Patent ID: 8433730

Claim:
A method comprising: storing each of a plurality of data entities in a respective one of a plurality of data storage devices, wherein a first data entity stored in a first data storage device is stored using a first data storage type included in a set of data storage types comprising one of a web service, a database server, a file system, a flat file, and a spreadsheet and wherein a second data entity is stored in a second data storage device using a second data storage type included in the set of data storage types that is different from the first type; for each data entity, storing in a directory: (1) a connection string that, when executed, identifies a location of a particular data storage device in which the data entity is stored and (2) a data adapter indicating a functionality for accessing a particular data storage type of the particular data storage device in which the data entity is stored and allowable functionality available to be performed with respect to the data entity, wherein the connection string and the data adapter are associated with a routing identifier and a business entity identifier; receiving a data request for one of the data entities; identifying a location of the data storage device in which the requested data entity is stored based at least in part on the stored connection string corresponding to the requested data entity; and accessing the requested data entity based on the identified location and the data adapter associated with the identified data storage type.