Patent Document ID: 5513323
Application ID: 07715179

Base Claim:
1. A method in a data processing system having multiple object types therein and including multiple object type transformation applications for determining an optimal multistage transformation from a first selected object type to a second selected object type, said method comprising the steps of: identifying each object type within said data processing system; assigning each identified object type to an associated node within an object type network; determining an expenditure cost associated with each of said multiple object type transformation applications; associating each determined expenditure cost with a link between two selected nodes within said object type network; and determining an optimal path through said object type network from a node associated with said first selected object type to a node associated with said second selected object type by means of links having minimal expenditure cost associated therewith.

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Claim 3:
3. The method in a data processing system having multiple object types therein and including multiple object type transformation applications for determining an optimal multistage transformation from a first selected object type to a second selected object type according to claim 1 wherein said step of determining an expenditure cost associated with each of said multiple object type transformation applications comprises the step of determining a time expenditure cost associated with each of said multiple object type transformation applications.