environment and objects created in foreign object systems, comprising:

obtaining a class definition in a single language computing environment having a native object system, the class definition supporting an instantiation of objects accessible in the single language computing environment from classes defined in a plurality of types of foreign object systems;

examining a collection of metadata of a foreign class created in a first foreign object system, the first foreign object system different than the native object system, the metadata describing how to access an instance of the foreign class;

creating metadata corresponding to the metadata for the foreign class, the created metadata created in a form supported by the single language host computing environment; and

instantiating a first object instance in the single language host computing environment using the class definition, the instantiated first object instance referencing the created metadata and referencing the instance of the foreign class.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a mapping facility in the single language computing environment, the mapping facility providing bidirectional mapping between metadata associated with each of a plurality of different types of foreign object systems and metadata created in a form supported by the single language host computing environment.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the metadata describes how to access a collection of data defined by the foreign class and, at least one of a collection of data included in an instance of the foreign class and a collection of data referenced by an instance of the foreign class;

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

examining the metadata of a second foreign class created in a second foreign object system, the second foreign object system being a different type of object system than the first foreign object system and using a different language than the single language computing environment, the metadata describing how to access data associated with an instance of the second foreign class;

creating additional metadata corresponding to the metadata for the second foreign class, the created additional metadata created in a form supported by the single language host computing environment; and

instantiating an additional object in the single language host computing environment using the class definition, the instantiated additional object referencing the additional metadata and referencing the instance of the second foreign class.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein at least one of the first foreign object system and the second foreign object system are hosted in a virtual machine.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

initiating a communication between the additional object and the first object.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a communication between the first object and a native object created in the single language computing environment.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first foreign object system is hosted in a virtual machine.

9. A computing device implemented method of supporting interoperation between a single language computing environment and objects created in multiple types of foreign object systems, comprising:

obtaining a class definition for a native class in a single language computing environment, the class definition supporting the instantiation of objects accessible in a plurality of different types of foreign object systems;

examining a collection of metadata of the native class created in the single language computing environment, the metadata describing how to access an instance of the native class;

creating metadata corresponding to the metadata for the native class, the created metadata created in a form supported by an identified foreign object system; and

instantiating a first foreign object instance in a form supported by the identified foreign object system using the class definition, the instantiated first foreign object instance referencing the created metadata and the instance of the native class.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

initiating a communication between at least one object created in the identified foreign object system and the first foreign object instance.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

creating metadata corresponding to the metadata for the native object instance, the created metadata created in a form supported by a second type of identified foreign object system; and

instantiating a second foreign object instance in a form supported by the second type of identified foreign object system using the class definition, the instantiated second foreign object instance referencing the created metadata and the data associated with the instance of the native class.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

initiating a communication between at least one object instance created in the second type of identified foreign object system and the second foreign object instance.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of the identified foreign object system and second type of identified foreign object system are hosted in a virtual machine.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the identified foreign object system is hosted in a virtual machine.

15. A computing device implemented system for supporting interoperation between a single language computing environment and objects created in multiple types of foreign object systems, comprising:

a class definition in a single language computing environment having a native object system, the class definition supporting the instantiation of objects accessible in the single language computing environment from classes defined in a plurality of types of foreign object systems;

a mapping facility in the single language computing environment, the mapping facility providing bidirectional mapping between metadata associated with objects created with each of a plurality of different types of foreign object systems and metadata created in a form supported by the single language host computing environment, wherein the mapping facility examines the metadata of a first foreign class created in a first foreign object system, the metadata describing how to access an instance of the foreign object system, and wherein the mapping facility creates metadata corresponding to the metadata for the first foreign class, the created metadata created in a form supported by the single language host computing environment; and

a first object instance, the first object instance instantiated using the class definition and referencing the created metadata and the instance of the foreign class.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the mapping facility examines a second collection of metadata for a second foreign class created in a second type of foreign object system, the second collection of metadata describing how to access data associated with a second foreign object instance from the second foreign class, and wherein the mapping facility creates metadata corresponding to the metadata for the second foreign class, the created metadata created in a form supported by the single language host computing environment;

and further comprising;

an instantiated second object instance, the second object instance instantiated using the class definition and referencing the created metadata and the second foreign object instance.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein a communication is initiated in the single language computing environment between the first object instance and the second object instance.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a virtual machine hosting one of the foreign object system and the second type of foreign object system..

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a first virtual machine hosting the first foreign object system; and

a second virtual machine hosting the second type of foreign object system.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a virtual machine hosting the first foreign object system.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a plurality of virtual machines loaded in the single language computing environment, each virtual machine hosting a different foreign object system.

22. A computing device implemented system for supporting interoperation between a single language computing environment and objects created in multiple types of foreign object systems, comprising:

a class definition in a single language computing environment having a native object system, the class definition supporting the instantiation of objects accessible in a plurality of different types of foreign object systems;

a mapping facility in the single language computing environment, the mapping facility providing bidirectional mapping between metadata associated with objects created with each of a plurality of different types of foreign object systems and metadata created in a form supported by the single language host computing environment, wherein the mapping facility examines the metadata of a native object class created in the single language computing environment, the metadata describing how to access an instance of the native object class, and wherein the mapping facility creates metadata corresponding to the metadata for the native class, the created metadata created in a form supported by an identified foreign object system; and

a first foreign object instance, the first foreign object instance instantiated using the class definition and referencing the created metadata and an instance of the native object class.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a virtual machine hosting the identified foreign object system.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the mapping facility creates a second collection of metadata corresponding to the metadata for the native class, the created metadata created in a form supported by a second type of identified foreign object system, and wherein the system further comprises:

an instantiated second foreign object instance, the second foreign object instance instantiated using the class definition and referencing the created second collection of metadata and a collection of data associated with an instance of the native object class.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a virtual machine hosting the second type of identified foreign object system.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a first virtual machine hosting the identified foreign object system; and

a second virtual machine hosting the second type of identified foreign object system.

