US 5,937,189 A · Object oriented framework mechanism for determining configuration relations

Abstract

An object oriented framework mechanism provides a straightforward and convenient way to implement a system determining configuration relations for any type of system that needs to be configured. The configuration relations framework includes several core classes and several classes that are extensible according to the needs of the user. The core classes and class relationships define the core function of the framework mechanism. Extensible classes are extended by a programmer to implement a desired configuration environment. The framework provides consistent programmer interfaces over a wide variety of different production environments, which greatly enhances programmer efficiency and which makes the resultant code much easier to maintain.

Claims54

Dependent claims

A computer system comprising:

a central processing unit;
and
a main memory coupled to the central processing unit, the main memory containing an object-oriented framework mechanism that provides at least one configuration environment, the framework mechanism executing on the central processing unit, wherein the framework mechanism comprises a relationship generation class, the relationship generation class defining:
at least one relationship generation object corresponding to the at least one configuration environment;
and
a first set of object methods to perform a plurality of predetermined functions to implement the configuration environment.

3 more elements

A method for determining configuration relations for a plurality of items, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a relationship generation object corresponding to the at least one configuration environment, the relationship generation object including a first set of object methods to perform a plurality of predetermined functions to implement the configuration environment;
(B) providing a plurality of configuration item objects corresponding to the plurality of items;
(C) providing a second set of object methods for requesting that a required resource corresponding to one of the plurality of configuration objects report its relationship;
(D) providing at least one configuration item list object containing the plurality of configuration item objects;
(E) providing a third set of object methods for creating the plurality of configuration items and for reporting the relationship of each configuration item;
(F) providing at least one assignment controller object;
(G) providing a fourth set of object methods for establishing relationships between the plurality of configuration items;
(H) providing a plurality of item objects corresponding to the plurality of items;
(I) providing a plurality of relationship objects indicating relationships for a plurality of the item objects;
(J) providing at least one item structure object containing the plurality of item objects and the plurality of relationship objects;
(K) providing a fifth set of object methods to retrieve at least one of the plurality of items from the item structure object;
(L) providing at least one required resource object;
(M) providing a sixth set of object methods for finding possible suppliers for the required resource object, for assigning one of the possible suppliers to the required resource object, for establishing and comparing assignment priority for the required resource object, and for reporting the relationship of the required resource object;
(N) providing at least one resource object;
(O) providing a seventh set of object methods for checking the possible relationship of the resource object and for reporting the actual relationship of the resource object;
(P) providing at least one resource group object containing at least one resource object;
(Q) providing an eighth set of object methods for adding possible users for the resource object, for assigning one of the possible users to the resource object, for checking a possible relationship for the resource object, and for reporting an assigned relationship of the resource object;
(R) providing at least one required resource association object;
(S) providing a ninth set of object methods for finding possible suppliers for a required resource, for adding a possible supplier for the required resource, and for assigning one of the possible suppliers to the required resource;
(T) providing at least one resource restriction object;
(U) a tenth set of object methods for finding which of a plurality of possible relationships are valid relationships;
and
(V) executing the object oriented framework mechanism on a computer system to determine the configuration relations of the plurality of items.

20 more elements

A program product comprising:

(A) an object oriented framework mechanism for determining configuration relations for a plurality of items in at least one configuration environment, the framework mechanism including a relationship generation object corresponding to the at least one configuration environment, the relationship generation object including a first set of object methods to perform a plurality of predetermined functions to implement the configuration environment, the framework mechanism further including a plurality of configuration item objects corresponding to the plurality of items, the configuration item objects including a second set of object methods for requesting that a required resource corresponding to one of the plurality of configuration objects report its relationship, the framework mechanism further including at least one configuration item list object containing the plurality of configuration item objects, each configuration item list object including a third set of object methods for creating the plurality of configuration items and for reporting the relationship of each configuration item, the framework mechanism further including at least one assignment controller object, the assignment controller object including a fourth set of object methods for establishing relationships between the plurality of configuration items, the framework mechanism further including a plurality of item objects corresponding to the plurality of items, the plurality of item objects including a plurality of relationship objects indicating relationships for a plurality of the item objects, the framework mechanism further including at least one item structure object containing the plurality of item objects and the plurality of relationship objects, the item structure object including a fifth set of object methods to retrieve at least one of the plurality of items from the item structure object, the framework mechanism further including at least one required resource object, the required resource object including a sixth set of object methods for finding possible suppliers for the required resource object, for assigning one of the possible suppliers to the required resource object, for establishing and comparing assignment priority for the required resource object, and for reporting the relationship of the required resource object, the framework mechanism further including at least one resource object, the resource object including a seventh set of object methods for checking the possible relationship of the resource object and for reporting the actual relationship of the resource object, the framework mechanism further including at least one resource group object containing at least one resource object, the resource group object including an eighth set of object methods for adding possible users for the resource object, for assigning one of the possible users to the resource object, for checking a possible relationship for the resource object, and for reporting an assigned relationship of the resource object, the framework mechanism further including at least one required resource association object, the required resource association object including a ninth set of object methods for finding possible suppliers for a required resource, for adding a possible supplier for the required resource, and for assigning one of the possible suppliers to the required resource, the framework mechanism further including at least one resource restriction object, the resource restriction object including a tenth set of object methods for finding which of a plurality of possible relationships are valid relationships;
and
(B) signal bearing media bearing the object oriented framework mechanism.

