Status Schema Model with State Guards for Object Node Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
As software systems become larger and more complex, managing the state of objects in a coherent and less burdensome manner is challenging, as programmers face difficulties in understanding and accounting for all constraints based on object states, leading to inefficiencies in controlling actions within these systems.
Innovation Solution
A status schema model is defined at design-time and stored on a computer-readable medium, which identifies status values for data object nodes and allows for programmatic updates, enabling runtime determinations of whether actions are permitted based on object states, thereby simplifying the management of object node states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If programmers directly code state-based requirements into objects themselves, then actions are properly controlled based on object state, but the burden on programmers increases significantly as software projects become larger and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts state management logic from individual objects and places it in a separate status schema model. The status schema model defines all possible states and transitions centrally, while objects simply reference their current state without embedding complex state logic, thereby reducing programming burden while maintaining reliable state-based control
Solution Approach 2:
The status schema model acts as an intermediary between objects and state-based constraints. Instead of objects directly implementing complex state logic or external objects enforcing constraints, the status schema model serves as a mediator that defines valid states and transitions, simplifying the programming task while ensuring proper state control
2Ease of operation
If programmers rely on other unrelated objects to enforce state requirements, then the original object remains simple, but the determination of permitted actions becomes independent of the actual object state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the object instance with its status instance, creating a unified state representation. The status schema model links status variables to the object node, ensuring that state determinations are always based on the actual object state rather than independent external determinations, while keeping the object itself simple
3Stability of the object's composition
If all status transitions are strictly controlled through actions, then state consistency is maintained, but the system cannot accommodate programmatic updates that should be permitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic state guards into the status schema model that can be configured to allow or restrict programmatic status updates. Status guards evaluate conditions at runtime to determine whether programmatic updates are permitted, enabling the system to maintain state consistency for critical transitions while allowing flexibility for permitted programmatic changes
Data Source
AI summary
A design-time status schema model describes the progress of a data object through a computing process. The status schema model includes status variables, processing actions and constraints for performing actions. The status schema model also may describe permitted changes to a status variable in response to performing an action. At runtime, the status schema model is used to control processing performed by, or on, an instance of a data object corresponding to the status schema model.