Distributed objects for a computer system
First Claim
1. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
- a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a base class, the base class defining a set of methods that relate to a plurality of devices;
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a subclass of the base class thereby inheriting the set of methods of the base class, where access to the set of methods is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class extending the base class with device-specific methods; and
a third object implemented on the host computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device extension class which is a subclass of the device class thereby inheriting the set of methods available through the device class, the device extension class refining the device class with modifications of the set of methods of the device class and adding extension device-specific methods.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed object for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, where the remote computer is in electronic communication with a device, is disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention as including a first member component implemented and stored on the host computer, and a second member component implemented and stored on the host computer. The second member component is in electronic communication with the remote computer, and the second member component functions to access data on the remote computer. The distributed object may be part of an object hierarchy. The object hierarchy includes a base class having member data and functions common to a set of remote computers, where the base class is implemented and stored on the host computer. The object hierarchy may also include a first subclass derived from the base class. The first subclass may be implemented and stored on the host computer. This first subclass includes the second member component in electronic communication with the remote computer. The object hierarchy may also include a second subclass that alters the function of the object.
215 Citations
93 Claims
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1. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a base class, the base class defining a set of methods that relate to a plurality of devices;
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a subclass of the base class thereby inheriting the set of methods of the base class, where access to the set of methods is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class extending the base class with device-specific methods; and
a third object implemented on the host computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device extension class which is a subclass of the device class thereby inheriting the set of methods available through the device class, the device extension class refining the device class with modifications of the set of methods of the device class and adding extension device-specific methods. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a base class, the base class defining a set of methods that relate to a plurality of devices; and
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a subclass of the base class thereby inheriting the set of methods of the base class, where access to the set of methods is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class extending the base class with device-specific methods. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a class, the class defining a set of methods that relate to a plurality of devices;
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a client of the first object thereby using the set of methods of the first object, where access to the set of methods is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class implementing device-specific methods using the first object'"'"'s methods; and
a third object implemented on the host computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device extension class which is a client of the second object thereby using the set of methods of the second object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a base class, the base class defining a set of attributes that relate to a plurality of devices;
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a subclass of the base class thereby inheriting the set of attributes of the base class, where access to the set of attributes is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class extending the base class with device-specific attributes; and
a third object implemented on the host computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device extension class which is a subclass of the device class thereby inheriting the set of attributes available through the device class, the device extension class refining the device class with modifications of the set of attributes of the device class and adding extension device-specific attributes. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a base class, the base class defining a set of attributes that relate to a plurality of devices; and
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a subclass of the base class thereby inheriting the set of attributes of the base class, where access to the set of attributes is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class extending the base class with device-specific attributes. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a class, the class defining a set of attributes that relate to a plurality of devices;
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a client of the first object thereby using the set of attributes of the first object, where access to the set of attributes is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class implementing device-specific attributes using the first object'"'"'s attributes; and
a third object implemented on the host computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device extension class which is a client of the second object thereby using the set of attributes of the second object. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a base class, the base class defining a set of methods and attributes that relate to a plurality of devices; and
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a subclass of the base class thereby inheriting the set of methods and attributes of the base class, where access to the set of methods and attributes is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class extending the base class with device-specific methods and device-specific attributes. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a class, the class defining a set of methods and attributes that relate to a plurality of devices;
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a client of the first object thereby using the set of methods and attributes of the first object, where access to the set of methods and attributes is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class implementing device-specific methods and device-specific attributes using the first object'"'"'s methods; and
a third object implemented on the host computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device extension class which is a client of the second object thereby using the set of methods and attributes of the second object. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a base class, the base class defining a set of methods;
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a subclass of the base class thereby inheriting the set of methods of the base class, where access to the set of methods is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class extending the base class with device-specific methods; and
a third object implemented on the host computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device extension class which is a subclass of the device class thereby inheriting the set of methods available through the device class, the device extension class refining the device class with modifications of the set of methods of the device class and adding extension device-specific methods. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a base class, the base class defining a set of methods; and
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a subclass of the base class thereby inheriting the set of methods of the base class, where access to the set of methods is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class extending the base class with device-specific methods. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a class, the class defining a set of methods;
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a client of the first object thereby using the set of methods of the first object, where access to the set of methods is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class implementing device-specific methods using the first object'"'"'s methods; and
a third object implemented on the host computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device extension class which is a client of the second object thereby using the set of methods of the second object. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a base class, the base class defining a set of attributes;
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a subclass of the base class thereby inheriting the set of attributes of the base class, where access to the set of attributes is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class extending the base class with device-specific attributes; and
a third object implemented on the host computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device extension class which is a subclass of the device class thereby inheriting the set of attributes available through the device class, the device extension class refining the device class with modifications of the set of attributes of the device class and adding extension device-specific attributes. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a base class, the base class defining a set of attributes; and
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a subclass of the base class thereby inheriting the set of attributes of the base class, where access to the set of attributes is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class extending the base class with device-specific attributes. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a class, the class defining a set of attributes;
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a client of the first object thereby using the set of attributes of the first object, where access to the set of attributes is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class implementing device-specific attributes using the first object'"'"'s attributes; and
a third object implemented on the host computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device extension class which is a client of the second object thereby using the set of attributes of the second object. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
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81. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a base class, the base class defining a set of methods and attributes; and
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a subclass of the base class thereby inheriting the set of methods and attributes of the base class, where access to the set of methods and attributes is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class extending the base class with device-specific methods and device-specific attributes. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83, 84, 85)
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86. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a class, the class defining a set of methods and attributes;
a second object implemented on the remote computer, the second object being an instantiation of a device class which is a client of the first object thereby using the set of methods and attributes of the first object, where access to the set of methods and attributes is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class implementing device-specific methods and device-specific attributes using the first object'"'"'s methods and attributes; and
a third object implemented on the host computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device extension class which is a client of the second object thereby using the set of methods and attributes of the second object. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. A distributed object hierarchy for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, the remote computer being in electronic communication with a device, said distributed object hierarchy comprising:
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a first object implemented on the host computer, the first object being an instantiation of a first class, the first class defining a set of first methods and first attributes;
a second object implemented on the host computer, the second object being an instantiation of a second class, the second class defining a set of second methods and second attributes;
a third object implemented on the remote computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device class which is a client of the first object and a client of the second object thereby using the set of first methods and first attributes of the first object and using the set of second methods and second attributes of the second object, where access to the sets of first and second methods and first and second attributes is accomplished through communication with the host computer, the device class implementing device-specific methods and device-specific attributes using the first object'"'"'s methods; and
a third object implemented on the host computer, the third object being an instantiation of a device extension class which is a client of the second object thereby using the set of methods and attributes of the second object.
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Specification