Object graph traversal and processing

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to traversing and processing objects in an object graph. The method and system evaluate an object in the graph to identify one or more objects referenced by the first object. The second object is evaluated to determine whether it is present in a list or previously visited objects, and when it is not, the second object is added to a container of objects and the second object is added to the list of previously visited objects. The first object is processed and then the next object in the container is evaluated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for processing objects while traversing a graph of objects comprising:
 evaluating a first object of an object graph to identify a second object of the object graph referenced by the first object, wherein the object graph is maintained in memory of a computing system;   determining if the second object is present in an object registry;   adding the second object to an object container and adding the second object to the object registry when the second object is not present in the object registry; and   performing a processing action using a data element of the first object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 removing the second object from the object container;   evaluating the second object to identify a third object of the object graph referenced by the second object;   determining whether the third object is present in the object registry;   upon determining that the third object is not present in the object registry, adding the third object to the object container and adding the third object to the object registry; and   performing a processing action using a data element of the second object.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
 receiving user input prior to evaluating the second object.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action performed on the first object is selected from a plurality of methods based on a type of the first object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the evaluation of the first object includes obtaining properties of the first object using reflection. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object container is one of a stack or a queue maintained in memory. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 upon determining that the second object is the only object referenced by the first object, adding a marker object to the object container; wherein the container is a queue.   
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a processor; and   memory storing instructions which, when executed on the processor, operate to traversing a graph of objects, the operation comprising:
 evaluating a first object of an object graph to identify a second object of the object graph referenced by the first object, wherein the object graph is maintained the memory of the system; 
 determining if the second object is present in an object registry; 
 adding the second object to an object container and adding the second object to the object registry when the second object is not present in the object registry; and 
 performing a processing action using a data element of the first object. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , the operation further comprising:
 removing the second object from the object container;   evaluating the second object to identify a third object of the object graph referenced by the second object;   determining whether the third object is present in the object registry;   upon determining that the third object is not present in the object registry, adding the third object to the object container and adding the third object to the object registry; and   performing a processing action using a data element of the second object.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , the operation further comprising:
 receiving user input prior to evaluating the second object.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the action performed on the first object is selected from a plurality of methods based on a type of the first object. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the evaluation of the first object includes obtaining properties of the first object using reflection. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the container is one of a stack or a queue maintained in the memory. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , the operation further comprising:
 upon determining that the second object is the only object referenced by the first object, adding a marker object to the container; wherein the container is a queue.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, performs an operation for traversing a graph of objects, the operation comprising:
 evaluating a first object of an object graph to identify a second object of the object graph referenced by the first object, wherein the object graph is maintained the memory of the system;   determining if the second object is present in an object registry;   adding the second object to an object container and adding the second object to the object registry when the second object is not present in the object registry; and   performing a processing action using a data element of the first object.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , the operation further comprising:
 removing the second object from the object container;   evaluating the second object to identify a third object of the object graph referenced by the second object;   determining whether the third object is present in the object registry;   upon determining that the third object is not present in the object registry, adding the third object to the object container and adding the third object to the object registry; and   performing a processing action using a data element of the second object.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , the operation further comprising:
 receiving user input prior to evaluating the second object.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the action performed on the first object is selected from a plurality of methods based on a type of the first object. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the evaluation of the first object includes obtaining properties of the first object using reflection. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the container is one of a stack or a queue maintained in the memory.