code: public void merge(Hints hints) {
          this.allow.addAll(hints.getAllow());
          this.formats.putAll(hints.getFormats());
          this.acceptPath.addAll(hints.getAcceptPath());
          this.acceptPost.addAll(hints.getAcceptPost());
          this.acceptRanges.addAll(hints.getAcceptRanges());
          this.acceptPrefer.addAll(hints.getAcceptPrefer());
          mergeDocs(hints);
          preconditionReq.addAll(hints.getPreconditionReq());
          authReq.addAll(hints.getAuthReq());
          mergeStatus(hints);
      }
docs: Merges the current hints with hints comming from another method of the resource.
  
  @param hints the hints to merge