Patent ID: 8156494

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a first API call to access first XML data, wherein the first API call is a standard API call for accessing XML data; after receiving the first API call, calling a first function of an abstract API, wherein the abstract API is associated with a plurality of API implementations, wherein each API implementation of the plurality of API implementations is defined to process XML data that is stored in a different format of a plurality of formats; in response to calling the first function of the abstract API, receiving, from a first API implementation of the plurality of API implementations, the first XML data that is stored in a first format of the plurality of formats; receiving a second API call to access second XML data that is stored in a second format of the plurality of formats, that is different than the first format, wherein the second API call is a standard API call for accessing XML data; after receiving the second API call, calling a second function of the abstract API; and in response to calling the second function of the abstract API, receiving, from a second API implementation, of the plurality of API implementations, that is different than the first API implementation, the second XML data; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.