Method and apparatus for accessing an object, and storage medium storing a program for controlling access to an object

A method of accessing an object, said object, as used in object oriented programming, being software comprising a program or program with data accessed by said program, the method being adapted for execution in a local system that contains first path information specifying a path for accessing a first object stored in a first storage means, and second path information specifying a path for accessing a second object stored in a second storage means, said path in each instance being an information/description list which points to the location of an object in a network, to access said object, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving from an application an object access request including object specifying information;
• (b) accessing said first object stored in said first storage means based on said first path information;
• (c) evaluating object management information included in said first object;
• and
• (d) if, as a result of the said evaluation, it is determined that said object management information of said first object does not match a predetermined condition, then accessing said second object stored in said second storage means based on said second path information.

A method of accessing an object, the method being adapted for execution in a local system that contains first path information specifying a path for accessing a first object stored in a local storage means existing within the local system, and second path information specifying a path for accessing a second object stored in a remote storage means connected to said local system via a network, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) accessing said first object stored in said local storage means based on said first path information;
• (b) evaluating a term's validity information included in said first object;
• (c) if, as a result of said evaluation, it is determined that said term of said first object has expired, then accessing said second object stored in said remote storage means based on said second path information;
• and
• (d) copying at least a portion of said object into said local storage means.

An apparatus for accessing an object, said object, as used in object oriented programming, being a software comprising a program or program with data accessed by said program, comprising

• (a) first path information specifying a path for accessing a first object stored in a first storage means,
• (b) second path information specifying a path for accessing a second object stored in a second storage means,
• (c) third path information specifying a path for accessing a third object stored in a third storage means, said path in each instance being an information/description list which points to the location of an object in a network, to access said object;
• and
• (d) a stub object for:
• (d1) accessing said first object stored in said first storage means based on said first path information;
• (d2) evaluating object management information included in said first object;
• (d3) if, as a result of said evaluation, it is determined that said object management information of said first object does not match a predetermined condition, then accessing said second object stored in said second storage means based on said second path information;
• (d4) evaluating object management information included in said second object;
• and
• (d5) if, as a result of said evaluation, it is determined that said object management information of said second object does not match a predetermined condition, then accessing said third object stored in said third storage means based on said third path information.

An information processing system comprising:

• (a) an object accessing apparatus, said object, as used in object oriented programming, being a software comprising a program or program with data accessed by said program, including,
• (a1) first path information specifying a path for accessing a first object stored in a first storage means,
• (a2) second path information specifying a path for accessing a second object stored in a second storage means,
• (a3) third path information specifying a path for accessing a third object stored in a third storage means, said path in each instance being an information/description list which points to the location of an object in a network, to access said object;
• and
• (d) a stub object for accessing said first object stored in said first storage means based on said first path information;
• evaluating object management information included in said first object;
• if, as a result of said evaluation, it is determined that said object management information of said first object does not match a predetermined condition, then accessing said second object stored in said second storage means based on said second path information;
• evaluating object management information included in said second object;
• and if, as a result of said evaluation, it is determined that said object management information of said second object does not match a predetermined condition, then accessing said third object stored in said third storage means based on said third path information;
• and
• (b) an object server for receiving an object access request including object specifying information transmitted from said object accessing apparatus via a network, determining whether or not a record corresponding to said object specifying information exists in an object management table, if the record exists, then evaluating the object management information of an associated object, if the object management information of said associated object matches a predetermined condition, then enabling said object to be accessed, and if the object management information of said associated object does not match the predetermined condition, then prohibiting said object from being accessed.

A storage medium for storing a program executable in a local system than contains the first path information specifying a path for accessing a first object stored in a first storage means, second path information specifying a path for accessing a second object stored in a second storage means, third path information specifying a path for accessing a third object stored in a third storage means, the program being adapted for controlling access to an object, said object, as used in object oriented programming, being a software comprising a program or program with data accessed by said program and said path in each instance being an information/description list which points to the location of an object in a network, to access said object;

• comprising:
• (a) program code for indicating said local system to access said first object stored in said first storage means based on said first path information;
• (b) program code for indicating said local system to evaluate object management information included in said first object;
• (c) program code, being responsive to a determination that said object management information of said first object does not match a predetermined condition, for indicating said local system to access the second object stored in said second storage means based on said second path information;
• (d) program code for indicating said local system to evaluate object management information included in said second object;
• and
• (e) program code, being responsive to a determination that said object management information of said second object does not match a predetermined condition, for indicating said local system to access said third object stored in said third storage means based on said third path information.

A storage medium for storing a program executable in a local system that contains first path information specifying a path for accessing a first object stored in a first storage means, second path information specifying a path for accessing a second object stored in a second storage means, third path information specifying a path for accessing a third object stored in a third storage means, said object, as used in object oriented programming, being a software comprising a program or program with data accessed by said program and said path in each instance being an information/description list which points to the location of an object in a network, to access said object;

• the program being adapted for controlling access to an object comprising:
• (a) program code for indicating said local system to access said first object stored in said first storage means based on said first path information;
• (b) program code for indicating said local system to evaluate object management information included in said first object;
• (c) program code, being responsive to a determination that said object management information of said first object does not match a predetermined condition, for indicating said local system to access said second object stored in said second storage means based on said second path information.

A storage medium for storing a program executable in a local system that contains first path information specifying a path for accessing a first object stored in a first storage means, and second path information specifying a path for accessing a second object stored in a remote second storage means connected to said local system via a network, said object, as used in object oriented programming, being a software comprising a program or program with data accessed by said program and said path in each instance being an information/description list which points to the location of an object in a network, to access said object;

• the program being adapted for controlling access to an object, comprising:
• (a) program code for indicating said local system to access said first object stored in said first storage means based on said first path information;
• (b) program code for indicating said local system to evaluate a term's validity information included in said first object;
• (c) program code, being responsive to a determination that said term of said first object has expired, for indicating said local system to access said second object stored in said remote storage means based on said second path information;
• (d) program code for indicating said local system to copy at least a portion of said object into said local storage means.

A storage medium for storing a program being responsive to an object request including object specifying information transmitted from a local system via a network, the program being adapted for controlling access to an object, said object, as used in object oriented programming, being a software comprising a program or program with data accessed by said program, said storage medium comprising:

• (a) program code for indicating said local system to determine whether or not a record corresponding to said object specifying information exists in an object management table;
• (b) program code being responsive to a determination that the record exists, for indicating said local system to determine whether or not object management information of an associated object matches a predetermined condition;
• (c) program code, being responsive to a determination that the object management information of said associated object matches a predetermined condition, for indicating said local system to enable the said object to be accessed;
• and
• (d) program code, being responsive to a determination that the object management information of said associated object does not match the predetermined condition, for indicating said local system to prohibit the said object from being accessed.