Interface infrastructure for a continuation based runtime

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9916136-B2
Application number	US-201615167623-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2016
Priority date	Dec 29, 2008
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

Interfaces for a continuation-based runtime. Some embodiments described herein are directed to a framework using continuation based runtime interface that pertain to an infrastructure for enabling the creation of a wide variety of continuation-based programs that perform a wide-array of tasks. The infrastructure provides a foundation for building continuation-based, declarative applications of various scale and complexity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of executing continuation-based declarative applications, the method comprising:
calling a first interface that represents continuation-based functional behavior, wherein instances of the first interface include imperative code in their bodies that is executed by a processor to perform functions, and wherein the first interface is polymorphic;
calling a second interface used to store data in the continuation-based runtime, the interface including a type and a name;
calling a plurality of argument interfaces, wherein each of the argument interfaces is a binding terminal that represents the flow of data for instances of the first interface, the plurality of argument interfaces comprising:
an inargument interface that has a direction of In;
an outargument interface that has a direction of Out; and
an inoutargument interface that has a direction of InOut; and

calling a second plurality of interfaces, wherein the second plurality of interfaces are used to host instances of continuation-based, declarative programs.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, calling a plurality of the interfaces including:
an interface used for declaratively composing behavior dynamically using an Activity document object model;
an interface used for writing imperative behavior through an Execute method that has access to data resolution and extensions;
an interface used for writing imperative behavior through an Execute method that has unfettered access to the full breath of the runtime;
an interface used for implementing a continuation-based functional behavior that has a well-known, elevated return value;
an interface used for allowing for environment access;
an interface that adds async operation support to the interface used for allowing environment access;
an interface that adds support for child management, setting up no-persist zones, isolation blocks, and bookmarks;
an interface used for the storage of data in a continuation-based program;
an interface used for implementing a binding terminal that represents the flow of data for an activity; and
an interface used for implementing a snippet of workflow with a specific signature.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of interfaces comprises:
an interface used to create a new workflow instance or to load an existing instance;
an interface used to provide the interface used to create a new workflow instance or to load an existing instance to host functionality including synchronization, persistence, tracking, and extensions;
an interface used for implementing a locus of control for workflow instance management;
an interface used for directly running an activity as if it were a method call; and
an interface used for implementing a primary entry point for accessing a plurality of hosting services.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising calling a third plurality of interfaces, wherein the third plurality of interfaces are used to implement a base layer of activities that add functionality to the continuation-based runtime and that are used to add concrete behaviors that build on top of a core activity model.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Wolf Kenneth D
• Pinto Edmund Samuel Victor
• Schmidt Robert Brian
• Box Donald F
• Kizer Geoffrey M
• Talbert Nathan C
• Kamani Kavita
• Maestro Alberto Arias
• Cliffe David Robert
• Vishwanath Tirunelveli R
• Ge Hongmei
• Maine Stephen Jared
• Dejarnatt Alexander Martin

Classifications

• G06F8/313 Primary

  Logic programming, e.g. PROLOG programming language · CPC title

• G06F8/30 Primary

  Creation or generation of source code · CPC title