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AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsDavid T. Jones, Martin J. O'Riordan, Mark J. Zbikowski
Estimating the term…
A method for a computer compiler for an object-oriented programming language for implementing virtual functions and virtual base classes is provided. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the data structure layout of an object includes a virtual function table pointer, a virtual base table pointer, occurrences of each non-virtual base class, the data members of the class, and occurrences of each virtual base class. If a class introduces a virtual function member and the class has a non-virtual base class with a virtual function table pointer, then the class shares the virtual function table pointer of the non-virtual base class that is first visited in a depth-first, left-to-right traversal of the inheritance tree. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, each instance of a given class shares a set of virtual function tables and virtual base tables for that class. In preferred embodiments, adjusters are used when a function member in a derived class overrides a function member that is defined in more than one base class, and when a derived class has a base class that overrides a function member in a virtual base class of that class and the derived class itself does not override the function member.
A computer-implemented method for implementing virtual functions for an object-oriented programming language, the programming language having classes, each class defined in terms of base classes and function members, each function member defined as either virtual or non-virtual, each function member when invoked being passed a third pointer, wherein each class that introduces a virtual function member has an associated virtual function table and a virtual function table pointer, the virtual function tables having pointers to the virtual functions defined in the associated class, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
A method in a computer system for compiling a definition of a derived class, the derived class having a plurality of base classes, the derived class having an overriding virtual function member that overrides a virtual function member of a base class, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
A method in a computer system for compiling a definition of a derived class, the derived class having a plurality of base classes, the derived class having an overriding virtual function member that overrides a virtual function member of a base class, the derived class having a non-overriding virtual function member, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
A method in a computer system for compiling a definition of a derived class, the derived class having base classes, the derived class having an overriding virtual function member that overrides a virtual function member of two base classes, the overriding virtual function member for accessing a member of the derived class, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
A method in a computer system for generating computer code to invoke an overriding virtual function member and an non-overriding virtual function member of a derived class, the derived class inheriting a base class having a virtual function member that is overridden by the overriding virtual function member of the derived class, the derived class having a member, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
A method in a computer system for accessing a member of an instance of a derived class during execution of an overriding virtual function member of the derived class, the derived class inheriting base classes, the instance having an occurrence of each base class, the instance having a class address, the overriding virtual function member overriding a virtual function member of a base class with an occurrence at an offset from the class address, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
A method in a computer system for accessing a member of an instance of a derived class during execution of an overriding virtual function member of the derived class and during execution of a non-overriding virtual function of the derived class, the derived class inheriting base classes, the instance having an occurrence of each base class, the instance having a class address, the overriding virtual function member overriding a virtual function member of a base class with an occurrence within the instance at an offset from the class address, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
A computer system for accessing a member of an instance of a derived class during execution of an overriding virtual function member of the derived class, the derived class inheriting base classes, the instance having an occurrence of each base class, the instance having a class address, the overriding virtual function member overriding a virtual function member of a base class with an occurrence at an offset from the class address, the computer system comprising:
A computer system for accessing a member of an instance of a derived class during execution of an overriding virtual function member of the derived class and during execution of a non-overriding virtual function of the derived class, the derived class inheriting base classes, the instance having an occurrence of each base class, the instance having a class address, the overriding virtual function member overriding a virtual function member of a base class with an occurrence within the instance at an offset from the class address, the computer system comprising:
A computer system for generating computer code to invoke an overriding virtual function member and an non-overriding virtual function member of a derived class, the derived class inheriting a base class having a virtual function member that is overridden by the overriding virtual function member of the derived class, the derived class having a member, the computer system comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.