Method for associating classes contained in the same or different models

• US 6,401,100 B1
• Filed: 12/09/1998
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Gladieux, Ted Franklin
• Primary Examiner(s): Coby, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US09/208,317
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103, 707/101, 707/102, 707/206, 717/1, 717/4, 717/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method for associating classes contained in models stored in a computer system memory. The computer system has a repository program operating therein, which executes this method beginning with the step of initializing each persistent type object in one of the models. For each persistent type object initialized in the preceding step, a determination is made if the persistent type object is an association type. If it is, then at least two association-end objects are created. Next, the association-end objects are added to a collection of features owned by the persistent type object. The method further includes the steps of creating association objects that connect objects defined by persistent types associated by one of the association types; calling a setProperty function to specify an association between a first object and a collection of objects; passing to the setProperty function one of the two association end objects; the setProperty function interpreting the definition of the association type that owns the association-end parameter in order to determine whether: the association type is a valid association for associating objects of the persistent type which defines the target object; the association type is a valid association for associating objects of the persistent type which defines the value object; and, if the setProperty function determines that an association can be made, constructing association instance objects to link the target object to the value object.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a memory and a repository program operating therein, said repository program executing a method for associating classes contained in models stored in said memory, said method comprising the steps of:

a. initializing each persistent type object in one of said models;

c. creating at least two association-end objects;

d. adding said association-end objects to a collection of features owned by said persistent type object;

e. creating association objects that connect objects defined by persistent types associated by one of said association types;

f. calling a setProperty function to specify an association between a first object and another object;

g. passing to said setProperty function one of said two association end objects; and

,

h. said setProperty function interpreting the definition of said association type that owns said association-end parameter in order to determine whether;

i). said association type is a valid association for associating objects of the persistent type which defines said first object;

ii). said association type is a valid association for associating objects of the persistent type which defines the value object; and

,

iii). if said setProperty function determines that an association can be made, constructing an association instance object to link said first object to said another object.

2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of setting a new value for an association from said first object by submitting a new value object to said setProperty function for said first object, whereby after said setProperty function has returned, said value object that was previously associated with said first object will no longer be associated with said first object and said new value will be associated with said first object.

3. The method as in claim 1 or 2 further comprising the step of disassociating an object from another object to which it is currently associated by submitting a null value parameter to said setProperty function, whereby after said setProperty function has returned, the two objects that were previously associated with said association object will no longer be associated.

4. The method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

a. retrieving an object that was associated with said first object;

b. calling a getProperty function on said first object;

c. passing one of said association-ends of said association type as a parameter, whereby said getProperty function interprets the definition of the association type that owns the association-end parameter to determine whether it is a valid association type for associating objects of the persistent type defining said first object;

d. if said getProperty function determines that said association type is valid for said first object'"'"'s persistent type, said association linking said first object to another object is retrieved;

e. following said linking association instance object to a third object that is associated with said first object via said association object; and

, f. returning said third object.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of returning an empty collection of objects if there are no objects currently associated with said first object.

6. In a computer system having a memory and a repository program operating therein, said repository program executing a method for associating classes contained in models stored in said memory, said method comprising the steps of:

a. initializing each persistent type object in one of said models;

b. for each persistent type object initialized in the preceding step, determining if said persistent type object is an association type, and if so;

c. creating at least two association-end objects;

d. adding said association-end objects to a collection of features owned by said persistent type object;

e. creating association objects that connect objects defined by persistent types associated by one of said association types;

f. calling a setProperty function to specify an association between a first object and a collection of objects;

g. passing to said setProperty function one of said two association end objects; and

,

h. said setProperty function interpreting the definition of said association type that owns said association-end parameter in order to determine whether;

i). said association type is a valid association for associating objects of the persistent type which defines said first object;

ii). said association type is a valid association for associating objects of the persistent type which defines the value objects; and

,

iii). if said setProperty function determines that an association can be made, constructing association instance objects to link said first object to said value objects.

7. The method as in claim 6 further comprising the step of setting a new value for an association from said first object by submitting a new collection of value objects to said setProperty function for said first object, whereby after said setProperty function has returned, all objects that were previously associated with said first object will no longer be associated and all objects that were included in said new value collection will be associated with said first object.

