Patent ID: 6697877
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a distributed object system including a plurality of computers interconnected on a computer network in which a first object reference is stored in a memory of a computer, which first object reference refers to a first object residing in a computer controlled process running in a computer memory, and a second object reference is stored in a computer memory, which second object reference refers to a second object residing in a computer controlled process running in a computer memory, a computer implemented method for determining whether said first object is identical to said second object, the method comprising the steps of:a) providing under computer control an identifier for each of said first and said second objects, said identifier being effective to identify uniquely said first object and said second object in said distributed object system; b) storing said first object's unique identifier such that said first object's unique identifier is accessible to said first object; c) storing said second object's unique identifier such that said second object's unique identifier is accessible to said second object; d) passing under computer control said second object reference to said first object; e) initiating under computer control a request from said first object to said second object for said second object's unique identifier using said second object reference; and f) determining by said first object and under computer control whether said first object's unique identifier is identical to said second object's unique identifier, said determination step being implemented by and performed within said first object.