Parameterized Interface Identifier Generation for COM Interoperability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional techniques for generating interface identifiers in computing languages, such as COM, rely on manual programmer intervention, leading to inconsistencies when multiple programmers attempt to create identifiers for the same interface, hindering interoperability between components.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of parameterized interface identifier techniques, where a textual description of a parametric type is used to automatically generate a globally unique identifier (GUID) based on the interface's parameters, ensuring unique identification and interoperability across different programming models.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual programmer creation of interface identifiers is used, then flexibility in creation is maintained, but consistency and interoperability between components are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteroperability consistencyVSAvoidautomatic identifier generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically generating interface identifiers through deterministic computation based on interface definitions. The identifier generation process is self-contained, using the interface name and parameter types to compute a unique identifier without requiring external manual intervention, thus ensuring consistency while maintaining automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of programmer-created identifier assignment is replaced with an automated computational system. The system uses deterministic algorithms that compute identifiers based on interface definitions, substituting human manual work with automated mechanical computation to ensure consistency and interoperability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If automatic GUID generation based on textual description is implemented, then interoperability is improved, but complexity of the generation system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent interoperabilityVSAvoididentifier generation system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves universality by creating a general-purpose identifier generation mechanism that works across different interface definitions and programming contexts. The same deterministic computation process can generate identifiers for any interface with a textual description, making the system broadly applicable without requiring context-specific customization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system manages complexity by focusing on parameter changes in the interface definition (name, parameter types) to drive identifier generation. By making the identifier a deterministic function of these parameters, the system ensures that any change in interface parameters automatically produces a corresponding change in the identifier, maintaining interoperability without complex manual management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8667466B2Parameterized interface identifier techniques

Publication Date: 2014.03.04 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Interface identifier parameterization techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a textual description is obtained of a parametric type represented in a binary standard of a programming model and an interface identifier is generated based at least in part on the obtained textual description of the parametric type.