Extensibility of metaobjects

Abstract

A system may include acquisition of metadata defining a first object model including extensible entities, the first object model comprising an instance of a metaobject, acquisition of metadata defining an extension object model, the extension object model to extend at least one of the extensible entities of the first object model, and merging of the object model and the extension object to create metadata defining an extended object model, the extended object model comprising an instance of the metaobject.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method implemented by a computer in response to execution of program instructions by a processor of said computer, the method comprising:
 acquiring metadata defining a first object model including extensible entities, the first object model comprising an instance of a metaobject;   acquiring metadata defining an extension object model, the extension object model to extend at least one of the extensible entities of the first object model; and   merging the object model and the extension object model to create metadata defining an extended object model, the extended object model comprising an instance of the metaobject.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for data associated with an instance of the first object model; and   retrieving data associated with the instance of the first object model based on the metadata defining the extended object model.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the extension object model comprises an instance of the metaobject. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the extension object model comprises an instance of the metaobject. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein merging the object model and the extension object model to create metadata defining the extended object model comprises:
 identifying a node of the extension object model pointing to a node of the first object;   determining whether the node of the extension object model is an addressing node;   if the determining step determines that the node of the extension object model is not an addressing node, adding the node to the first object model, wherein the added node points to the node of the first object model; and   if the determining step determines that the node of the extension object model is an addressing node, not adding the node to the first object model.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein a namespace of the added node is different from a namespace of the node of the first object model. 
     
     
         25 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method comprising
 acquiring metadata defining a first object model including extensible entities, the first object model comprising an instance of a metaobject;   acquiring metadata defining an extension object model, the extension object model to extend at least one of the extensible entities of the first object; and   merging the object model and the extension object to create metadata defining an extended object model, the extended object model comprising an instance of the metaobject.   
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 25 , the instructions further causing the processor to:
 receive a request for data associated with an instance of the first object model; and   retrieve data associated with the instance of the first object model based on the metadata defining the extended object model.   
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 26 , wherein the extension object model comprises an instance of the metaobject. 
     
     
         28 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 25 , wherein the extension object model comprises an instance of the metaobject. 
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 25 , wherein the instruction to merge the object model and the extension object model to create metadata defining the extended object model comprises:
 identifying a node of the extension object model pointing to a node of the first object model;   determining whether the node of the extension object model is an addressing node;   if the node of the extension object model is not an addressing node, adding the node to the first object model, wherein the added node points to the node of the first object model; and   if the node of the extension object model is an addressing node, not adding the node to the first object model.   
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 29 , wherein a namespace of the added node is different from a namespace of the node of the first object model. 
     
     
         31 . A computer-implemented metadata repository comprising:
 at least one storage devices storing:   first metadata defining a first object model including extensible entities, the first object model comprising an instance of a metaobject;   second metadata defining an extension object model, the extension object model to extend at least one of the extensible entities of the first object model; and   executable program instructions of a service to merge the object model and the extension object model to create metadata defining an extended object model, the extended object model comprising an instance of the metaobject; and   a processor to execute the executable program instructions.   
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented metadata repository according to  claim 31 , the executable program instructions of the service further to:
 receive a request for data associated with an instance of the first object model; and   retrieve data associated with the instance of the first object model based on the metadata defining the extended object model.   
     
     
         33 . The computer-implemented metadata repository according to  claim 32 , wherein the extension object model comprises an instance of the metaobject. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-implemented metadata repository according to  claim 31 , wherein the extension object model comprises an instance of the metaobject. 
     
     
         35 . The computer-implemented metadata repository according to  claim 31 , wherein merging of the object model and the extension object model to create metadata defining the extended object model comprises:
 identification of a node of the extension object model pointing to a node of the first object model;   determination of whether the node of the extension object model is an addressing node;   if the node of the extension object model is not an addressing node, addition of the node to the first object model, wherein the added node points to the node of the first object model; and   if the node of the extension object model is an addressing node, determination not to add the node to the first object model.   
     
     
         36 . The computer-implemented metadata repository according to  claim 35 , wherein a namespace of the added node is different from a namespace of the node of the first object model.