Implementing composite in Java using Generics/Interface -

i have simple example:

public class imap {     private responder responder;      public imap(){         this.responder = new responder(this);     }      public void startservice(){         responder.dostuff();     }      public boolean supportsme(){         return true;     } }  public class udp {     private responder responder;      public udp(){         this.responder = new responder(this);     }      public void startservice(){         responder.dostuff();     }      public boolean supportsme(){         return false;     } }  public class responder {     object parent;      public responder(object parent){         this.parent = parent;     }      public void dostuff(){         if(parent.supportsme()){             system.out.println("parent supports me.");         } else {             system.out.println("parent doesn't support me.");         }     } } 

the problem supportsme undefined object. however, defined both udp , imap. responder intelligent enough call right object. believe solution use generics interface. tried following generic still similar compile error (the method supportsme() undefined type t):

public class responder<t> {     t parent;      public responder(t parent){         this.parent = parent;     }      public void dostuff(){         if(parent.supportsme()){             system.out.println("parent supports me.");         } else {             system.out.println("parent doesn't support me.");         }     } } 

any solutions problem?