Abstract: A framework for use with object-oriented programming systems provides a software build system that detects modules that make up a software product, examines each module to determine if it is up-to-date, and automatically updates any modules that require processing. The framework includes a software object of a class called “Product” that comprises a software product to be processed and built. An instance of the Product is comprised of multiple software build objects, each of which is called “Object”. Each Object in turn contains four objects that are a kind of object class called BldSrc (Build Source). The BldSrc objects specify a different aspect of the software product and desired processing. Each of the software build objects in a Product's Object list is examined to determine if all four of the BldSrc objects is current. If any one of the software build objects is not current, the Object is re-built. If all four objects are current, the re-building step is skipped.

Abstract: In an object oriented computer system, a domain-neutral object is modified with domain-specific run-time extensions to customize the object to a particular domain. A special factory uses the extension identifier to create the domain-neutral object with appropriate extensions in a collection that corresponds to the domain extension. If the special factory is not available, or if a specialized collection associated with the particular extension type has not been previously created, the domain-neutral object with appropriate extensions is created in a default collection. In this manner, an object that is domain-neutral can be customized to a particular domain and created in an appropriate collection for objects of that type.

Abstract: A framework for use with object-oriented programming systems includes one or more objects of a class called “Socket” that receive and process packets of work. As various applications execute, they require servicing of tasks, which correspond to the packets of work mentioned above. The packets of work are represented in the framework by objects of a class called “WorkUnit”. When a WorkUnit object is generated by an application, it in turn generates an object of a class called “Retriever” which is associated with the appropriate Socket object needed for servicing the WorkUnit. The Retriever object retrieves the Socket object to service the WorkUnit from an object of a class called “SessionInfo”. The SessionInfo object is a single object for maintaining registries of Socket objects and objects of a class called “ApplicationInfo”.

Abstract: A fixture, process and kit allow a user to construct game calls at home with little effort and at low cost. A kit that includes the fixture, call frames, and reeds provides the materials a person needs to construct game calls to custom specifications. The fixture includes a base block that is placed on a flat surface, such as a table. The base block includes a reed recess where one or more reeds are placed flat, one atop the other. Once the reed or reeds are in place, clamps are used to secure each end of the reed or reeds to the base block. Once the ends are secure, a tensioning rod is used to stretch the reed or reeds to the desired tension. Once the reed or reeds are to the desired tension, the bottom portion of a call frame is inserted into a frame recess in the base block by sliding the call frame under the reed or reeds.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for printing related web pages allows a web user to select a web page, then print all of the related web pages based on a predetermined criteria. In a first embodiment, each web page includes an applet that is run on the web client system when a print button on the page is pressed. The client applet communicates with a print tool running on the server that parses the selected page and builds a list of related pages and allows the user to select which of the related pages will be printed. Once the user selects the pages to be printed, the print tool constructs a temporary web page that contains all the web pages the user selected. This temporary web page may then be printed using the standard print function supplied with the browser. In a second embodiment, a print utility in the web client allows a user to print related web pages by parsing a selected web page and building a list of related pages. The user may then select from a the list of related pages which pages to print.

Abstract: Testcases are run to test the design of an integrated circuit. The coverage of the testcases is evaluated and compared against one or more microarchitecture models that define the behavior of a portion of the integrated circuit. If the coverage of the testcases is not adequate, new testcases are generated to test the previously untested behavior specified in the microarchitecture models.

Abstract: A framework for use with object-oriented programming systems provides a common message processing system structure that can be placed on any OOP platform and be configured to support any e-mail message protocol standard or specific mail server function. The framework defines an e-mail message as a number of distinct objects, each of which contains information that describes some portion of the message. All messages received by a system in which the framework is implemented are defined on this core object structure. Another set of objects and methods define the processing steps required for a mail server to process a message. A message is received as a class of message objects, which are assigned a message type that determines the subsequent processing steps to which the message object is subjected. As a message is processed, the objects of which it is comprised are changed, so that the message processing can be interrupted and then resumed without loss or duplication of processing steps.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an object change manager includes methods afterCreation( ), beforeDeletion( ), beforeChange( ) and afterChange( ) that may be invoked when an object is changed. The object change manager automatically updates all data structures, such as indexes and has tables, that correspond to the object being changed when one of these methods is called. The object change manager is an extensible framework that allows a programmer to define custom change management environments. The object change manager of the preferred embodiments is a portion of code that automatically propagates changes to objects to their corresponding data structures in a way that is transparent to the programmer, without requiring excessive overhead in the object infrastructure code.

Abstract: A transaction time measurement mechanism has a transaction time manager running on a server computer system, a transaction time agent running on a client computer system that is coupled to the server computer system via a network, and a simple protocol for allowing them to directly and efficiently communicate. The transaction time agent is configured according to configuration data stored in a configuration table in a transaction time database, and stores transaction time data in a statistics table according to this configuration. The data in the statistics table is indexed to allow retrieving only the transaction time data of interest. The simple communication protocol supports multiple transaction time managers in a network computing environment that may all communicate with a single client.

