Method of and system for sharing components between programming languages

Abstract

A method and system for representing and implementing a concept between two functional domains (e.g., programming languages) by using a proxy component in a first domain to wrap a component of a second domain, where the proxy component has a semantic usability in the first domain closely corresponding to the semantic usability of the underlying component from the second domain. Further, provided is a method and system for automatically generating such a proxy component. Such proxy components may be used to gradually transform a digital entity (e.g., a software application) from a first digital domain to a second digital domain. Further, such proxy components may be generated using models that transform a component of a first domain to a component (e.g., a proxy component) of a second domain.

1 - 48 . (canceled)  
   
   
       49 . A method of porting a digital entity from a first functional domain to a second functional domain, the digital entity including a first component that defines at least a first concept, the method comprising acts of: 
 (a) creating a second component in the second functional domain, the second component defining at least the first concept;    (b) transforming the second component into a first proxy component of the first functional domain; and    (c) replacing the first component in the digital representation with the first proxy component.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the digital entity includes a plurality of components, the method further comprising the act of: 
 (d) for at least a third component of the digital entity, performing acts (a)-(c).    
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the first and third components are related to a fourth component of the digital entity, the method further comprising an act of: 
 (e) after performing steps (a)-(c) on the first and third components, performing steps (a)-(c) on the fourth component to produce a proxy component of the fourth component.    
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising acts of: 
 (e) executing the first proxy component of the digital entity in the first functional domain at runtime; and    (f) as a result of interpreting the first proxy component, executing the second component in the second functional domain.    
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein act (b) includes: 
 (i) generating a robust model from the second component; and    (ii) generating the first proxy component from the robust model.    
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the first proxy component has a semantic usability in the first domain closely corresponding to the semantic usability of the second component in the second domain.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the first proxy component includes one or more of proxy support elements.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein one or more of the proxy support elements allow an instance of the first proxy class to be context-aware.  
   
   
       57 . A method of modeling a first component of a first functional domain, wherein the first component defines a first concept and includes one or more subcomponents, the method comprising acts of: 
 (a) receiving the first component; and    (b) generating a first model of the first component, including: 
 (i) for each subcomponent of the first component, generating a discrete element of the first model to represent the subcomponent; and  
 (ii) providing the first model with a property of relationship awareness such that, if a first discrete element or attribute of the first model is changed, the first model is operative to: 
 determine if the first discrete element or attribute has one or more elements and attributes related to the first discrete element or attribute,  
 if the first discrete element or attribute has one or more related elements and attributes, determine whether to change the one or more related elements, and  
 if it is determined to change one or more related elements and attributes, change such one or more elements and attributes in accordance with the changed first discrete element or attribute.  
 
   
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the first model is operative to be transformed into a second component of a second domain that defines at least the concept defined by the first component.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the first model is operative to be transformed into a proxy component of a second domain that wraps the first component.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the first component is a source component operative to be reproduced from the first model.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the first component is received in parsed form.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein each discrete element is queryable as to its attributes.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein each discrete element is modifiable.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein act (b)(ii) includes: 
 maintaining relationship information regarding a relationship between the first model and the first component.    
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein act (b)(ii) includes: 
 for one or more of the discrete elements, maintaining relationship information regarding a relationship between the discrete element and a subcomponent that it represents.    
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the concept is a dynamic concept.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising an act of: 
 (c) adding additional information to the first model.    
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising an act of: 
 (c) editing the first model.    
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising an act of: 
 (c) transforming the first model into a second model of a second component of a second domain that defines at least the concept defined by the first component.    
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the second model is operative to be transformed into the second component of the second domain.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the second model is operative to be transformed into a proxy component of a second domain that wraps the first component.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the second component includes one or more subcomponents, and act (c) includes: 
 (i) for each subcomponent of the second component, generating a discrete element of the second model to represent the subcomponent; and    (ii) providing the second model with a property of relationship awareness such that, if a second discrete element or attribute of the second model is changed, the second model is operative to: 
 determine if the second discrete element or attribute has one or more elements and attributes related to the second discrete element or attribute, if the second discrete element or attribute has one or more related elements and attributes, determine whether to change the one or more related elements, and  
 if it is determined to change one or more related elements and attributes, change such one or more elements and attributes in accordance with the changed second discrete element or attribute.  
   
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein act (c)(ii) includes: 
 maintaining relationship information regarding a relationship between the second model and the second component.    
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein act (c) (ii) includes: 
 for one or more of the discrete elements of the second model, maintaining relationship information regarding a relationship between the discrete element and a subcomponent of the second component that it represents.    
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the second domain is a functional domain.  
   
   
       76 - 104 . (canceled)