Patent ID: 6539390
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
In a computer system having a processor, a display, and memory, the memory including an operating system, an aspect-oriented programming (AOP) integrated development environment (IDE) for creating a software program, wherein AOP supports defining a software entity, the software entity comprising either a program body or one or more object classes, the software entity defining an overall functionality of the software program, the AOP further supporting defining an aspect which embodies functionality which cross-cuts the overall functionality of the software entities, wherein the aspect transparently forces its behavior on the software entity, the IDE comprising:a) a user interface for interacting with a user to: i) create a software entity for defining the overall functionality of a software program, the software entity comprising computer executable code which performs one or more functions; and ii) create an aspect comprising computer executable code which defines cross-cutting functionality to transparently force a modification of the overall functionality of the software entity; and b) a data structure for maintaining information regarding relationships between the aspect and the software entity, wherein information relating the aspect and the software entity resides only in one or more of the aspect and the data structure, wherein the data structure is independent of the software entity, and wherein the data structure can be utilized by the user interface.