27. A computing device implemented method of supporting interoperation between a single language computing environment and objects created in foreign object systems, comprising:

obtaining a native class in a native object system, the native class defining a native metaclass describing how to access a collection of data defined by the native class and a collection of data associated with an instance of the native class identifying a foreign metaclass for a foreign class created in a foreign object system, the foreign metaclass defining metadata describing how to access a collection of data defined by the foreign class and a collection of data associated with an instance of the foreign class;

subclassing the foreign metaclass as a subclass of the native class; and

instantiating, in the single language computing environment, an instance of the subclass, the instance of the subclass referencing metadata describing how to access the collection of data associated with the instance of the foreign class.

28. A computing device implemented method of supporting interoperation between a single language computing environment and objects created in foreign object systems, comprising:

obtaining a native class in a native object system, the native class defining a native metaclass describing how to access a collection of data defined by the native class and a collection of data associated with an instance of the native class;

identifying a foreign metaclass for a foreign class created in a foreign object system, the foreign metaclass defining metadata describing how to access a collection of data defined by the foreign class and a collection of data associated with an instance of the foreign class;

subclassing the native metaclass as a subclass of the foreign class; and

instantiating, in the foreign object system, an instance of the subclass, the instance of the subclass referencing metadata describing how to access the collection of data associated with the instance of the native class.

29. A physical medium for use with a computing device, the physical medium holding computer-executable instructions for supporting interoperation between a single language computing environment and objects created in foreign object systems, comprising, the instructions comprising:

instructions for obtaining a class definition in a single language computing environment having a native object system, the class definition supporting an instantiation of objects accessible in the single language computing environment from classes defined in a plurality of types of foreign object systems;

instructions for examining a collection of metadata of a foreign class created in a first foreign object system, the metadata describing how to access an instance of the foreign class, the first foreign object system different than the native object system;

instructions for creating metadata corresponding to the metadata for the foreign class, the created metadata created in a form supported by the single language host computing environment; and

instructions for instantiating a first object instance in the single language host computing environment using the class definition, the instantiated first object instance referencing the created metadata and an instance of the foreign class.

30. A physical medium for use with a computing device, the physical medium holding computer-executable instructions for supporting interoperation between a single language computing environment and objects created in multiple types of foreign object systems, the instructions comprising:

instructions for obtaining a class definition for a native class in a single language computing environment, the class definition supporting the instantiation of objects accessible in a plurality of different types of foreign object systems;

instructions for examining a collection of metadata of the native class created in the single language computing environment, the metadata describing how to access an instance of the native class;

instructions for creating metadata corresponding to the metadata for the native class, the created metadata created in a form supported by an identified foreign object system; and

instructions for instantiating a first foreign object instance in a form supported by the identified foreign object system using the class definition, the instantiated first foreign object instance referencing the created metadata and an instance of the native class.

31. A physical medium for use with a computing device, the physical medium holding computer-executable instructions for supporting interoperation between a single language computing environment and objects created in foreign object systems, the instructions comprising:

instructions for obtaining a native class in a native object system, the native class defining a native metaclass describing how to access a collection of data defined by the native class and a collection of data associated with an instance of the native class;

instructions for identifying a foreign metaclass for a foreign class created in a foreign object system, the foreign metaclass defining metadata describing how to access a collection of data defined by the foreign class and a collection of data associated with an instance of the foreign class;

instructions for subclassing the foreign metaclass as a subclass of the native class; and

instructions for instantiating, in the single language computing environment, an instance of the subclass, the instance of the subclass referencing metadata describing how to access the collection of data associated with the instance of the foreign class.

32. A physical medium for use with a computing device, the physical medium holding computer-executable instructions for supporting interoperation between a single language computing environment and objects created in foreign object systems, the instructions comprising:

instructions for obtaining a native class in a native object system, the native class defining a native metaclass describing how to access a collection of data defined by the native class and a collection of data associated with an instance of the native class;

instructions for identifying a foreign metaclass for a foreign class created in a foreign object system, the foreign metaclass defining metadata describing how to access a collection of data defined by the foreign class and a collection of data associated with an instance of the foreign class;

instructions for subclassing the native metaclass as a subclass of the foreign class; and

instructions for instantiating, in the foreign object system, an instance of the subclass, the instance of the subclass referencing metadata describing how to access the collection of data associated with the instance of the native class.

33. A system for supporting interoperation between a single language computing environment and objects created in foreign object systems, comprising:

means for obtaining a class definition in a single language computing environment having a native object system, the class definition supporting an instantiation of objects accessible in the single language computing environment from classes defined in a plurality of types of foreign object systems;

means for examining a collection of metadata of a foreign class created in a first foreign object system, the first foreign object system different than the native object system, the metadata describing how to access an instance of the foreign class;

means for creating metadata corresponding to the metadata for the foreign class, the created metadata created in a form supported by the single language host computing environment; and

means for instantiating a first object instance in the single language host computing environment using the class definition, the instantiated first object instance referencing the created metadata an instance of the foreign class.