Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-28
2002-10-15
Metjahic, Safet (Department: 2171)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06466948
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATIONS
Reference is made to Application Ser. No. 09473542 entitled A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RETURNING A NON-SCALE BASED WEIGHT, assigned to the assignee of this application and filed on even date herewith.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of mail piece and/or parcel weighing and processing in a network; and, more specifically, to the field of determining the weight of an item for mailing or shipping through the use of an applied database in an internet or intranet data processing environment. The utilization of a trainable database to determine weight is further coupled with the ability of the system to access carrier rating and related functionality so as to provide convenient desktop shipping capability.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As the capabilities of data processing systems has grown, so too have the requirements that are tasked to these systems. Greater speed in these systems has given rise to more detail-oriented applications. Greater memory capability has made memory intensive applications more attractive, and detailed applications have lead to more wide-spread use of previously inaccessible data processing abilities. With the spiraling growth in data processing ability, there has grown a need for more efficient ways of programming that promote speed as well as flexibility. Flexibility, in particular, allows applications that have been designed in varied programming languages, or operating on different platforms to be able to communicate without extensive system or file modification.
One such means of promoting flexibility within a data processing system is the use of “object-oriented” design (OOD). Object oriented programming languages are useful in removing some of the restrictions that have hampered application design due to the inflexibility of traditional programming languages.
OOD utilizes a basic element or construct known as the “object,” which combines both a data structure and an intended behavior characteristic within the single element. Objects are bundles of data and the procedures which best identify the use of that data. Objects can be specific or conceptual and are often used to represent models of real-world object groupings; this has the effect of helping software applications become an organized collection of discrete objects in which data is held or moved based on the intended behavior of an object which is inherently unique. Each object knows how to perform some activity.
The objects interact and communicate with each other via messages. A message is initiated by one object for the purpose of getting a second message to perform an act such as performing the steps of a method. Information parameters may be passed along with the message so that the receiving object will have guidelines for performing its action.
Software objects share two characteristics; they all have “state” and “behavior.” State is the condition of the object expressed in variables (what it knows), while behavior is implemented by performance of a method (what it can do). Packaging the object's variables, together with its methods, is referred to as “encapsulation.” Encapsulation is used to hide unimportant implementation details from other objects; and, this in turn provides two primary benefits to software developers. These benefits are: (1) modularity and (2) information hiding.
Modularity of objects means that the source code for an object can be written and maintained independently of the source code for other objects, thus allowing a certain autonomy of purpose for each individual object. Information hiding, on the other hand, is the ability to keep private certain of its data and methods without effecting the other objects which may depend upon it. Common dependencies among objects can maintain communication by utilizing a public interface for information sharing.
Objects interact and communicate with each other though the use of messages. Each message has three components that are necessary for a receiving object to be able to perform a desired method; these are: (1) the object to whom the message is addressed; (2) the name of the method that is to be performed; and (3) the method required parameters. Because these three components alone represent what is required for methods to be activated, it is not required that objects be located within the same process in order for communication to take place. Message use, therefore, is the supporting means for object interaction. But to be of value to a particular application, objects must be able to be referenced.
Referencing is accomplished through indexing, addressing, or through value assignment which can be placed in a table for use as required. Objects can also be arranged by classification. Classification is based on groupings of objects based upon properties or characteristics important to an application or requirement. Each class describes a potentially infinite set of objects that comprise that class. Object interaction can be further optimized by the use of class distinction. Classes are organizational blueprints that define the variables and methods which are common to all objects of a particular group. Values for each of the variables are assigned and allocated to memory when an instance from a class is created. Additionally, methods can only be performed when a class instance has been allocated to memory. Thus, the most distinct advantage of class use is the ability to reuse the classes and thus further create more objects. Classes, in turn, can be subdivided into subclasses which inherit the state of the underlying class. The further advantage being the ability to create specialized implementations of methods.
The constant growth and expansion of software systems and the hardware platforms that support them has led to the emergence of object oriented programming which reduces time and memory capacity requirements by taking advantage of certain redundancies by treating them as unique software objects.
The advantages of objects lie in the ability of objects to link performance characteristics. This greatly optimizes the using system's ability to find data and use it effectively. Systems that utilize formats whose structure and requirements repeat, would benefit greatly from object oriented techniques. And, if the system were to be able to define its principle data requirements in the form of objects, it would inherit the advantages of the object oriented environment while maintaining the inherent system advantages.
OOD is known in the software arts and specific discussion of application design based upon OOD is not required for a thorough understanding of the applicant's claimed invention. It is, however, one object of the present claimed invention to disclose a method and system for utilizing object oriented design to effectively and efficiently link shipping, rating, and database search applications within a data processing system.
The technology afforded by faster and more memory-laden personal computer (PC) based data processing systems has allowed more and more functionality to get to the desktop. Desktop computing, followed by desktop publishing were among the first applications to reap the benefits of increased desktop capabilities. At present, the advances in the development of memory devices, such as hard disk drives, have allowed greater access to routine-intensive software that allows desktop users to produce work product that was being handled by mid-frame computers in the recent past.
The extensive development and advances that have guided the growth of the personal computer and its related systems has run a parallel course over the past decade with the explosive growth of the internet. Systems that can utilize the internet effectively provide their users with greater desktop power by accessing data that was previously unavailable or available only through traditional research vehicles. Thus, personal computing power has grown explosively.
As personal computing power has grown, so to has the variety of business related applications tha
Levitsky Paul A.
Sansone Ronald P.
Camlinh Nguyen
Chaclas Angelo
Levitsky Paul A.
Metjahic Safet
Pitney Bowes Inc.
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