Persistent storage of information objects

A computer implemented method of persistently storing an information object, having a plurality of data storage fields, from a primary store to a secondary store, the method comprising the steps of:

• associating metadata with the information object, in which the metadata defines attributes of the secondary store specific to a class of the information object;
• receiving a request to read the information object from the secondary store;
• when the class of the information object is recognized, retrieving values for the data storage fields from the secondary store and storing the values in a first mapping of the secondary store to the data storage fields;
• and
• storing the information object, and a plurality of other information objects that are associated with a functional component of a program, in the secondary store;
• in which the step of storing further comprises the steps of:
• receiving a request to write the information object to the secondary store, wherein values of the data storage fields that are to be written to the secondary store are provided in the first mapping;
• when the class of the information object is recognized, storing the values into the secondary store based on the first mapping;
• and
• when the class of the information object is not recognized, passing execution control to a superclass of the information object that can handle the request to write the information object.

A computer implemented method of persistently storing an information object, having a plurality of data storage fields, from a primary store to a secondary store, the method comprising the steps of:

• associating metadata with the information object, in which the metadata defines attributes of the secondary store specific to a class of the information object;
• receiving a request to read the information object from the secondary store;
• when the class of the information object is recognized, retrieving values for the data storage fields from the secondary store and storing the values in a first mapping of the secondary store to the data storage fields;
• and
• when the class of the information object is not recognized, passing execution control to a superclass of the information object that can handle the request to read the information object.

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for persistently storing an information object, having a plurality of data storage fields, from a primary store to a secondary store, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• associating metadata with the information object, in which the metadata defines attributes of the secondary store specific to a class of the information object, in which the step of associating metadata with the information object includes the steps of associating with the information object a stored procedure executable in the secondary store;
• receiving a request to read the information object from the secondary store;
• when the class of the information object is recognized, retrieving values for the data storage fields from the secondary store and storing the values in a first mapping of the secondary store to the data storage fields;
• instantiating the information object, in which the information object inherits from a first class and the information object is defined by a second class subclassed from the first class;
• associating a first table of the secondary store with the first class, and associating a second table of the secondary store with the second class;
• associating first and second read methods with the first class and the second class, respectively;
• invoking the second class in response to receiving a request to read the information object from the secondary store;
• in the second read method, retrieving values for the data storage fields from the second table and storing the values in the information object, recognizing that the values relate only to the second class, and invoking the first read method.