Patent ID: 7240101

Claim:
A method for exchanging Java class objects between two computing entities in an object-oriented programming environment using a transport mechanism in which said Java class objects are contained in files, each file defining a resource, each resource designed to contain a plurality of particular ones of said objects, said method comprising the steps of: (1) providing a resource factory for building resources in the form of XMI documents, said factory including a plurality of software modules, each software module adapted for building resources from a data source responsive to a request for a Java class object of a type to which said resource corresponds, each said software module designed to build a resource of a particular type; (2) responsive to a request for a Java class object from a first computing entity, selecting a software module for building a resource of the type to which said Java class object corresponds; (3) subsequent to step (2), building an XMI document for containing said Java class object using said selected software module, said XMI document populated with information defining said XMI document, but not containing said Java class object; (4) subsequent to step (3), inserting said Java class object into only said XMI document; (5) subsequent to step (4), transmiting said XMI document to said first computing entity using said transport mechanism; and (6) subsequent to step (5), providing to said first computing entity said Java class object.