Description:
------------
A getInstance() method is a fairly common design-pattern, yet it's impossible to create such a function in a base-class and have it function as expected when access via the inheriting class.

I understand that this is documented behavior, and that it's probably impossible to achieve this using existing syntax/functions. What I'm hoping for is a new function; something like get_statis_class(void) that will return the name of the class used to *access* the static method, not the name of the class in which it was defined.

I can provide more elaboration on why this is a nice feature if needed. The attached example is kept short to illustrate the problem as clearly as possible.

Reproduce code:
---------------
<?php

class base {
        public static function getInstance() {
                $class = __CLASS__;
                return new $class();
        }
}

class heir extends base {
}

$instance = heir::getInstance();

die(get_class($instance));

?>

Expected result:
----------------
heir

Actual result:
--------------
base