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Method and apparatus for determining the type of an object in a distributed object system

  • US 5,793,965 A
  • Filed: 03/22/1995
  • Issued: 08/11/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for narrowing the type of a target object in a distributed object environment computing system, the computing system including a first computer and a second computer and wherein the target object is intended to reside in a computer-controlled process executing on the second computer, the apparatus comprising:

  • a) a client located on the first computer;

    b) a proxy object intended to reside in a computer-controlled process executing on the first computer;

    c) a calling mechanism for invoking a type checking method using a target interface identifier as an argument to determine whether the target object is of a specified type, the target interface identifier indicative of a possible type of the target object;

    d) an apparent comparison mechanism for determining whether the target interface identifier is equal to or a base for an apparent interface identifier held by the proxy object, the apparent interface identifier indicative of a possible type of the target object, wherein when the target interface identifier is determined to be equal to or a base for the apparent interface identifier, the apparent comparison mechanism is arranged to return an affirmative narrowing indication to the client;

    e) a communication device for establishing a connection with an object request broker daemon on the second computer;

    f) a target object identifier located on the first computer that identifies the target object to the second computer;

    g) an identification mechanism for utilizing the object request broker daemon and the target object identifier to identify a real interface identifier and an interface definition object for the target object; and

    h) a real comparison mechanism located on the second computer utilizing the interface definition object for comparing the target interface identifier to a real interface identifier and for determining whether the target interface identifier is equal to or a base for the real interface identifier, the real interface identifier indicative of the type of the target object, wherein when the target interface identifier is determined to be equal to or a base for the real interface identifier, an affirmative narrowing indication is returned to the client and wherein when the target interface identifier is determined not to be equal to or a base for the real interface identifier, a negative narrowing indication is returned to the client.

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