Ob_start, "protected" obHandler method, nod detecting $this->geMe () kind of error!

Hello guys, We have too clases: - Abstract class OutputBuffering - Class ErrorHandler extends OutputBuffering, implements obHandler as a "protected" method. I can detect: set_error_handler errors, through a specific error handler (and obError method - I can detect any notice/warning/fatal) and also "Parse errors" in obHandler, through "parsing" error_prepend/error_append strings in the Output Buffer string. When the obHandler methos is "protected", the "$this->getMe ()" from GLOBAL context cannot be detected. When the method is "public", the detection goes as usual. The MANUAL Page on "ob_start" doesn't say anything about declaring the method "public". What if I want the "obHandler" method to not be accessible by the developer, but only by inheriting objects?! Thanks for any feedback. Regards, Catalin Z. Alexandru