Abstract: The present invention generally relates to object-oriented programming and more specifically relates to creating an environment where an application server may continue running while its owner makes various kinds of changes to it by employing a versioning architecture for managing version changes for classes in object-oriented environments. In a first embodiment, the system uses an explicit versioning scheme, whereas a second embodiment employs implicit versioning. In both systems, subsequent versions are created, compiled and deployed “on-the-fly” such that subsequent versions of the object class inherit all attributes, associations and operations from prior versions of the object, and wherein all versions of the object class are deployed by mapping each class into a persistence storage means.

Abstract: There is provided a method of signalling a message using a terminal address across multiple network entities. At least two contiguous network entities are associated with addressing spaces for which message addresses are not routable by way of the terminal address and are not otherwise routable by way of a single address. At every network border between any two contiguous network entities wherein an immediately succeeding network entity does not provide an addressing space through which the message is routable, it is determined whether the party number is to be stored and replaced with a new party number. If so, the party number is stored so as to permit its subsequent retrieval according to a last-in and first-out precedence to thereby create a stored party number. Once the party number has been stored, a replacement address is assigned as the party number. Also at every such border, it is determined whether the party number is to be discarded and replaced with a stored party number.