Efficient method router that supports multiple simultaneous object versions

• US 5,644,771 A
• Filed: 04/03/1995
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Resch, Robert Peter, Endicott, John Clarence, Munroe, Steven Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/415,907
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 395/650, 395/700, 395/611, 395/614, 395/712
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/449 Object-oriented method invocation or resolution

Abstract

OOP environments comprise composite data structures and internal mechanisms for manipulating those structures. The structures are used to allow a user to realize the power of OOP. Hence, the layout of these structures, the way in which the structures inter-relate, and the manner in which they are built and used are all critical to the utility of a particular OOP environment. It is no surprise, then, that manufacturers and suppliers of OOP environments are constantly striving to design composite data structures and internal mechanisms which maximize user productivity. The internal mechanisms and structures that make up the present invention are collectively referred to as the New Object Model (NOM). The composite data structures and organization of the NOM OOP environment provide significant benefits that are not provided by the environments of the prior art. These benefits include: a more efficient method resolution scheme and the ability to add method programs and object instance data to a class definition without the need to recompile the majority of the code base.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for creating an object oriented programming environment, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a Root class, said Root class comprising a Root class object, a Root class interface table, and a Root class method table;

connecting said Root class object to said Root class interface table and said Root class interface table to said Root class method table;

creating X levels of subclasses to said Root class, wherein X is a positive integer greater than one, each of said X levels of subclasscs comprising a first class and a second class, said first class and said second class respectively comprising a class object, a class interface table, a class method table, and X super class class method tables; and

respectively connecting each said class interface table to its said class object and each said class method table and each set of said X super class class method tables to its said class interface table, whereby said object oriented programming environment is used to create object instances and wherein each said class interface table is used by said object instances to call method programs.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said creating X levels step further comprises the step of creating object instances, each of said object instances being connected to said class interface tables and being created for at least one of said X levels.

3. An apparatus within a computer system for creating an object oriented programming environment, said apparatus comprising:

means for creating a Root class, said Root class comprising a Root class object a Root class interface table, and a Root class method table;

means for connecting said Root class object to said Root class interface table and said Root class interface table to said Root class method table;

means for creating X levels of subclasses to said Root class, wherein X is a positive integer greater than one, each of said X levels of subclasses comprising a first class and a second class, said first class and said second class respectively comprising a class object, a class interface table, a class method table, and X super class class method tables;

respectively connecting each said class interface table to said class object and each said class method table and each set of said X super class class method tables to its said class interface table, whereby said object oriented programming environment is used to create object instances and wherein each said class interface table is used by said object instances to call method programs.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for creating X levels further comprises means for creating object instances, each of said object instances being connected to said class interface tables and being created for at least one of said X levels.