Common Property Datatypes for Data Structure Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing programming environments face complexity and inefficiency due to the need to manage multiple native values for common properties across different datatypes, leading to increased code complexity, reduced extensibility, and compatibility issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing common property datatypes that abstract away native values, allowing a single operation to handle multiple datatypes, and using precedence hierarchies for implicit conversion and operations, thereby simplifying programming and enhancing compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple native values are used to represent common properties across different datatypes, then datatype-specific functionality is preserved, but code complexity increases and extensibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces common property objects as intermediary entities that mediate between different datatypes and their native values. Instead of directly handling multiple native values (NaN, NaT, undefined, etc.), the system uses common property objects with a unified interface to represent missing, minimum, and maximum values across all datatypes. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity while preserving datatype-specific functionality through implicit conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal common property objects that can represent the same conceptual properties (missing, minimum, maximum) across multiple different datatypes. A single common property object design serves multiple datatypes (numeric, datetime, string, categorical, etc.), eliminating the need for separate handling mechanisms for each datatype while maintaining their unique characteristics through conversion rules.
2Measurement precision
If explicit handling of native values is required for each datatype, then precision is maintained, but programming efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automatic implicit conversion between common property objects and datatype-specific native values. When common property objects are used in operations with specific datatypes, the system automatically converts them to the appropriate native values without requiring explicit programmer intervention. This maintains precision while dramatically improving programming efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary setup by defining conversion rules and precedence hierarchies between datatypes and common property objects in advance. This preliminary configuration allows the system to automatically handle conversions during runtime without requiring explicit handling code, thereby maintaining accuracy while enhancing productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If datatype-specific native values are used, then operational precision is maintained, but extensibility to new datatypes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handling of common properties from specific datatype implementations. By separating the conceptual representation (common property objects) from the datatype-specific native values, the system allows new datatypes to be added by simply defining their conversion rules without modifying the core common property infrastructure. This segmentation maintains operational precision while enhancing extensibility.
4Reliability
If flow control statements are used to address different datatypes, then compatibility is ensured, but program complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the handling of different datatypes into a unified common property object system. Instead of using separate flow control statements to address each datatype individually, the system combines them under a single common property interface with implicit conversion. This merging ensures compatibility across datatypes while significantly reducing program complexity by eliminating conditional logic.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for using common property datatypes are described. In some embodiments, a system may receive an assignment statement a data structure comprising a first object of a first datatype, the first datatype one of multiple datatypes supporting a common property, the multiple datatypes representing the common property using differing native values, and a common property object of a common property datatype, the common property object representing the common property supported by the multiple datatype. The system can execute or interpret the subscripted assignment statement, converting the common property object into a second object of the first datatype, the second object having a first native value representing the common property for the first datatype. The system can assign the second object to a location of the first object in the data structure. The common property can be at least one of a maximum, minimum, missing, and default.