Method and apparatus for generating and using short operation identifiers in object oriented systems

A server application for use in a computer system, the computer system including at least one processor executing said server application and at least one client application, the server application comprising:

• an execution unit;
• an input unit operatively coupled to said execution unit and said server application;
• and
• an output unit operatively coupled to said execution unit and said server application;
• wherein said execution unit executes a plurality of operations, each operation of said plurality of operations being identified by at least one operation identifier of a plurality of operation identifiers, each operation identifier of said plurality of operation identifiers identifying one or more operations of said plurality of operations;
• wherein said input unit receives a first request from said at least one client application, said first request requesting said server application to perform a selected operation of said plurality of operations, said first request identifying said selected operation by a first operation identifier, wherein said first operation identifier is one of said plurality of operation identifiers, wherein said first operation identifier identifies said selected operation;
• wherein said execution unit executes said selected operation when said first operation identifier identifies only said selected operation;
• and
• wherein said output unit transmits a notification to said at least one client application notifying said at least one client application that said first operation identifier was ambiguous and that said selected operation was not performed when said first operation identifier identifies more than one operation of said plurality of operations.

A method for handling ambiguous identifiers in a computer system, the computer system including at least one processor executing a server application and at least one client application, said server application being capable of executing a plurality of operations, the method comprising the steps of:

• identifying each operation of said plurality of operations by at least one operation identifier of a plurality of operation identifiers, each operation identifier of said plurality of operation identifiers identifying one or more operations of said plurality of operations;
• at least one client application issuing a first request to said server application for said server application to perform a selected operation of said plurality of operations, said at least one client application identifying said selected operation by transmitting a first operation identifier in said first request, wherein said first operation identifier is one of said plurality of operation identifiers, wherein said first operation identifier identifies said selected operation;
• said server application performing said selected operation when said first operation identifier identifies only said selected operation;
• and
• said server application transmitting a notification to said at least one client application notifying said at least one client application that said first operation identifier was ambiguous and that said selected operation was not performed when said first operation identifier identifies more than one operation of said plurality of operations.