Posted by Java Man the Sun Certified Java Programmer on April 10, 200-1 at 22:23:18:
Template Method.
This design pattern let's you create a basic shell of an algorithm in an abstract 'parent' class, and define the inner workings in concret 'sub' classes.
This allows you to strip out common functionality of serveral different classes into a single abstract class and define the differing portion in individual sub classes.