Archive system and data maintenance method

• US 7,353,236 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Stickler, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US10/101,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20030093434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,203 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103.R, 707/130.X, 707/103.Y, 707/103.Z, 707/100, 707/103.X
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/24 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/76 Adapting program code to run in a different environment; Porting

Abstract

An archive system and method to maintain data in an object oriented programming environment. The system and method utilise a scoping model to ascertain the hierarchical relationship between data entities within the object oriented programming environment.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining data in an object oriented programming environment comprising:

defining a set of persistent data entities each having a predetermined level of abstraction and scope; and

defining a set of related data entities having a hierarchical plurality of levels of abstraction such that the scope identified for data entities at a higher level of abstraction encompasses the scope of those related data entities at a lower level of abstraction, said set of related data entities including a plurality of related data entities at a common level of abstraction,

wherein said level of abstraction and scope is defined using metadata properties, the metadata properties at a higher level of abstraction being inherited by a lower level of abstraction to provide an implementation independent model for a storage media.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metadata inherited from said higher level of abstraction by said lower level of abstraction is replaced by defining particular metadata for said lower level of abstraction.

3. A computer program stored on a tangible medium and comprising executable code for execution on a computer, said code, when executed, causing said computer to carry out the method according to claim 1.

4. A computer program as claimed in claim 3, wherein said computer program is stored in a computer readable medium.

5. An archival system comprising persistent storage adapted to store a plurality of data entities each having a predetermined level of abstraction and scope,

wherein a set of related data entities have a hierarchical plurality of levels of abstraction such that the scope identified for data entities at a higher level of abstraction encompasses the scope of those related data entities at a lower level of abstraction, said set of related data entities including a plurality of related data entities at a common level of abstraction,

wherein said storage is distributed within an object oriented programming environment and the metadata properties at a higher level of abstraction are inherited by a lower level of abstraction to provide an implementation independent model for a storage media.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said persistent storage is provided by at least one server.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one server is adapted to be connected to a network.