Patent ID: 6925646

Claim:
A computer implemented method of determining a value of an attribute of an object comprising: attempting to determine the value by formulating a first query to retrieve the attribute from a properties data, store based upon a combination of a current context identifier, an object identifier associated with the object, and an attribute identifier associated with the attribute, submitting the first query through an application programming interface (API) associated with the properties data store without having knowledge of an underlying interface to the properties data store, and receiving results associated with the first query, and if the first query is unsuccessful at locating the value, then determining the value by formulating a second query to retrieve the attribute from the properties data store based upon a combination of the object identifier and the attribute identifier without specifying the current context identifier, submitting the second query through the API, and receiving results associated with the second query, wherein the value is determined based on the object identifier and the attribute identifier by ignoring the current context identifier.