Computer programming language pronouns
First Claim
1. A computerized method for translating source code, where the source code is written in a high-level programming language, comprising:
- recognizing a pronoun in the source code, wherein the pronoun is defined by the programming language; and
finding a referent in the source code, wherein the pronoun refers to the referent, and wherein the referent is defined by a programmer of the source code.
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Abstract
Programming language constructs called pronouns and referents, and a method, system, and apparatus for translating computer source code that contains the pronouns and referents. A referent is any semantic or syntactic construct in the source code (e.g., a statement, a portion of a statement, an expression, or a value) to which a pronoun refers. A pronoun is a programming-language defined source-code symbol or a sequence of symbols that refers to the referent. As a result, pronouns eliminate the need to define new names or macros for repeated program segments. When a translator encounters the pronoun in the source code, the translator searches the source code for the referent and substitutes the referent for the pronoun. Thus, by using pronouns and referents, the programmer can write programs faster and easier and eliminate program redundancy without losing readability.
50 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A computerized method for translating source code, where the source code is written in a high-level programming language, comprising:
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recognizing a pronoun in the source code, wherein the pronoun is defined by the programming language; and
finding a referent in the source code, wherein the pronoun refers to the referent, and wherein the referent is defined by a programmer of the source code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
substituting the referent for the pronoun.
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3. The method of claim 1, wherein finding the referent further comprises using closest-definition binding.
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4. The method of claim 1, wherein finding the referent further comprises using dynamic binding.
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein finding the referent further comprises using static binding.
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6. The method of claim 1, wherein finding the referent further comprises using context-based binding.
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7. The method of claim 1, wherein finding the referent in the source code occurs during a syntactic phase of a compiler.
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8. The method of claim 1, wherein finding the referent in the source code occurs during a semantic phase of a compiler.
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9. A computer-readable medium containing source code written in a high-level programming language, wherein the source code comprises:
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a pronoun, wherein the pronoun is defined by the programming language; and
a referent, wherein the pronoun refers to the referent, and wherein the referent is defined by a programmer of the source code. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-readable medium, comprising:
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a symbol table; and
a translator comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed comprise;
recognizing a pronoun in source code using the symbol table, wherein the pronoun is defined by a high-level programming language; and
finding a referent in the source code, wherein the pronoun refers to the referent, and wherein the referent is defined by a programmer of the source code. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
a symbol field;
a type field; and
a definition of referent field.
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21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise:
substituting the referent for the pronoun.
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22. A computerized method for translating source code, where the source code is written in a high-level programming language, comprising:
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recognizing a pronoun in the source code, wherein the pronoun is defined by the programming language; and
finding a referent in the source code, wherein the pronoun refers to the referent, and wherein the referent is defined by a programmer of the source code and the referent comprises a most-recent value. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
generating object code to substitute the most-recent value for the pronoun.
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24. The method of claim 22, wherein the most-recent value is assigned by an expression.
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25. The method of claim 22, wherein the most-recent value is returned by a function.
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26. A computer system comprising:
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a processor;
memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory contains a translator for translating source code, wherein the translator comprises instructions, and wherein the instructions when executed on the processor comprise;
recognizing a pronoun in the source code using a symbol table, wherein the pronoun is defined by a high-level programming language;
finding a referent in the source code, wherein the pronoun refers to the referent, and wherein the referent is defined by a programmer of the source code; and
substituting the referent for the pronoun. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification