Object Model Replication Using GUID-Based Portable References
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Replicating an object-oriented data model across multiple computing platforms is complicated by pointer inconsistencies and the need to copy entire models for integrity, especially when changes involve adding or removing components or altering connections, which can be inefficient and require special methods for saving and loading.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that uses globally unique identifiers (GUIDs) as attributes for objects and their associations, allowing updates to propagate without transmitting unchanged objects, and maintaining pointers to memory locations within each instance, enabling efficient replication and updating of the object model across multiple systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pointer values are used to represent object associations in the object model, then memory location references are efficient, but pointer values vary between instances requiring copying of entire models to maintain integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the object model for each workstation instance, but instead of copying pointer values, it copies the structure and replaces pointers with GUIDs. This allows each instance to have its own memory layout while maintaining consistent object associations through portable identifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for object association from memory pointers (instance-specific) to GUIDs (instance-independent). This parameter change enables pointers to be replaced with portable identifiers that maintain their meaning across different instances without requiring model copying.
2Reliability
If entire object models are copied to maintain pointer integrity, then consistency between instances is maintained, but data transmission volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential identifying information (GUIDs) from the object model, separating it from the instance-specific memory layout information (pointers). This extraction allows transmission of only the necessary identification data rather than entire model copies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the object model into two parts: GUID-based object identities and associations (portable across instances) and memory location information (instance-specific). This segmentation allows efficient replication by transmitting only the GUID-based portion while maintaining association integrity.
3Reliability
If special methods are used for saving and loading object models, then object type integrity is preserved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal saving and loading mechanism that works for all object types through the common GUID interface. Instead of type-specific save/load methods, the system uses a single generic approach that relies on GUIDs to identify and reconstruct objects, reducing complexity while maintaining integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
Various approaches for managing a plurality of instances of an object model are disclosed. At least a first and a second instance of the object model are established in first and second data processing systems. Each instance includes a plurality of objects, and each object includes a first attribute that is a globally unique identifier (GUID). Objects are associated other objects of the plurality of objects, and for each association between a first and a second one of the plurality of objects, the first object includes a second attribute that is the GUID of the second object. Established in each system are first and second versions of a data set that includes the GUIDs of the plurality of objects and associated pointers to memory locations of the objects in the first and second memory arrangements.