Systems and Methods for Inter-Object Pattern Matching

• US 20120330994A1
• Filed: 06/22/2011
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Inventors: Tonn, Trevor
• Granted Patent: US 8,650,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/562 Static detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying objects from a collection of objects of diverse types that match a pattern. In one implementation, a system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that cause the processor to receive a pattern input text identifying the pattern to be matched. The pattern input text comprises one or more conditions and a match statement. The processor also receives a collection of objects of diverse types, where each object comprises at least an attribute and a value associated with the attribute. The processor analyzes each object to determine whether the object satisfies the match statement based on an application of the one or more conditions to the attributes and attribute values for the object. If the processor determines that the object satisfies the match statement, the processor creates an output comprising an indication of the object and the conditions that caused the match statement to be satisfied.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for identifying objects of diverse types that match a pattern, the method comprising:

receiving a pattern input text comprising at least one rule, the at least one rule comprising a plurality of conditions and a match statement;

receiving a collection of objects of diverse types, each object of the collection of objects comprising one or more attributes and one or more attribute values, each attribute value associated with an attribute of the one or more attributes;

determining, by a processor, whether the match statement is satisfied for each object in the collection of objects based on an application of the plurality of conditions to the one or more attributes and the one or more attribute values for each object; and

generating, by the processor, an output comprising an indication of an object from the collection of objects and the rule, when it is determined that the match statement is satisfied for the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the output further comprises at least one condition of the plurality of conditions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the conditions comprise an attribute name and a comparison expression, and wherein the application of a condition of the plurality of conditions to the one or more attributes comprises:

determining whether any of the one or more attributes match the attribute name associated with the condition;

when the attribute name matches an attribute, determining whether the attribute value associated with the attribute satisfies the comparison expression associated with the condition; and

determining that the condition is met when the attribute value satisfies the comparison expression.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the match statement comprises a Boolean expression based on a status of the plurality of conditions as met or not met.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the match statement is satisfied when at least one condition is met.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the attributes include one or more properties.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the conditions comprise a plurality of sub-conditions and wherein the sub-conditions comprise an attribute name and a comparison expression.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the application of at least one condition to the one or more attributes comprises, with respect to each sub-condition:

determining whether any of the one or more attributes match the attribute name of the sub-condition and when the attribute name matches, determining whether the attribute value associated with the attribute satisfies the comparison, and

determining that the sub-condition is met when the attribute value satisfies the comparison expression; and

wherein determining whether the condition is met is based on determining that the plurality of sub-conditions are met.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the output further comprises the condition that is met.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the application of the plurality of conditions to the one or more attributes and the one or more attribute values for each object comprises, with respect to each condition:

determining whether any of the attributes and attribute values satisfy a sub-condition associated with the condition; and

determining that the condition is met when the sub-condition is satisfied;

wherein determining whether the match statement is satisfied is based on whether the conditions are met or not met.

11. A system for identifying objects of diverse types that match a pattern, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions to direct the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving a pattern input text comprising at least one rule, the at least one rule comprising a plurality of conditions and a match statement,

receiving a collection of objects of diverse types, each object of the collection of objects comprising one or more attributes and one or more attribute values, each attribute value associated with an attribute of the one or more attributes,

determining whether the match statement is satisfied for each object in the collection of objects based on an application of the plurality of conditions to the one or more attributes and the one or more attribute values for each object, and

generating an output comprising an indication of an object from the collection of objects and the rule when it is determined that the match statement is satisfied for the object.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the output further comprises at least one condition of the plurality of conditions.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the conditions comprise an attribute name and a comparison expression, and wherein the application of a condition of the plurality of conditions to the one or more attributes comprises performing the operations of:

determining whether any of the one or more attributes match the attribute name associated with the condition;

when the attribute name matches an attribute, determining whether the attribute value associated with the attribute satisfies the comparison expression associated with the condition; and

determining that the condition is met when the attribute value satisfies the comparison expression.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the conditions comprise a plurality of sub-conditions and wherein the sub-conditions comprise an attribute name and a comparison expression, and wherein the application of at least one condition to the one or more attributes comprises performing the operations of, with respect to each sub-condition:

determining whether any of the one or more attributes match the attribute name of the sub-condition and when the attribute name matches, determining whether the attribute value associated with the attribute satisfies the comparison; and

determining that the sub-condition is met when the attribute value satisfies the comparison expression,

wherein determining whether the condition is met is based on determining that the plurality of sub-conditions are met.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the output further includes the condition that is met.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the application of the plurality of conditions to the one or more attributes and the one or more attribute values for each object comprises, with respect to each condition, the operations of:

determining whether any of the attributes and attribute values satisfy a sub-condition associated with the condition; and

determining that the condition is met when the sub-condition is satisfied,

wherein determining whether the match statement is satisfied is based on whether the conditions are met or not met.

20. The storage device of claim 15, wherein the application of the plurality of conditions to the one or more attributes and the one or more attribute values for each object comprises:

for each condition;

determining whether any of the attributes and attribute values satisfy a sub-condition associated with the condition; and

determining that the condition is met when the sub-condition is satisfied;

wherein determining whether the match statement is satisfied is based on whether the conditions are met or not met.

17. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions for identifying objects of diverse types that match a pattern, the instructions causing one or more computer processors to perform operations, comprising:

receiving a pattern input text at least one rule, the at least one rule comprising a plurality of conditions and a match statement;

receiving a collection of objects of diverse types, each object of the collection of objects comprising one or more attributes and one or more attribute values, each attribute value associated with an attribute of the one or more attributes;

determining whether the match statement is satisfied for each object in the collection of objects based on an application of the plurality of conditions to the one or more attributes and the one or more attribute values for each object; and

generating an output comprising an indication of an object from the collection of objects and the rule when it is determined that the match statement is satisfied for the object.

18. The storage device of claim 17, wherein the conditions comprise a plurality of sub-conditions and wherein the sub-conditions comprise an attribute name and a comparison expression, and wherein the application of at least one condition to the one or more attributes comprises, with respect to each sub-condition:

determining whether any of the one or more attributes match the attribute name of the sub-condition and when the attribute name matches, determining whether the attribute value associated with the attribute satisfies the comparison expression; and

determining that the sub-condition is met when the attribute value satisfies the comparison expression,

wherein determining whether the condition is met is based on determining that the plurality of sub-conditions are met.

19. The storage device of claim 18, wherein the output further includes the condition that is met.