Patent ID: RE40189

Claim:
An object-oriented programming apparatus for inter-connecting a plurality of objects each having data and operations, said object-oriented programming apparatus comprising: instruction coupling means for permitting a transfer of messages between a first object, having an output instruction bus portion for performing processing for issue of outgoing messages directed to at least one other object, and a second object having an input instruction bus portion responsive to incoming messages issued by another object and directed to the second object for activating at least one method of the second object associated with the incoming messages, by associating a message of the first object with a method of the second object; data element list generating means for generating a data element list on the first object, the data element list containing pointers to data storage areas for storing data; pointer element list generating means for generating a pointer element list of the second object, the pointer element list consisting pointers to pointer storage areas for storing pointers to data; and data coupling means for permitting transfer of data between the first object and the second object by writing the pointers arranged in the data element list of the first object into the pointer storage areas indicated by the pointers arranged in the pointer element list of the second object.