Dynamic method resolution for native methods in a dynamic object-oriented programming language

Patent 6067577 Issued on May 23, 2000. Estimated Expiration Date:

September 30, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Object-oriented interface for a procedural operating system
Patent #: 5379432
Issued on: 01/03/1995
Inventor: Orton, et al.

Object-oriental system for managing shared libraries
Patent #: 5414854
Issued on: 05/09/1995
Inventor: Heninger, et al.

System and method for enabling a compiled computer program to invoke an interpretive computer program Patent #: 5675804
Issued on: 10/07/1997
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Inventor

Beard, Patrick C.

Assignee

Apple Computer, Inc.

Application

No. 723034 filed on 09/30/1996

US Classes:

719/331DYNAMIC LINKING, LATE BINDING

Examiners

Primary: Oberley, Alvin E.
Assistant: Bullock, Lewis A. Jr.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis, LLP

International Class

G06F 009/445

Abstract

A variety of mechanisms are disclosed for a dynamically binding native methods in an interpreted bytecode program to functions that are contained in compiled code, such as a dynamically linked library. In one implementation, a shared function is specified by means of a naming convention that is appropriate for the bytecode interpreted program, such as a package of classes. When a native method is to be resolved during loading of a class, the name of the package is examined to see if the method resides in a shared library. If so, it is loaded using techniques that are specific to the compiled code in which the library exists. In another embodiment, a designated base class, or interface, is used to identify the method by which the shared library is to be loaded. In a third type of implementation, a given method requests a class to specify which libraries it needs to be linked to, as it is being loaded, after which the libraries are loaded and the class methods are linked to them.