Method and apparatus for creating and maintaining a computer database utilizing a multi-purpose data format

A database for manipulating data objects, the database comprising:

• an instance descriptor table for each class of data objects, each instance descriptor table having one entry for each data object in the associated object class, each entry being a poly radix bit string containing data which describes the corresponding data object, each poly radix bit string also being hashable to return a pointer to the corresponding data object;
• and
• a global object table having one entry for each object class, each entry being a poly radix bit string containing data which describes the corresponding object class, each poly radix bit string also being hashable to return a pointer to the instance descriptor table associated with the object class.

An apparatus for manipulating a database stored in the memory of a data processing system, the apparatus comprising:

• a first computer executable procedure for manipulating a global object table having one entry for each object class of data objects, each entry being a poly radix bit string containing data which describes the corresponding object class, each poly radix bit string also being hashable to return a pointer to the instance descriptor table associated with the object class;
• and
• a second computer executable procedure for manipulating an instance descriptor table, the instance descriptor table having one entry for each data object in an associated object class, each entry being a poly radix bit string containing data which describes the corresponding data object, each poly radix bit string also being hashable to return a pointer to the corresponding data object.

An article of manufacture comprising:

• a computer readable device encoded with a first computer executable procedure for manipulating a global object table having one entry for each object class of data objects, each entry being a poly radix bit string containing data which describes the corresponding object class, each poly radix bit string also being hashable to return a pointer to the instance descriptor table associated with the object class;
• and
• a second computer executable procedure encoded on the computer readable device for manipulating an instance descriptor table, the instance descriptor table having one entry for each data object in an associated object class, each entry being a poly radix bit string containing data which describes the corresponding data object, each poly radix bit string also being hashable to return a pointer to the corresponding data object.