Interface frames for threads
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating on a hierarchy of objects, the method comprising:
- partitioning the hierarchy into subhierarchies, and providing a thread interface frame between the subhierarchies; and
within a thread, executing an operation on an object in one of the subhierarchies.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for operations on objects in a hierarchy by partitioning the hierarchy into subhierarchies, each subhierarchy being associated with a thread interface frame. Operations of the thread interface frame are executed within threads acting on objects in the subhierarchy. When needed, the effects of an operation are stored in the thread interface frame, allowing the effects to be forwarded to another subhierarchy accessed by another thread.
-
Citations
42 Claims
-
1. A method of operating on a hierarchy of objects, the method comprising:
-
partitioning the hierarchy into subhierarchies, and providing a thread interface frame between the subhierarchies; and
within a thread, executing an operation on an object in one of the subhierarchies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
forwarding an effect of the operation to another subhierarchy accessed by another thread by storing the effect of the operation in the thread interface frame between the subhierarchies; and
wherein the thread is a process that is part of a larger process or program.
-
-
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the thread interface frame includes a programming interface supporting a set of functions to regulate access to objects in the subhierarchies.
-
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the thread interface frame provides change notification for propagating a nonlocal option value to objects in the hierarchy, the nonlocal option being capable of storing a value, storing a default value and having the ability to optionally influence a value that is read using the same nonlocal option name on another object.
-
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the thread interface frame maintains a copy of the nonlocal option value, such that the operation will not require access to a parent of the object in the hierarchy to retrieve the nonlocal option value.
-
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the thread interface frame maintains a copy of the nonlocal option value by registering for change notification events on the nonlocal option.
-
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the thread interface frame provides for propagating an event notification to objects in the hierarchy.
-
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the effect of the operation comprises setting a nonlocal option value, influencing the option value that is read using the same option name on another object in the hierarchy.
-
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the effect of the operation comprises getting a nonlocal option value, including accessing ancestor objects of the subhierarchy.
-
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the effect of the operation comprises registering for change notification events on a nonlocal option.
-
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the effect of the operation comprises repainting a region represented by the hierarchy.
-
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the effect of the operation comprises renegotiating a layout for a region represented by the hierarchy.
-
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the effect of the operation comprises obtaining width and/or height preferences for a region represented by the hierarchy.
-
15. An apparatus for operating on a hierarchy of objects, the apparatus comprising:
-
a thread interface frame partitioning the hierarchy into subhierarchies; and
a thread, executing an operation on an object in one of the subhierarchies. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
an effect of the operation, forwarded to another subhierarchy accessed by another thread by storing the effect of the operation in the thread interface frame between the subhierarchies; and
wherein the thread is a process that is part of a larger process or program.
-
-
18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the thread interface frame includes a programming interface supporting a set of functions to regulate access to objects in the subhierarchies.
-
19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the thread interface frame provides change notification for propagating a nonlocal option value to objects in the hierarchy, the nonlocal option being capable of storing a value, storing a default value and having the ability to optionally influence a value that is read using the same nonlocal option name on another object.
-
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the thread interface frame maintains a copy of the nonlocal option value, such that the operation will not require access to a parent of the object in the hierarchy to retrieve the nonlocal option value.
-
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the thread interface frame maintains a copy of the nonlocal option value by registering for change notification events on the nonlocal option.
-
22. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the thread interface frame provides for propagating an event notification to objects in the hierarchy.
-
23. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the effect of the operation comprises setting a nonlocal option value, influencing the option value that is read using the same option name on another object in the hierarchy.
-
24. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the effect of the operation comprises getting a nonlocal option value, including accessing ancestor objects of the subhierarchy.
-
25. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the effect of the operation comprises registering for change notification events on a nonlocal option.
-
26. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the effect of the operation comprises repainting a region represented by the hierarchy.
-
27. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the effect of the operation comprises renegotiating a layout for a region represented by the hierarchy.
-
28. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the effect of the operation comprises obtaining width and/or height preferences for a region represented by the hierarchy.
-
29. A computer program product comprising:
-
a computer usable medium for operating on a hierarchy of objects;
a set of computer program instructions embodied on the computer usable medium, including instructions to;
partition the hierarchy into subhierarchies, and provide a thread interface frame between the subhierarchies; and
within a thread, execute an operation on an object in one of the subhierarchies. - View Dependent Claims (30)
forward an effect of the operation to another subhierarchy accessed by another thread by storing the effect of the operation in the thread interface frame between the subhierarchies.
-
-
31. A propagated signal carried on an electromagnetic waveform, the signal comprising a set of computer program instructions to:
-
partition the hierarchy into subhierarchies, and provide a thread interface frame between the subhierarchies;
within a thread, execute an operation on an object in one of the subhierarchies. - View Dependent Claims (32)
forward an effect of the operation to another subhierarchy accessed by another thread by storing the effect of the operation in the thread interface frame between the subhierarchies.
-
-
33. A system for displaying objects represented in a hierarchy comprising:
-
a thread interface frame partitioning the hierarchy into subhierarchies; and
a thread, executing an operation on an object in one of the subhierarchies; and
a computer program displaying the objects. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
an effect of the operation, forwarded to another subhierarchy accessed by another thread by storing the effect of the operation in the thread interface frame between the subhierarchies; and
wherein the thread is a process that is part of a larger process or program.
-
-
36. The system of claim 33 wherein the thread interface frame includes a programming interface supporting a set of functions to regulate access to objects in the subhierarchies.
-
37. The system of claim 33 wherein the thread interface frame provides change notification for propagating a nonlocal option value to objects in the hierarchy, the nonlocal option being capable of storing a value, storing a default value and having the ability to optionally influence a value that is read using the same nonlocal option name on another object.
-
38. The system of claim 33 wherein the thread interface frame provides the ability for multiple threads to act on the subhierarchies, each thread controlling a different object.
-
39. An apparatus for operating on a hierarchy of objects comprising:
-
a means for partitioning the hierarchy into subhierarchies, and providing a thread interface frame between the subhierarchies; and
within a thread, a means for executing an operation on an object in one of the subhierarchies. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
a means for forwarding an effect of the operation to another subhierarchy accessed by another thread by storing the effect of the operation in the thread interface frame between the subhierarchies; and
wherein the thread is a process that is part of a larger process or program.
-
-
41. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the thread interface frame includes a programming interface supporting a set of functions to regulate access to objects in the subhierarchies.
-
42. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the thread interface frame provides change notification for propagating a nonlocal option value to objects in the hierarchy, the nonlocal option being capable of storing a value, storing a default value and having the ability to optionally influence a value that is read using the same nonlocal option name on another object.
Specification