Patent ID: 8707325

Claim:
A method of locating, in response to an object request, a copy of an object that is a best copy available, the method comprising: checking whether an optimization flag has been set; if the optimization flag has been set, performing the following acts (1)-(3) in order: (1) attempting to locate a local copy of the object; and if the local copy of the object is located, retrieving the local copy; but if (1) fails to locate the local copy, then (2) attempting to locate a remote copy of the object; and if the remote copy of the object is located, retrieving the remote copy of the object; but if (2) fails to locate the remote copy of the object, then (3) attempting to locate a remote web service object; if the optimization flag has not been set, performing act (3) without performing act (1) and act (2); wherein at least one of (1) and (2) comprises carrying out a Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) search for the copy of the object.