8. The method as in claim 6 further comprising the step of disassociating an object from all objects to which it is currently associated by submitting a null value parameter to said setProperty function, whereby after said setProperty function has returned, all objects that were previously associated with said first object will no longer be associated.

9. The method as in claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

a. retrieving objects that were associated with said first object;

b. calling a getProperty function on said first object;

c. passing one of said association-ends of said association type as a parameter, whereby said getProperty function interprets the definition of the association type that owns the association-end parameter to determine whether it is a valid association type for associating objects of the persistent type defining said first object;

d. if said getProperty function determines that said association type is valid for said first object'"'"'s persistent type, said association objects linking said first object to other objects are retrieved; and

,

e. following each linking association instance object to a collection of objects that are associated with said first object via said association instance objects.

10. The method as in claim 6 further comprising the step of returning an empty collection of objects if there are no objects currently associated with said first object.

11. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for associating classes contained in models, wherein, when the computer program code is executed by a computer system, the computer performs the steps of:

a. initializing each persistent type object in one of said models;

b. for each persistent type object initialized in the preceding step, determining if said persistent type object is an association type, and if so;

c. creating at least two association-end objects;

d. adding said association-end objects to a collection of features owned by said persistent type object;

e. creating association objects that connect objects defined by persistent types associated by one of said association types;

f. calling a setProperty function to specify an association between a first object and another object;

g. passing to said setProperty function one of said two association end objects; and

,

h. said setProperty function interpreting the definition of said association type that owns said association-end parameter in order to determine whether;

i). said association type is a valid association for associating objects of the persistent type which defines said first object;

ii). said association type is a valid association for associating objects of the persistent type which defines the value object; and

,

iii). if said setProperty function determines that an association can be made, constructing an association instance object to link said first object to said another object.

12. A storage medium as in claim 11 further comprising the step of setting a new value for an association from said first object by submitting a new value object to said setProperty function for said first object, whereby after said setProperty function has returned, said value object that was previously associated with said first object will no longer be associated and said new value will be associated with said first object.

13. A storage medium as in claim 11 or 12 further comprising the step of disassociating another object from all objects to which it is currently associated by submitting a null value parameter to said setProperty function, whereby after said setProperty function has returned, the two objects that were previously associated with said association object will no longer be associated.

14. A storage medium as in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

a. creating association objects that connect objects defined by persistent types associated by one of said association types;

b. calling a setProperty function to specify an association between a first object and a collection of objects;

c. passing to said setProperty function one of said two association end objects;

d. said setProperty function interpreting the definition of said association type that owns said association-end parameter in order to determine whether;

i.) said association type is a valid association for associating objects of the persistent type which defines said first object;

ii.) said association type is a valid association for associating objects of the persistent type which defines the value objects; and

,

iii.)if said setProperty function determines that an association can be made, constructing association instance objects to link said first object to the said value objects.

15. A storage medium as in claim 11 further comprising the step of setting a new value for an association from said first object by submitting a new collection of value objects to said setProperty function for said first object, whereby after said setProperty function has returned, all objects that were previously associated with said first object will no longer be associated and all objects that were included in said new value collection will be associated with said first object.

16. A storage medium as in claim 11 further comprising the step of disassociating an association object from all objects to which it is currently associated by submitting a null value parameter to said setProperty function, whereby after said setProperty function has returned, all objects that were previously associated with said first object will no longer be associated.

17. A storage medium as in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

a. retrieving an object that was associated with said first object;

b. calling a getProperty function on said first object;

c. passing one of said association-ends of said association type as a parameter, whereby said getProperty function interprets the definition of the association type that owns the association-end parameter to determine whether it is a valid association type for associating objects of the persistent type defining said first object;

d. if said getProperty function determines that said association type is valid for said first object'"'"'s persistent type, said association linking said first object to another object is retrieved;

e. following said linking association instance object to a third object that is associated with said first object via said association object; and

,

f. returning said third object.

18. A storage medium as in claim 11 further comprising the step of returning an empty collection of objects if there are no objects currently associated with said first object.