Abstract: Encoding and/or decoding of messages. On the encoding end, a composite encoder encodes message from an internal format that is used by internal system components into an external format. However, the composite encoder may encode the outgoing messages into different external formats on a per-message basis. For incoming message, a composite decoder decodes incoming messages from any one of a plurality of external formats into the internal format also on a per-message basis. A per-message report mechanism permits internal system components and the encoding/decoding components to communicate information regarding the encoding or decoding on a per message basis. This permits a higher level of collaboration and complexity in the encoding and decoding process.

Abstract: Determining compatibility of data structures. A method may be practiced in a computing environment. The method includes accessing a first type defined in a mark-up object. The first type includes a first structure including a first plurality of fields. A second type defined in a mark-up object is accessed. The second type includes a second structure including a second plurality of fields. The first structure and the second structure are compared. Based on the comparison, a determination is made that the first type is compatible with the second type.

Abstract: Serialization and deserialization using data contracts. The data contract specifies data types that are serialized and deserialized for data objects that are associated with the data contract. During serialization, the data contract associated with the data object is identified. Then, the data fields that correspond to those specified data field types are extracted from the data object and serialized into a serialization format. During deserialization, the serialization mechanism receives a serialized data structure having a particular serialization format. A data contract is then identified as being associated with the serialized data structure. After deserialization of the serialized data structure into abstract data, a corresponding data object is populated with data fields that correspond only with those data field types specified in the data contract. Accordingly, data abstraction is enabled while serializing and deserializing.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for converting an object of one type to an object of another type that allow for the runtime operation of the conversion process to be altered or customized. The conversion may occur within an extensible serialization engine that serializes, deserializes, and transforms objects of various types. The runtime operation of the serialization engine is altered by one or more extension routines that implement the desired customizations or extensions, without requiring replacement of other existing routines. Based on type information, identified for an initial object, the object is converted to an intermediate representation which permits runtime modification, including modification of object names, object types, and object data. The intermediate representation of the initial object is modified in accordance with extension routines that alter the runtime operation of the serialization engine, and the intermediate representation is converted to a final object and type.

Abstract: Encoding and/or decoding of messages. On the encoding end, a composite encoder encodes message from an internal format that is used by internal system components into an external format. However, the composite encoder may encode the outgoing messages into different external formats on a per-message basis. For incoming message, a composite decoder decodes incoming messages from any one of a plurality of external formats into the internal format also on a per-message basis. A per-message report mechanism permits internal system components and the encoding/decoding components to communicate information regarding the encoding or decoding on a per message basis. This permits a higher level of collaboration and complexity in the encoding and decoding process.

Abstract: The transfer of raw data from a source data structure to a target data structure that represent the same item. During the data transfer, if there is a given field in the target data structure that does not correspond to a field supplied by the source data structure, the transfer mechanism determines whether or not it is mandatory that the source data structure supply the field. If it is mandatory, the transfer fails. Otherwise, the transfer continues. If there is field of the source data structure that does not correspond to a field of the target data structure, the transfer mechanism determines whether or not it is mandatory that the target data structure have the field. If it is mandatory, the transfer fails. Otherwise, the corresponding data may be provided to a residual field of the target data structure dedicated for unknown data.

Abstract: Determining compatibility of data structures. A method may be practiced in a computing environment. The method includes accessing a first type defined in a mark-up object. The first type includes a first structure including a first plurality of fields. A second type defined in a mark-up object is accessed. The second type includes a second structure including a second plurality of fields. The first structure and the second structure are compared. Based on the comparison, a determination is made that the first type is compatible with the second type.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for converting an object of one type to an object of another type that allow for the runtime operation of the conversion process to be altered or customized. The conversion may occur within an extensible serialization engine that serializes, deserializes, and transforms objects of various types. The runtime operation of the serialization engine is altered by one or more extension routines that implement the desired customizations or extensions, without requiring replacement of other existing routines. Based on type information, identified for an initial object, the object is converted to an intermediate representation which permits runtime modification, including modification of object names, object types, and object data. The intermediate representation of the initial object is modified in accordance with extension routines that alter the runtime operation of the serialization engine, and the intermediate representation is converted to a final object and type.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for converting an object of one type to an object of another type that allow for the runtime operation of the conversion process to be altered or customized. The conversion may occur within an extensible serialization engine that serializes, deserializes, and transforms objects of various types. The runtime operation of the serialization engine is altered by one or more extension routines that implement the desired customizations or extensions, without requiring replacement of other existing routines. Based on type information, identified for an initial object, the object is converted to an intermediate representation which permits runtime modification, including modification of object names, object types, and object data. The intermediate representation of the initial object is modified in accordance with extension routines that alter the runtime operation of the serialization engine, and the intermediate representation is converted to a final object and type.