System representation and handling techniques

An implementation method of generating an implementation of a first data structure, wherein the first data structure comprises a plurality of linked structural components, and wherein the first data structure represents meaningful components of a given system and a parent set of interrelationships between those meaningful components, the method comprising:

• receiving one of said first data structure and a description thereof;
• and
• generating an implementation of the received first data structure, the implementation comprising:
• one of a second data structure and a description thereof, corresponding to said first data structure, wherein said second data structure is defined by a subset of the parent set of interrelationships;
• and
• implementation rules which allow the parent set of interrelationships to be enforced during a subsequent processing operation which utilises said implementation.

A storage medium storing an implementation computer program which, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to carry out an implementation tool for generating an implementation of a first data structure, wherein the first data structure comprises a plurality of linked structural components, and wherein the first data structure represents meaningful components of a given system and a parent set of interrelationships between those meaningful components, the tool comprising:

• memory operable to store said first data structure and a description thereof;
• and at least one processor configured to generate an implementation of the received first data structure, the implementation comprising:
• one of a second data structure and a description thereof, corresponding to said first data structure, wherein said second data structure is defined by a subset of the parent set of interrelationships;
• and implementation rules which allow the parent set of interrelationships to be enforced during a subsequent processing operation which utilizes said implementation.

An instance-handling tool for operating on an instance of a second data structure of the implementation generated by an implementation tool for generating an implementation of a first data structure, wherein the first data structure comprises a plurality of linked structural components, and wherein the first data structure represents meaningful components of a given system and a parent set of interrelationships between those meaningful components, the tool comprising:

• memory operable to store one of said first data structure and a description thereof;
• and at least one processor configured to generate an implementation of the received first data structure, the implementation comprising:
• one of a second data structure and a description thereof, corresponding to said first data structure, wherein said second data structure is defined by a subset of the parent set of interrelationships;
• and implementation rules which allow the parent set of interrelationships to be enforced during a subsequent processing operation which utilizes said implementation, the instance-handling tool comprising:
• memory for storing said implementation;
• and
• the at least one processor configured for operating on a candidate instance in dependence upon the implementation.

An instance-handling method of operating on an instance of a second data structure of an implementation generated by an implementation tool for generating an implementation of a first data structure, wherein the first data structure comprises a plurality of linked structural components, and wherein the first data structure represents meaningful components of a given system and a parent set of interrelationships between those meaningful components, the tool comprising:

• memory operable to store one of said first data structure and a description thereof;
• and at least one processor configured to generate an implementation of the received first data structure, the implementation comprising:
• one of a second data structure and a description thereof, corresponding to said first data structure, wherein said second data structure is defined by a subset of the parent set of interrelationships;
• and implementation rules which allow the parent set of interrelationships to be enforced during a subsequent processing operation which utilizes said implementation, the method comprising operating on a candidate instance in dependence upon the implementation.

A storage medium storing an instance-handling computer program which, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to carry out an instance-handling method of operating on an instance of a second data structure of an implementation generated by an implementation tool for generating an implementation of a first data structure, wherein the first data structure comprises a plurality of linked structural components, and wherein the first data structure represents meaningful components of a given system and a parent set of interrelationships between those meaningful components, the tool comprising:

• memory operable to store one of said first data structure and a description thereof;
• and at least one processor configured to generate an implementation of the received first data structure, the implementation comprising:
• one of a second data structure and a description thereof, corresponding to said first data structure, wherein said second data structure is defined by a subset of the parent set of interrelationships;
• and implementation rules which allow the parent set of interrelationships to be enforced during a subsequent processing operation which utilizes said implementation, the method comprising operating on a candidate instance in dependence upon the implementation.

A method of extending a system, comprising:

• obtaining a first data structure, or a description thereof, representative of the system;
• adapting the first data structure, or the description thereof, to include further linked structural components representative of a system extension;
• and
• employing an implementation tool for generating an implementation of a first data structure, wherein the first data structure comprises a plurality of linked structural components, and wherein the first data structure represents meaningful components of a given system and a parent set of interrelationships between those meaningful components, the tool comprising:
• memory operable to store said first data structure, or a description thereof;
• and at least one processor configured to generate an implementation of the received first data structure, the implementation comprising:
• a second data structure, or a description thereof, corresponding to said first data structure, wherein said second data structure is defined by a subset of the parent set of interrelationships;
• and
• implementation rules which allow the parent set of interrelationships to be enforced during a subsequent processing operation which utilizes said implementation;
• and an implementation tool wherein the first data structure comprises further linked structural components and is representative of a system extension, the system extension being an extension to said system to generate an implementation of the adapted first data structure.

