Method and system for aggregating objects
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system for changing the behavior of an object, the method comprising the steps of:
- creating an instance of an enclosing object, the enclosing object having a query function member for retrieving a reference to an interface instance and an add rule function member for adding rules after object instantiation time for determining to which interface instance to retrieve a reference;
adding a plurality of interface instances to the enclosing object after object instantiation time; and
invoking the add rule function member of the enclosing object to add a rule for determining to which interface instance to retrieve a reference, thereby affecting the behavior of the query function member when invoked to retrieve a reference to an interface instance.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for aggregating objects within a computer system are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the method aggregates an enclosed object within an enclosing object. The enclosed object has an object management interface and an external interface, while the enclosing object has a controlling object management interface. The controlling object management interface and the external interface of the enclosed object have query function members for receiving an identifier of an interface and for returning a reference to the identified interface. A preferred embodiment creates an instance of an enclosing object and an object to be enclosed. In static aggregation, the controlling object management interface of the enclosing object knows in advance how to return an identifier to the external interface of the enclosed object. In dynamic aggregation, an object to be enclosed is added to the enclosing object after the enclosing object is instantiated. Once aggregated, when the query function member of the object management interface of the enclosed object receives an identifier of an interface, it invokes the query function member of the controlling object management interface forwarding the interface identifier and returns the reference to an interface returned by the invoked query function member of the controlling object management interface. In dynamic aggregation, rules for determining to which interface to return a reference can by added to the enclosing object and used by the query function member of the controlling object management interface.
78 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system for changing the behavior of an object, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating an instance of an enclosing object, the enclosing object having a query function member for retrieving a reference to an interface instance and an add rule function member for adding rules after object instantiation time for determining to which interface instance to retrieve a reference; adding a plurality of interface instances to the enclosing object after object instantiation time; and invoking the add rule function member of the enclosing object to add a rule for determining to which interface instance to retrieve a reference, thereby affecting the behavior of the query function member when invoked to retrieve a reference to an interface instance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method in a computer system for changing the behavior of an object, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating an instance of an enclosing object, the enclosing object having a query function member for retrieving a reference to an interface instance and an add rule function member for adding rules after object instantiation time for determining to which interface instance to retrieve a reference; adding a plurality of interface instances to the enclosing object after object instantiation time; invoking the add rule function member of the enclosing object to add a first determination rule for determining to which interface instance to retrieve a reference; invoking the add rule function member of the enclosing object to add a second determination rule for determining to which interface instance to retrieve a reference; creating a selecting rule for selecting which determination rule to use for determining to which interface instance to retrieve a reference, whereby when the query function member of the enclosing object is invoked, the query function member uses the selecting rule to select between the first determination rule and the second determination rule, wherein the selected determination rule determines to which interface instance to retrieve a reference.
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11. A computer-readable memory medium containing instructions for controlling a computer processor in a computer system to change the behavior of an object, by performing:
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creating an instance of an enclosing object, the enclosing object having a query function member for retrieving a reference to an interface instance and an add rule function member for adding rules after object instantiation time for determining to which interface instance to retrieve a reference; adding a plurality of interface instances to the enclosing object after instantiation time; and invoking the add rule function member of the enclosing object to add a rule for determining to which interface instance to retrieve a reference, thereby changing the behavior of the query function member of the enclosing object when a reference to an interface instance is requested. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification