Method and system for providing objects with extendable attibutes

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• associating an item with a class, wherein
• the class comprises associated attributes that describe members of the class, and
• said associating the item comprises selecting the class such that each associated attribute has a non-null value in describing the item;
• storing a first record associating the item with the selected class;
• and
• storing a second record associating the item with each associated attribute of the class and a value of the attribute describing the item.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for associating an item with a class, wherein
• the class comprises associated attributes that describe members of the class, and
• said means for associating the item comprises means for selecting the class such that each associated attribute has a non-null value in describing the item;
• means for storing a first record associating the item with the selected class;
• and
• means for storing a second record associating the item with each associated attribute of the class and a value of the attribute describing the item.

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory, coupled to the processor, storing instructions executable on the processor to
• associate an item with a class, wherein
• the class comprises associated attributes that describe members of the class, and
• the instructions to associate the item further comprise instructions to select the class such that each associated attribute has a non-null value in describing the item;
• store a first record associating the item with the selected class;
• and
• store a second record associating the item with each associated attribute of the class and a value of the attribute describing the item.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising:

• a first set of instructions, executable on a processor, configured to associate an item with a class, wherein
• the class comprises associated attributes that describe members of the class, and
• said first set of instructions further comprises a second set of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to select the class such that each associated attribute has a non-null value in describing the item;
• a third set of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to store a first record associating the item with the selected class;
• and
• a fourth set of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to store a second record associating the item with each associated attribute of the class and a value of the attribute describing the item.