Method for indirect representation and access in an object-oriented programming language

摘要

A method is provided for indirect representation and access (RA) in an object-oriented programming language. The method is based on using a new programming construct, called concept, which is a pair consisting of one object class and one reference class. A concept-oriented program is described as a hierarchy of concepts where each concept has one parent concept. Concepts in such a program are used instead of conventional classes. An object is represented by means of its complex reference which is a sequence of reference segments. Both object class and reference class of a concept provide special methods of continuation which are called one after another and follow a sequence of reference segments in the object complex reference. The programmer uses these objects as usual and all the intermediate functions needed for indirect representation and access are inserted automatically behind the scenes.