US5740444A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Symbol browsing in an object-oriented development system
Assignee: CODEGEAR LLC
•
Filing: 1996-09-16
•
Granted: 1998-04-14
•
Expires: 2016-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A system of the present invention includes a development system having a language compiler for generating application and system software from source listings. The system includes an Integrated Development Environment having a browser. Methods of the present invention include inspecting symbols (e.g., classes, objects, methods, variables, and the like) dynamically, i.e., while retaining active scope of the symbol. More particularly, the browser of the present invention directly references symbol information stored in object code or executable modules, which are generated during compilation of the source listings. In this manner, the system provides symbol information directly relevant to the context (location in source listing) the user/programmer is currently working.
Inventors
- 👤 Lars Kristian Frid-Nielsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/30; G06F8/33; G06F8/20; G06F8/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
In a development system for compiling source listings into application and system programs, each of the source listings comprising a plurality of symbols for instructing operation of a program, a method for browsing symbols comprising: (a) compiling a source listing containing the symbols into a compiled program, said compiled program selectively storing symbol browsing information when browsing is desired by a user; (b) selecting a symbol of interest from a device displaying the source listing, said symbol being located at a particular location in the source listing and having a particular scope at that location; (c) receiving a request from the user for browsing the selected symbol of interest; (d) determining from the stored symbol browsing information, browsing information specific for the symbol of interest; and (e) displaying said browsing information to the user, so that browsing information with a scope appropriate for the selected symbol at the particular location is displayed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a development system for compiling source listings into application and system programs, each of the source listings comprising a plurality of symbols for instructing operation of a program, a method for browsing symbols comprising: (a) compiling a source listing containing the symbols into a compiled program, said compiled program selectively storing symbol browsing information when browsing is desired by a user; (b) selecting a symbol of interest from a device displaying the source listing, said symbol being located at a particular location in the source listing and having a particular scope at that location; (c) receiving a request from the user for browsing the selected symbol of interest; (d) determining from the stored symbol browsing information, browsing information specific for the symbol of interest; and (e) displaying said browsing information to the user, so that browsing information with a scope appropriate for the selected symbol at the particular location is displayed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said source listings are selected ones of Pascal, C, C++, and assembler listings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said compiled program comprises an object file linked with other object and library files for creating an executable program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the symbol browsing information is stored in a browsing table in the compiled program.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the symbol browsing information includes line number information specifying a position of the symbol in the source listing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said compiling step includes translating said symbols into machine instructions executable by a processor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said symbols are selected ones of program variables and functions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said symbols are selected ones of program classes, objects, and class methods.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said information displayed to the user includes relationships between said classes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) includes: selecting a symbol of interest from the display device with a pointing device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the request from the user is generated by the pointing device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said request includes a right button signal generated by the pointing device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said information displayed to the user includes a name, at least one type, and related members of the symbol.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one type is a selected one of a variable and a function.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one type includes a class, and wherein said related members include superclasses and subclasses of the class.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5095423A
Cited
US5117349A
Cited
US5129082A
Cited
US5339433A
Cited
US5432903A
Cited
US5557730A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-13 | 2001-10-13 | 2002-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-13 | 2005-10-13 | 2006-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-13 | 2009-10-13 | 2010-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |