Method and system for connecting objects using alert and running states

A method executed in a computer system for automatically connecting a link object to a source object, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

• registering the source object in a running object table when the source object enters a framing state, the running state indicating that at the source object should be connected to the link object when the link object is in art alert state;
• when the link object enters the alert state, the alert state indicating that the link object should be connected to the source object when the source object is in a running state, determining whether the source object is registered in the running object table;
• and
• connecting the link object to the source object upon a determination that the source object is registered in the running object table by sending to the source object a reference to the link object so that the source object can notify the link object of changes to the source object.

A method executed in a computer system for automatically connecting a link object to a source object, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• registering the link object in an alert object table where the link object enters an alert state, the alert state indicating that the link the object should be connected to the source object when the source object enters a running state;
• when the source object caters the running state, the running state indicating that the source object should be connected to the link object when the link object is in the alert state, determining whether the link object is registered in the alert to object table;
• and
• connecting the link object to the source object upon a determination that the link object is registered in the alert object table by sending to the source object a reference to the link object for notifying the link object of changes to the source object.

A method executed in a computer system for notifying a link object that a source object has been placed in a running state, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing the link object in an alert state, the alert state indicating that the link object should be connected to the source object when the source object enters a running state;
• after placing the link object in the alert state, placing the source object in the running state, the running state indicating that the source object should be connected to the link object when the link object is in the alert state;
• and
• after placing the source object in the running state, sending to the link object an indication that the source object has been placed in the running state, wherein a connection is established between the link object and the source object when the link object sends an identifier of the link object to the source object.

A method executed in a computer system for establishing a connection between a source object and a link object, the link object having a reference to the source object, the method including the steps of:

• receiving a request from a user to execute a source process;
• executing the source process, in response to the request to execute the source process, wherein the source process puts the source object in a running state independent of activating the link object, the running state indicating that the source object should be connected to the link object when the link object enters an alert state;
• receiving a request from the user to execute a consumer process;
• executing the consumer process in response to the request to execute the consumer process, wherein the consumer process puts the link object in the alert state, the alert state indicating that the link object should be connected to the referenced source object when the source object enters the running state;
• and
• automatically connecting the link object to the source object upon an occurrence of the link object entering the alert state and the source object entering the running state by sending to the source object a reference to the link object so that the source object can notify the link object of changes to the source object.

A computer system for establishing a connection between a source object and a link object, the link object having a reference to the source object, the source object having a source process for managing the source object, the link object having a consumer process for managing the link object, comprising:

• means for placing the source object in a running state, the running state indicating that the source object is to be connected to the link object when the link object is in an alert state;
• means for placing the link object in the alert state, the alert state indicating that the link object is to be connected to the source object when the source object is in the running state;
• and
• means for connecting the link abject to the source:
• object, upon occurrence of both the source object being in the running state and the link object being in the alert state, by sending to the source process a reference to the link object that is in the alert state, wherein the source process notifies the consumer process of changes to the source object using the reference to the link object.