Method and system for providing multiple instances in a single multiple-instance object
First Claim
1. In a computer system operating under an object oriented environment, a method for providing a plurality of instances in a single object, comprising the steps of:
- providing a slot for all instances having a common value within said single object;
providing a multiple-instance object (MIO) slot, within said single object, for each slot having a different value or different instances;
defining a different entity contact of a multiple-instance object by use of a multiple-instance object (MIO) key.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for providing representation of multiple entities in a single multiple-instance object is disclosed and provides a powerful and economical way of representing objects in an object oriented knowledge based data processing system. A multiple-instance object contains slots and slot values which enable the access and modification of all entities represented by the multiple-instance object. The instance unique data, the context which defines an instance state, and the procedure to instantiate the multiple-instance object are all stored in the multiple-instance object. The processing or reasoning of the knowledge based system occurs as though objects exist for entities represented.
33 Citations
9 Claims
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1. In a computer system operating under an object oriented environment, a method for providing a plurality of instances in a single object, comprising the steps of:
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providing a slot for all instances having a common value within said single object; providing a multiple-instance object (MIO) slot, within said single object, for each slot having a different value or different instances; defining a different entity contact of a multiple-instance object by use of a multiple-instance object (MIO) key. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a computer system operating in an object oriented environment, a method for accessing slots within a multiple-instance object, comprising the steps of:
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determining whether an MIO demon function is attached to a referenced slot; determining whether an MIO key facet on said referenced slot is set; if said MIO key facet is set, obtaining said MIO key from said referenced slot MIO key facet; if said MIO key facet is not set, obtaining said MIO key from an MIO key slot within a referenced object; evaluating said MIO key; obtaining an instance value by use of said MIO key to index into said referenced slot'"'"'s corresponding MIO slot; placing said instance value in said referenced slot; and returning said referenced slot value.
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9. In a computer system operating in an object oriented environment, a method for modifying slots within a multiple-instance object, comprising the steps of:
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determining whether an MIO demon function is attached to a referenced slot; determining whether an MIO key facet is on said referenced slot; if said MIO key facet is set, obtaining said MIO key from said referenced slot MIO key facet; if said MIO key facet is not set, obtaining said MIO key from an MIO key slot within a referenced object; evaluating said MIO key; placing a new value into said referenced slot'"'"'s corresponding MIO slot by way of said MIO key as an index; and placing said new value in said referenced slot.
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Specification