Framework within a data processing system for manipulating program objects

• US 6,336,118 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hammond, Barton Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEUNG, MARY DA ZHI WANG
• Application Number:
  US09/204,918
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100-104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/24 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/36 Software reuse
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method for manipulating objects within a distributed object oriented environment on a data processing system. Complex issues of a distributed object oriented environment are encapsulated within a software generated framework. A plurality of abstract classes of objects with predefined characteristics is created for utilization within the framework. Also, a plurality of proxy objects are connected to the framework. The framework manipulates the proxy objects to instantiate communication and data transfer between objects of the distributed object oriented environment.

Claims

1. A method for manipulating objects within a distributed object oriented environment on a data processing system comprising the steps of:

encapsulating issues of said distributed object oriented environment in a software generated framework;

creating a plurality of abstract classes of objects with predefined characteristics for utilization within said framework;

wiring together program components generated from object data files on the data processing system utilizing wiring instructions based on model information for wiring together of said program components and wiring patterns of said plurality of abstract classes, wherein said wiring further includes analyzing characteristics of said program components against predetermined characteristics of said plurality of abstract classes wherein said program components'"'"' characteristics are inherited from said predefined characteristics of said abstract classes and classifying program components according to said characteristics;

connecting a plurality of proxy objects to said framework; and

manipulating said proxy objects via said framework to permit communication and data transfer within said distributed object oriented environment between said framework and a user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said distributed object oriented environment includes a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) environment and its associated component broker programming model and wherein further said manipulating step further comprise the step of establishing communication links between various objects utilizing a plurality of CORBA proxy objects.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of establishing communications links include providing a communication link between framework and said CORBA proxy object providing a communication link between said proxy object and the distributed object oriented environment, and providing a communication link between said component broker programming model and a user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said framework represents a server side of a business object environment within the component broker programming model and further wherein said server side interacts with a client side of said business object environment via said proxy objects.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said manipulating step is controlled by the framework and further comprising the steps of:

initiating a transaction by sending a signal to a business object;

invoking calls to application programming interface to ensure connection to a CORBA object; and

terminating said transaction upon receipt of a termination signal from said business object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said encapsulating step provides said framework with an ability to manipulate objects without knowing specific characteristics of said objects and wherein said framework encapsulates knowledge of its own characteristics.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said characteristics of said framework include characteristics from among functions and attributes, types of transactions, session, transient activity taking place, how to receive and give information to said proxy object, establishing and maintaining all communications, error checking, and implementation of general programming model issues.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said functions or attributes include add, subtract, change, delete and display, and iterate.

9. A system for manipulating objects within a distributed object oriented environment on a data processing system comprising:

means for encapsulating issues of said distributed object oriented environment in a software generated framework;

means for creating a plurality of abstract classes of objects with predefined characteristics for utilization within said framework;

means for wiring together program components generated from object data files on the data processing system utilizing wiring instructions based on model information for wiring together of said program components and wiring patterns of said plurality of abstract classes, wherein said means for wiring includes (1) means for analyzing characteristics of said program components against predetermined characteristics of said plurality of abstract classes wherein said program components'"'"' characteristics are inherited from said predefined characteristics of said abstract classes and (2) means for classifying program components according to said characteristics;

means for connecting a plurality of proxy objects to said framework; and

means for manipulating said proxy objects via said framework to permit communication and data transfer within said distributed object oriented environment between said framework and a user interface.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said distributed object oriented environment includes a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) environment and its associated component broker programming model and wherein further said manipulating means further comprise means for establishing communication links between various objects utilizing a plurality of CORBA proxy objects.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said means of establishing communications links include providing a communication link between framework and said CORBA proxy object, providing a communication link between said proxy object and the distributed object oriented environment, and providing a communication link between said component broker programming model and a user interface.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said framework represents a server side of a business object environment within the component broker programming model and further wherein said server side interacts with a client side of said business object environment via said proxy objects.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said manipulating means is controlled by the framework and further comprising:

means for initiating a transaction by sending a signal to a business object;

means for invoking calls to application programming interface to ensure connection to a CORBA object; and

means for terminating said transaction upon receipt of a termination signal from said business object.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said encapsulating means provides said framework with an ability to manipulate objects without knowing specific characteristics of said objects and wherein said framework encapsulates knowledge of its own characteristics.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said characteristics of said framework include methods and attributes, types of transactions, session, transient activity taking place, how to receive and give information to said proxy object, establishing and maintaining all communications, error checking, and implementation of general programming model issues.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said functions and attributes include add, subtract, change, delete and display, and iterate.

17. A computer program product for manipulating objects within a distributed object oriented environment on a data processing system comprising program instructions in a computer readable medium for:

encapsulating issues of said distributed object oriented environment in a software generated framework;

creating a plurality of abstract classes of objects with predefined characteristics for utilization within said framework;

wiring together program components generated from object data files on the data processing system utilizing wiring instructions based on model information for wiring together of said program components and wiring patterns of said plurality of abstract classes, wherein said wiring program instructions includes instructions for analyzing characteristics of said program components against predetermined characteristics of said plurality of abstract classes wherein said program components'"'"' characteristics are inherited from said predefined characteristics of said abstract classes and classifying program components according to said characteristics;

connecting a plurality of proxy objects to said framework; and

manipulating said proxy objects via said framework to permit communication and data transfer within said distributed object oriented environment between said framework and a user interface.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said distributed object oriented environment includes a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) environment and its associated component broker programming model and wherein further said program instructions for manipulating further comprise of program instructions for establishing communication links between various objects utilizing a plurality of CORBA proxy objects.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said program instructions for establishing communications links include program instructions for providing a communication link between framework and said CORBA proxy object, providing a communication link between said proxy object and the distributed object oriented environment, and providing a communication link between said component broker programming model and a user interface.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said framework represents a server side of a business object environment within the component broker programming model and further wherein said server side interacts with a client side of said business object environment via said proxy objects.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said program instructions for said manipulating is controlled by the framework and further comprising program instructions for:

initiating a transaction by sending a signal to a business object;

invoking calls to application programming interface to ensure connection to a CORBA object; and

terminating said transaction upon receipt of a termination signal from said business object.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said program instructions for said encapsulating provides said framework with an ability to manipulate objects without knowing specific characteristics of said objects and wherein said framework encapsulates knowledge of its own characteristics.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said characteristics of said framework include functions and attributes, types of transactions, session, transient activity taking place, how to receive and give information to said proxy object, establishing and maintaining all communications, error checking, and implementation of general programming model issues.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein said functions or attributes include add, subtract, change, delete and display, and iterate.