Method and apparatus for information state management
First Claim
1. A method for accessing a data element in a memory of a computer system, the method comprising:
- forming in the memory an attribute which defines the data element;
including the attribute in an attribute set structure which includes zero or more other attributes and to which additional attributes can subsequently be added;
forming in the memory one or more contexts, each of which can include a value of the data element;
including in the attribute an access procedure, execution of which accesses the value of the data element within a selected one of the one or more contexts; and
executing the access procedure while specifying the selected context to thereby access the value of the selected context.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Data elements which can be combined to define a state are defined by respective attributes of an attribute set. An attribute includes an identifier, a data type, an accessor, and procedures for storing and retrieving values of the data element. A context includes at most one value for each attribute of an attribute set. Different contexts can have different respective values for the same attribute. Since an attribute includes a data type and procedures for storing and retrieving values of the attribute, type checking error detection mechanisms of the computer instruction language in which the attributes are implemented remain in effect. In addition, attribute values are stored in an ordered structure, e.g., an ordered list, in each context and the location within the ordered structure at which an attribute value corresponding to a particular attribute is stored in the particular attribute. As a result, attribute values are accessed within contexts in a particularly efficient manner. Attribute sets are extensible at run time such that attributes can be added to an attribute list during execution of a computer process in which the attribute set is implemented.
28 Citations
71 Claims
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1. A method for accessing a data element in a memory of a computer system, the method comprising:
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forming in the memory an attribute which defines the data element; including the attribute in an attribute set structure which includes zero or more other attributes and to which additional attributes can subsequently be added; forming in the memory one or more contexts, each of which can include a value of the data element; including in the attribute an access procedure, execution of which accesses the value of the data element within a selected one of the one or more contexts; and executing the access procedure while specifying the selected context to thereby access the value of the selected context. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for accessing a data element in a memory of a computer system, the method comprising:
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forming in the memory an attribute which defines the data element; including the attribute in an attribute set structure which includes zero or more other attributes; including in the attribute an accessor which specifies a location within a context of a value of the data element; and accessing a value of the data element within a context, the step of accessing comprising; accessing the value from within a specified context at the location specified by the accessor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A structure for maintaining state information in a memory of a computer system, the structure comprising:
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one or more contexts, each of which can include a value of a data element of the state; an attribute, which is operatively coupled to the contexts and which is formed in the memory and which defines the data element, the attribute comprising; an access procedure, execution of which accesses the value of the data element within a specified one of the contexts; an attribute set structure which includes the attribute and zero or more other attributes; and means, operatively coupled to the attribute set structure, for adding one or more additional attributes to the attribute set structure. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A structure for maintaining state information in a memory of a computer system, the structure comprising:
an attribute set structure which is formed in the memory and which includes one or more attributes, wherein each of the attributes defines a respective data element of the state and comprises; an accessor which specifies a location within each of one or more contexts, each of which comprises at most one data element value for each of the attributes, at which a value of the data element of the attribute is located. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A computer-readable memory which includes a structure for maintaining state information in a computer system, the structure comprising:
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one or more contexts in the memory, each of which can include a value of a data element of the state; an attribute in the memory, which is operatively coupled to the contexts and which defines the data element, the attribute comprising; an access procedure, execution of which accesses the value of the data element within a specified one of the contexts; an attribute set structure in the memory which includes the attribute and zero or more other attributes; and means, operatively coupled to the attribute set structure, for adding one or more additional attributes to the attribute set structure. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A computer-readable memory in which a structure maintains state information in a computer system, the structure comprising:
an attribute set structure which is formed in the memory and which includes one or more attributes, wherein each of the attributes defines a respective data element of the state and each of which comprises; an accessor which specifies a location within each of one or more contexts in the memory, each of which comprises at most one data element value for each of the attributes, at which a value of the data element of the attribute is located. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A computer system comprising:
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a memory; a structure formed in the memory for maintaining state information in a computer system, the structure comprising; one or more contexts in the memory, each of which can include a value of a data element of the state; an attribute in the memory, which is operatively coupled to the contexts and which defines the data element, the attribute comprising; an access procedure, execution of which accesses the value of the data element within a specified one of the contexts; an attribute set structure in the memory which includes the attribute and zero or more other attributes; and means, operatively coupled to the attribute set structure, for adding one or more additional attributes to the attribute set structure. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 64)
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62. The computer system of claim wherein the specified context further comprises:
an association in the memory with the attribute set structure. - View Dependent Claims (63)
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65. A computer system comprising:
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a memory; a structure formed in the memory for maintaining state information in a computer system, the structure comprising; an attribute set structure which is formed in the memory and which includes one or more attributes, wherein each of the attributes defines a respective data element of the state and each of which comprises; an accessor which specifics a location within each of one or more contexts in the memory, each of which comprises at most one data element value for each of the attributes, at which a value of the data element of the attribute is located. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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Specification