Patent ID: 8086646

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of configuring a system for an identification scheme, the method comprising: identifying an identification scheme that is to be used for generating at least one identifier for an object and that defines a structure for the identifier, wherein the structure identifies multiple parts that make up the identifier; creating a scheme entity that (i) represents the identification scheme, (ii) includes at least one aspect thereof, (iii) is configured for use in generating at least first and second parts of the multiple parts of the identifier, and that (iv) includes a definition for each of the first and second parts, wherein the scheme entity is configured to include: (a) in the definition for the first part, a specification whether the first part is to be concatenated with a third part of the identifier, and if the first part is not to be concatenated with the third part, a specification of a type of separation sign to place between the first part and the third part, (b) in the definition for the second part, a specification whether the second part is to be concatenated with a fourth part of the identifier, and if the second part is not to be concatenated with the fourth part, a specification of a type of separation sign to place between the second part and the fourth part, (c) in the definition for the first part, a specification of a first set of characters that are allowed for the first part without specifying an allowed quantity of characters of the first set, and (d) in the definition for the second part, a specification of a second set of characters that are allowed for the second part and an allowed quantity of the second set of characters, and a specification of a third set of characters that are allowed for the second part and an allowed quantity of the third set of characters; and storing the created scheme entity in a repository such that the scheme entity can be selected for association with the identifier.