An object oriented framework mechanism that determines configuration relations for a plurality of items, the framework mechanism comprising:

at least one core function defined by relationships between a plurality of classes within the framework mechanism, wherein the implementation of the at least one core function is defined by the framework mechanism and cannot be modified by a user of the framework mechanism;
at least one extensible class wherein the implementation of the at least one extensible class is defined by the user of the framework mechanism, by extending the at least one extensible class, thereby defining at least one configuration environment;
a relationship generation object corresponding to the at least one configuration environment, the relationship generation object including a first set of object methods to perform a plurality of predetermined functions to implement the configuration environment;
a plurality of configuration item objects corresponding to the plurality of items;
a second set of object methods for requesting that a required resource corresponding to one of the plurality of configuration objects report its relationship;
at least one configuration item list object containing the plurality of configuration item objects;
a third set of object methods for creating the plurality of configuration items and for reporting the relationship of each configuration item;
at least one assignment controller object;
a fourth set of object methods for establishing relationships between the plurality of configuration items;
a plurality of item objects corresponding to the plurality of items;
a plurality of relationship objects indicating relationships for a plurality of the item objects;
at least one item structure object containing the plurality of item objects and the plurality of relationship objects;
a fifth set of object methods to retrieve at least one of the plurality of items from the item structure object;
at least one required resource object;
a sixth set of object methods for finding possible suppliers for the required resource object, for assigning one of the possible suppliers to the required resource object, for establishing and comparing assignment priority for the required resource object, and for reporting the relationship of the required resource object;
at least one resource object;
a seventh set of object methods for checking the possible relationship of the resource object and for reporting the actual relationship of the resource object;
at least one resource group object containing at least one resource object;
an eighth set of object methods for adding possible users for the resource object, for assigning one of the possible users to the resource object, for checking a possible relationship for the resource object, and for reporting an assigned relationship of the resource object;
at least one required resource association object;
a ninth set of object methods for finding possible suppliers for a required resource, for adding a possible supplier for the required resource, and for assigning one of the possible suppliers to the required resource;
at least one resource restriction object;
and
a tenth set of object methods for finding which of a plurality of possible relationships are valid relationships.

21 more elements

A method for determining configuration relations for a plurality of items using a computer system having a central processing unit and a main memory, the main memory having an application program that provides an object oriented programming environment, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) providing in the program an object oriented framework mechanism that determines the configuration relations according to extended portions of the framework mechanism that are customized to provide a desired configuration environment, the framework mechanism including:
a set of core functions wherein the implementation of the core functions is defined by the framework mechanism and cannot be modified by a user of the framework mechanism;
and
a set of extensible functions wherein the implementation of the extensible functions is defined by the user of the framework mechanism;
(B) extending the extensible functions in the framework mechanism to define particular classes having predetermined protocols and defining particular object methods that determine the configuration relations, the extensible functions defining the desired configuration environment;
(C) generating an executable configuration relations system by integrating together the extensible functions and the core functions;
and
(D) executing the executable configuration relations system on the computer system to determine the configuration relations.

5 more elements

A program product comprising:

an object oriented framework mechanism for determining configuration relations for a plurality of items, the framework mechanism including at least one core function defined by relationships between a plurality of classes within the framework mechanism, wherein the implementation of the at least one core function is defined by the framework mechanism and cannot be modified by a user of the framework mechanism, the framework mechanism further including at least one extensible function defined by at least one extensible class, wherein the implementation of the at least one extensible class is defined by the user of the framework mechanism by extending the at least one extensible class, thereby defining a configuration environment that governs the operation of the framework mechanism;
and
signal bearing media bearing the object oriented framework mechanism.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Object oriented framework mechanism for determining configuration relations

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Object oriented framework mechanism for determining configuration relations

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Abstract

Claims54