Abstract: A weather warning apparatus and associated method notifies a user when weather alerts are issued according to geographical areas of interest and weather notification parameters that are set by the user. The weather warning apparatus includes a communication link for receiving transmitted alerts, such as weather warnings, watches and statements, civil emergencies, and the like. The weather warning apparatus also includes a user interface for selecting geographic areas of interest and weather notification parameters, such as weather events that may be of interest to a user at a desired time of day or time interval. The user's selection of geographic area and weather notification parameters allows the weather warning apparatus to filter out unwanted weather alerts that are outside of the desired geographic area, type of weather event notification, time or time interval.

Abstract: In an object oriented computer system, an object oriented framework defines an interface mechanism that provides a common interface to a non-object oriented persistent datastore. This common interface can be customized by various types within the framework by effectively hiding attributes on the common interface that are not needed by a particular type. Attributes defined on the common interface may be accessed at any level in the framework through a process of delegation from one level to the next. In addition, one or more of these attributes on the common interface may be defined at various levels, which causes those attributes to be accessed at their respective levels instead of delegating to different levels.

Abstract: An intelligent creator design pattern for instantiating a new application subclass of an application base class without revising existing application code in an object-oriented programming system. The intelligent creator design pattern of this invention specifies a base class to be inherited by an intelligent creator subclass added to an existing application to instantiate a new application subclass responsive to recognition of predetermined application input data without modification to the remainder of the application code. A dynamic list object that includes methods for autonomously updating a list of references to all intelligent creator subclasses eliminates knowledge of specific creator subclasses from the application. The dynamic list object code need not be updated when adding creator subclasses because the list object is self-updating responsive to the recognition methods of each new creator subclass added to the application.

Abstract: A presentation control mechanism allows a user to set presentation attributes for one or more presentation items on a web page. These presentation attributes determine how a presentation item is presented to the user. A user may set global presentation attributes that may serve as the default presentation attributes for each individual presentation item. A user can also setup or change the individual presentation attributes for each presentation item on the web page. In this manner, a user can alter the presentation of items on a web page to suit the user's individual taste.

Abstract: A graphical selection marker provides a visual indication of selected items in a list and their relative position in the display window. The graphical selection marker is suitably provided on a scroll bar in each location on the scroll bar that represents a selected item in the list. In this manner, the graphical selection marker indicates a selected item in the list, even if the selected item is not currently visible in the display window.

Abstract: A framework for use with object oriented programming systems encapsulates the common attributes of log analysis tools and permits framework implementers to generate customized log analysis tools that share a common structure and organization but are extended only in attributes that are specific to a particular tool. The framework defines a Log object that represents the activity log that is to be analyzed and is responsible for dividing itself into multiple, smaller LogSection objects. Each of the LogSection objects represents a portion of the activity log from which some information can be gathered. The information in a LogSection object is further mapped onto LogEvent objects. Each LogSection object can be referenced by an Analyzer object that controls the analysis.

Abstract: A class in an object oriented system may be made recyclable by inheriting a recycle.oval-hollow. method from a recyclable class. When automatic garbage collection is attempted on an instance of a class that is recyclable, the garbage collector invokes the recycle.oval-hollow. method on the instance to determine whether or not the instance should be disposed of by the garbage collector. One or more predetermined recycle criteria are used to determine whether a recyclable instance should, in fact, be recycled. If the instance satisfies the recycle criteria, appropriate recycling logic is executed to cause the instance to be recycled, and the garbage collection of the instance is not performed. If, however, the instance is not recyclable, or if it does not satisfy the recycling criteria, it is disposed of by the garbage collector.

Abstract: A graphical undo/redo manager provides a graphical indication of multiple tasks that were recently performed. A user may undo multiple tasks in one step by selecting a task the user wishes to revert to, and the graphical undo/redo manager then undoes all the commands that were done subsequent to the selected task, taking the computer program to a desired state in only one user operation. In similar fashion, a user may redo multiple tasks in one step by clicking on a selected subsequent task (that was previously undone) that the user wishes to go forward to, and the graphical undo/redo manager then redoes all the commands between the last undo and the selected task, including the selected task. In addition, the graphical undo/redo manager provides for collapsing multiple tasks into a marker, either automatically when certain commands are executed in the computer program or upon command by a user for future reference.

Abstract: An object oriented framework mechanism provides a straightforward and convenient way to implement an order processing system for a manufacturing environment. The order processing framework includes an order class and an order item class that are core classes, and several classes that are extensible according to the needs of the user. The core classes and class relationships define the core function of the framework mechanism. Extensible classes include a configuration process class, an order input class, an order output class, an exploder class, a validator class, a link generator class, and a test data class. These extensible classes are extended by a programmer to implement a desired order processing environment. The framework provides consistent programmer interfaces over a wide variety of different production environments, which greatly enhances programmer efficiency and which makes the resultant code much easier to maintain.