Extensibility application programming interface and framework for meta-model objects

• US 7,979,842 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Rajagopal, Ramesh, Bloesch, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Rutten; James D
• Application Number:
  US11/935,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20080163160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and methodology providing an Application Programming Interface (API) and framework that supports a meta-object model for application design and operating system interactions. The API includes an input component that receives data and/or instructions. The input component processes a meta-data model that interrelates data via a class hierarchy, wherein the class hierarchy includes relationship descriptions between class objects, attributes, rules, and/or behavioral descriptions. Another aspect includes a data management system that includes a component to receive an item having meta-data annotations. An analysis component determines at runtime a structure for the item via deployment of the meta-data annotations. The system can also include a framework component that defines meta-data class derivations, meta-data classes, meta-data integrity rules, and/or meta-data class behavior.

Claims

1. A method to model the structure of an item with meta-annotations, comprising:

defining the structure of an item with a meta-model employing meta-data annotations, the meta-model at least including one meta-relationship and at least one meta-class, the at least one meta-relationship describing one or more relationships between meta-classes, the at least one meta-class being a class encapsulating data employed to represent another class, and the at least one meta-class is identified via a globally unique identifier; and

reading the meta-data annotations from computer readable media to determine the structure of an item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing at least one of an event or a transaction when interacting with the meta-data annotations.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing information derived from the meta-model to an application programming interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising inheriting system properties through meta-model classes.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising caching a portion of the meta-model from at least one of a client and a server system.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising presenting a portion of the meta model to an application as if the portion resided on the client and server system.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising employing a framework to leverage operating system services.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising mitigating redundant code from operating system interactions.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating assemblies utilizing at least one application programming interface for system interactions.

10. The method of claim 9, the assemblies are employed in conjunction with managed object systems.