/** * * get_instance() * * If the object is already created then simply return the instance else * create an object and return the instance. * Currently only one instance is allowed at a time but currently there is * no scenario that would require more than one at any time. * * @return object This object instance * */ public static function get_instance() { if (null === self::$_instance) { self::$_instance = new self(); } return self::$_instance; }