A parser or compiler comprising an instance-handling tool for operating on an instance of the second data structure of an implementation generated by an implementation tool for generating an implementation of a first data structure, wherein the first data structure comprises a plurality of linked structural components, and wherein the first data structure represents meaningful components of a given system and a parent set of interrelationships between those meaningful components, the tool comprising:

• memory operable to store one of said first data structure and a description thereof;
• and at least one processor configured to generate an implementation of the received first data structure, the implementation comprising:
• one of a second data structure and a description thereof, corresponding to said first data structure, wherein said second data structure is defined by a subset of the parent set of interrelationships;
• and implementation rules which allow the parent set of interrelationships to be enforced during a subsequent processing operation which utilizes said implementation, the instance-handling tool comprising:
• memory for storing said implementation;
• and the at least one processor configured for operating on a candidate instance in dependence upon the implementation.

A computer program produced or adapted by means of an implementation tool comprising an instance-handling tool for operating on an instance of a second data structure of an implementation generated by an implementation tool for generating an implementation of a first data structure, wherein the first data structure comprises a plurality of linked structural components, and wherein the first data structure represents meaningful components of a given system and a parent set of interrelationships between those meaningful components, the tool comprising:

• memory operable to store one of said first data structure and a description thereof;
• and at least one processor configured to generate an implementation of the received first data structure, the implementation comprising:
• one of a second data structure and a description thereof, corresponding to said first data structure, wherein said second data structure is defined by a subset of the parent set of interrelationships;
• and implementation rules which allow the parent set of interrelationships to be enforced during a subsequent processing operation which utilizes said implementation, the instance-handling tool comprising:
• memory configured for storing said implementation;
• and the at least one processor configured for operating on a candidate instance in dependence upon the implementation.

A method of producing or adapting a computer program, comprising:

• inputting a candidate computer program to an instance-handling tool for operating on an instance of a second data structure of an implementation generated by an implementation tool for generating an implementation of a first data structure, wherein the first data structure comprises a plurality of linked structural components, and wherein the first data structure represents meaningful components of a given system and a parent set of interrelationships between those meaningful components, the tool comprising:
• memory operable to store one of said first data structure and a description thereof;
• and at least one processor configured to generate an implementation of the received first data structure, the implementation comprising:
• one of a second data structure and a description thereof, corresponding to said first data structure, wherein said second data structure is defined by a subset of the parent set of interrelationships;
• and implementation rules which allow the parent set of interrelationships to be enforced during a subsequent processing operation which utilizes said implementation, the instance-handling tool comprising:
• memory configured for storing said implementation;
• and the at least one processor configured for operating on a candidate instance in dependence upon the implementation, wherein the system concerned is a computer-programming language in which said candidate computer program is expressed;
• employing said instance-handling tool to operate on said candidate instance;
• and
• employing said instance-handling tool to output a computer program resulting from such operation.

A computer or network of computers configured to function as an implementation tool for generating an implementation of a first data structure, wherein the first data structure comprises a plurality of linked structural components, and wherein the first data structure represents meaningful components of a given system and a parent set of interrelationships between those meaningful components, the tool comprising:

• memory operable to store one of said first data structure and a description thereof;
• and at least one processor configured to generate an implementation of the received first data structure, the implementation comprising:
• one of a second data structure and a description thereof, corresponding to said first data structure, wherein said second data structure is defined by a subset of the parent set of interrelationships;
• and implementation rules which allow the parent set of interrelationships to be enforced during a subsequent processing operation which utilizes said implementation.

A metaprogramming tool comprising an implementation tool for generating an implementation of a first data structure, wherein the first data structure comprises a plurality of linked structural components, and wherein the first data structure represents meaningful components of a given system and a parent set of interrelationships between those meaningful components, the tool comprising:

• memory operable to store one of said first data structure and a description thereof;
• and at least one processor configured to generate an implementation of the received first data structure, the implementation comprising:
• one of a second data structure and a description thereof, corresponding to said first data structure, wherein said second data structure is defined by a subset of the parent set of interrelationships;
• and implementation rules which allow the parent set of interrelationships to be enforced during a subsequent processing operation which utilizes said implementation.

A computer or network of computers configured to function as an instance-handling tool for operating on an instance of a second data structure of an implementation generated by an implementation tool for generating an implementation of a first data structure, wherein the first data structure comprises a plurality of linked structural components, and wherein the first data structure represents meaningful components of a given system and a parent set of interrelationships between those meaningful components, the tool comprising:

• memory operable to store one of said first data structure and a description thereof;
• and at least one processor configured to generate an implementation of the received first data structure, the implementation comprising:
• one of a second data structure and a description thereof, corresponding to said first data structure, wherein said second data structure is defined by a subset of the parent set of interrelationships;
• and implementation rules which allow the parent set of interrelationships to be enforced during a subsequent processing operation which utilizes said implementation, the instance-handling tool comprising:
• memory configured for storing said implementation;
• and the at least one processor configured for operating on a candidate instance in dependence upon the implementation.