Patent ID: 8577923

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: accessing, by a user on a computing device, a first data object of a plurality of data objects in one or more computer software applications, wherein the plurality of data objects are assigned to a plurality of entities, each entity specifying a category, wherein each of the plurality of data objects belong to a specific entity, wherein the first data object is assigned to a first entity, wherein a second data object is assigned to a second entity, and wherein the second data object is frozen; allowing the user to perform write actions on the first data object when a relationship between the first entity and the second entity indicates that the first data object is not frozen; and denying the user from performing write actions on the first data object when the relationship between the first entity and the second entity indicates that the first data object is frozen, including determining if the first object is frozen by: detecting the first entity to which the first data object is assigned; accessing a registry of entities, wherein the registry specifies one or more of the plurality of entities, and wherein a particular is specified in the registry if a data object assigned to the particular entity is frozen or if the particular entity is related to an entity having an assigned frozen data object; and detecting whether the first entity is in the registry.