/**
 * Copyright (c) 2012, Ben Fortuna
 * All rights reserved.
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
 * are met:
 *
 *  o Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 *
 *  o Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 * documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 *
 *  o Neither the name of Ben Fortuna nor the names of any other contributors
 * may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
 * without specific prior written permission.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
 * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
 * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
 * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
 * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
 * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
 * PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
 * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
 * NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
 * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 */
/*
 * TODO To change the template for this generated file go to
 * Window - Preferences - Java - Code Style - Code Templates
 */
package net.fortuna.ical4j.model;

import java.io.Serializable;
import java.net.URISyntaxException;


/**
 * Implementors provide parameter creation services.
 * <p/>
 * Note that implementations must be {@link Serializable} to support referencing
 * from {@link Parameter} instances.
 *
 * @author Ben Fortuna
 *         <p/>
 *         $Id$ [05-Apr-2004]
 *         <p/>
 *         Created on 14/06/2005
 */
public interface ParameterFactory<T extends Parameter> extends Serializable {

    /**
     * Returns a parameter instance of the appropriate type with the specified value.
     *
     * @param value a value to assign to the returned parameter
     * @return a parameter instance, or null if this factory is unable to create an
     * appropriate parameter
     * @throws URISyntaxException where an invalid URI is encountered
     */
    T createParameter(String value) throws URISyntaxException;

    boolean supports(String name);
}
