Patent ID: 8059635
Filing Date: 2011-11-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for non-destructive data storage including: storing, on a storage device, an information change associated with a business object such that tracking of the information change is enabled with respect to an effective time, wherein a transaction associated with the information change comprises one or more of the following: storing a change to an attribute or storing a change to a relationship, wherein the storing comprises storing to an instance of the business object and includes storing the effective time and storing a transaction time, wherein the effective time associated with the transaction comprises a time when the change to the attribute or the change to the relationship specified in the transaction is indicated to be effective, wherein the transaction time is a time when the storing of the transaction is requested or executed, and wherein the tracked information includes information enabling determination of a state of information associated with the business object at a particular time; and accessing the attribute or the relationship, wherein the attribute or the relationship accessed is based at least in part on the effective time; and determining the state of information associated with the instance of the business object effective at an inquire time, wherein a chain of effective changes is scanned through in order to find a relevant information associated with the instance of the business object at the inquire time.