Patent ID: 7191182

Claim:
A method for storing and retrieving data in a database system, wherein data is stored on a computer readable storage media, method comprising: associating a plurality of entities in a child/parent hierarchy, the entities being grouped on similarity of types of properties, wherein each entity has each entity has an identifiable position within the child/parent; referencing types and properties of the groups of entities to store and retrieve associated data, the types and properties of different groups being mapped to different tables of the database; wherein an entity key is associated with each entity in said plurality, the entity key having information pertaining to the identifiable position within the child/parent hierarchy of the associated entity, and wherein information related to a parent entity of at least some entities in said plurality is maintained; each entity in said plurality is associated with a table for storage of corresponding data therein, the table having a column for storing an identifier corresponding to a property of the entity; and wherein associating an entity key with each entity includes maintaining a copy of the identifier in the corresponding entity key.