Computer memory device holding a data structure for implementation of function objects

• US 5,471,596 A
• Filed: 11/10/1994
• Issued: 11/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Robert III
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US08/338,267
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG.2, 395/400, 395/425, 395/600, 395/650, 395/375, 395/500, 395/800
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/24 Object-oriented

Abstract

A method and associated structures for creating and implementing applications using function-objects, wherein each function to be performed by an application is embodied in a "function-object" that can adapt itself to various devices or interfaces that it encounters. Program designers can mix and match routines such as input and output routines by setting variants of a function-object.

Claims

1. A memory device in a computing system, said memory device holding a data structure for allowing a processor to adapt a specified function, said function requiting a specified set of data for execution, to one or more input interfaces and one or more output interfaces, the data structure comprising:

(a) an operational data structure, the operational data structure containing said specified set of data;

(b) a pointer to the operational data structure;

(c) one or more machine executable input routines for obtaining at least a portion of said set of data, each input routine receiving as an argument the pointer to the operational data structure and each input routine configured to receive data through a particular input interface;

(d) one or more machine executable output routines for outputting at least a portion of said set of data, each output routine receiving as an argument the pointer to the operational data structure and each output routine configured to output data through a particular output interface;

(e) respective pointers to each input and output routine;

(f) a variant number; and

(g) a routine matrix array having at least one entry, wherein each entry associates (1) a pointer to a specified input routine with (2) a pointer to a specified output routine, the variant number serving as an index into the routine matrix array for selecting the entry.

2. The memory device of claim 1 wherein said data structure further includes a class number, the class number serving to classify the routine matrix array according to the specified function.

3. The memory device of claim 1, wherein said data structure further comprises:

(h) one or more machine executable initialization routines for initialization of the computing system to perform the specified function;

(i) respective pointers to each initialization routine; and

(j) wherein each said entry in the routine matrix array associates (1) said pointer to a specified input routine with (2) said pointer to a specified output routine and with (3) a pointer to a specified initialization routine.

4. The memory device of claim 1, wherein said data structure further comprises:

(h) one or more machine executable destroy routines for removing the routine matrix array and the operational data structure from the computing system;

(i) respective pointers to each destroy routine; and

(j) wherein each said entry in the routine matrix array associates (1) said pointer to an input routine with (2) said pointer to an output routine and with (3) a pointer to a specified destroy routine.

5. A memory device in a computing system, said memory device holding a data structure for allowing a processor to adapt a specified function, said function requiting a specified set of data for execution, to one or more input interfaces and one or more output interfaces, the data structure comprising:

(a) an operational data structure, the operational data structure containing said specified set of data;

(b) a pointer to the operational data structure;

(c) one or more machine executable input routines for obtaining at least a portion of said set of data, each input routine receiving as an argument the pointer to the operational data structure and each input routine configured to receive data through a particular input interface;

(d) one or more machine executable output routines for outputting at least a portion of said set of data, each output routine receiving as an argument the pointer to the operational data structure and each output routine configured to output data through a particular output interface;

(e) respective pointers to each input and output routine;

(f) one or more machine executable initialization routines for initialization of the computing system to perform the specified function;

(g) respective pointers to each initialization routine;

(h) one or more machine executable destroy routines for removing the routine matrix array and the operational data structure from the computing system;

(i) respective pointers to each destroy routine;

(j) a variant number;

(k) a routine matrix array having at least one entry wherein each entry associates;

a pointer to an input routine,

a pointer to an output routine,

a pointer to an initialization routine, and

a pointer to a destroy routine,

the variant number serving as an index into the routine matrix array for selecting the entry; and

(l) a class number serving to classify the routine matrix array according to the specified function.

6. The memory device of claim 5 wherein said data structure further comprises:

(m) one or more machine executable control routines for manipulating specific attributes or data associated with the data structure, each control routine receiving as an argument the pointer to the operational data structure;

(n) respective pointers to each control routine;

and wherein each routine matrix array entry further associates;

a pointer to an output routine with

a pointer to an initialization routine with

a pointer to a destroy routine with

a pointer to a control routine.

7. A method for implementing a specified application on computing systems having different interfaces, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining the number of discrete functions that must be performed to implement the specified application;

(b) for each function, determining the number of different interfaces through which the function must be capable of communicating;

(c) for each function, defining an operational data structure, the operational data structure including all of the data necessary to implement the function;

(d) for each function, for each different interface through which the function must be capable of communicating, creating a machine executable routine for communication through the interface;

(e) for each function, constructing a routine matrix array where each entry in the routine matrix array associates one interface through which the function must be capable of communicating with the routine for communicating through that interface; and

(f) implementing the application on a computing system having a specified interface by selecting the entry for each function associated with that interface and executing the machine executable routine for communication through that interface.

9. A machine readable program storage device encoding instructions executable by the machine including instructions for performing the method steps of any one of any one of claims 7 or 8.

8. A method for implementing a specified application on computing systems having different interfaces, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining the number of discrete functions necessary to implement the specified application;

(b) for each necessary function;

(1) defining an operational data structure including all of the data necessary to perform the function;

(2) determining the number of different interfaces through which the function must be capable of communicating;

(3) creating a machine executable routine for communicating through each interface through which the function must be capable of communicating;

(4) constructing a routine matrix array having entries associating one interface through which the function must be capable of communicating with the routine for communicating through that interface; and

(c) implementing the application on a computing system having a specified interface by selecting the entry for each function associated with that interface and executing the machine executable routine associated with that function for communication through that interface.