Abstract: Each network of data processing systems within a system of networks is assigned a unique network identifier when connected to the system. Each data processing system within a given network is assigned a unique host system identifier when the data processing system is added to the network. When a new object is added to a given data processing system, a unique object identifier is constructed with three fields, including a high order field containing the network identifier for the network in which the object is being added, a next order field containing a host system identifier for the data processing system to which the object is being added, and an object identifier unique for all objects within the host data processing system. The combination of the three identifiers results in a single, unique object identifier which is unique for all objects across the system of networks and data processing systems.

Abstract: Provided are a method and system for locating data stored within an environment having multiple interconnected computing systems. The method and system achieve their objects via the following actions. A superset of one or more elements comprised of data location identifiers and associated data attributes is created. A list of data attributes is received. In response to said received list of data attributes, any data location identifiers, within said created superset, which have the data attributes in the list, are transmitted. In one embodiment, the superset elements consist of object identifiers paired with the computing system wherein the objects associated with the object identifiers are located, the list of data attributes contains a list of object attributes, and the data location identifiers transmitted consist of an object identifier paired with a computing location.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for the determination of a particular one of a plurality of data objects stored in the data processing system utilizing attributes associated with the object. Data is associated with a first plurality of a plurality of attributes associated with each data object. In response to an establishment of each data object, an object attribute record is established which includes the first plurality of the plurality of attributes. Search data is specified for a second plurality of the first plurality of attributes. Each object attribute record is searched for the search data. In response to a location of at least a portion of the specified search data in one of the object attribute records, the data object associated with that object attribute record is determined.

Abstract: A request for determining a unique object identifier for an object located somewhere within a plurality of data processing systems in a network may be received from an application by a single data processing in the network. A local object index containing object attribute records is searched for matches with specified input criteria and any matches are identified. A local search list is then consulted and, if other object indexes require searching, the request is forwarded to the next object index on the list together with an indication of the object index or indexes already searched. The inclusion of an indication of indexes already searched prevents a loop-back condition from occurring. As each object index is searched, the search list is consulted and, if additional object indexes remain to be searched, the request is propagated to the next object index and the results of searching a local object index are returned to an originating data processing system.

Abstract: Specified combinations of attribute input criteria may be utilized to determine the unique object identifier of an object in a database. The value of each attribute specified as input criteria is compared to the value of a corresponding attribute within an object attribute record. If the values are equivalent, a match weight associated with the attribute is added to a weight accumulator. If not, an executable rule associated with the attribute may be executed on the input criteria value and the result compared to the object attribute record value. If a match is determined after a rule is executed, a post-rule weight is added to the weight accumulator. If no match is determined, either before or after a rule is executed, a non-match weight is subtracted from the weight accumulator.