Patent ID: 7613715

Claim:
A computer-implemented data storage system, comprising: a relational data store component that stores data pertaining to a plurality of entities; a plurality of maps that map the plurality of entities to corresponding data stored in the relational data store component; a data access system configured to receive a request to perform an operation on at least one of the plurality of entities; a data location provider receiving, from the data access system, an identifier that is related to the request, the data location provider utilizing computer processor that is a functional component of the computer to provide, based at least in part on information reflected in one or more of the maps, information pertaining to a location of data in the relational data store component that is pertinent to the request; and wherein the plurality of entities are organized in a child/parent hierarchy, wherein each of the plurality of entities has a unique identifiable position within the child/parent hierarchy; and wherein the identifier is a function of the child/parent hierarchy, wherein the plurality of entities includes a plurality of entities grouped in classes, each class having similarly structured data and being associated with a table in the relational data store component, wherein at least two are associated with entities located in different positions in the child/parent hierarchy.