Runtime Environment for Seamless Interoperability Between Disjoint Type Graphs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to enable seamless high-performance interoperability between independent type graphs sharing a garbage collector, leading to performance issues and limitations in object-oriented communication and resource management.

Innovation Solution

A runtime environment that supports multiple independent type hierarchies by using a shared garbage collector, allowing for cross-type graph communication through a common interface dispatch logic and API surface, enabling type-safe passage of objects between disjoint type graphs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple independent type hierarchies share a common garbage collector, then memory management efficiency is improved, but type safety and interoperability complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory management efficiencyVSAvoidtype safety and interoperability complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the type hierarchy into multiple independent type graphs, each with its own root type and namespace. The garbage collector is also segmented to work independently with each type graph while sharing the underlying heap. This segmentation allows type safety to be maintained within each graph while enabling efficient shared memory management across all graphs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer consisting of interface types and type graph metadata that mediates between different type graphs. This intermediary enables safe cross-graph interoperability by providing standardized interfaces and type information without requiring direct coupling between type graphs, thus maintaining type safety while enabling communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If type-safe passage of objects between disjoint type graphs is enabled, then interoperability is improved, but performance overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinteroperabilityVSAvoidperformance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing interface contracts and type metadata between type graphs at compile time or during runtime initialization. This allows the runtime system to make direct type checks and interface validations without complex runtime resolution, significantly reducing the performance overhead of cross-graph object passage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of type identity from being graph-specific to being interface-based. By using interface types as the common denominator for cross-graph communication, the system transforms the type checking process into a simpler interface validation process, reducing performance overhead while maintaining type safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a single type hierarchy is used across all code, then type compatibility is simplified, but adaptability to different programming models is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetype compatibilityVSAvoidadaptability to different programming models

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal type graph framework that can accommodate multiple independent type hierarchies and programming models. Each type graph can be designed for specific programming paradigms or purposes while sharing common infrastructure for memory management, type checking, and interoperability. This multi-functionality allows the system to support both simple single-hierarchy scenarios and complex multi-hierarchy scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a new dimension to type hierarchy organization by introducing the concept of multiple independent type graphs instead of a single flat hierarchy. This dimensional change allows type compatibility to be maintained within each graph while enabling adaptability across graphs through interface-based communication, effectively solving the contradiction between simplicity and versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10120655B2Seamless high performance interoperability between different type graphs that share a garbage collector

Publication Date: 2018.11.06 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Multiple different type hierarchies can communicate in a high performance and seamless manner by sharing a GC and interface dispatch logic. A runtime environment can support multiple independent type hierarchies, each type hierarchy defined by the module which defines the root of a type graph and some other helper functionality. Code that uses the dispatch logic has to follow certain rules in order to maintain GC and type safety. Different types in disjoint type graphs can behave as if they were one type for cross type graph communication purposes.