Abstract: Systems and methods are presented that enable the dynamic selection or modification of data management patterns (such as for caching or updating data). A deployment document describes how to manage data used by the application, including which caching patterns (and parameters) and which updating patterns should be used. In this way, a data management pattern can be specified for a particular application (and for a particular data type or data structure within an application), rather than a system-wide configuration option. The deployment document can be modified at any time up until the application starts being executed. A set of business policies and/or technical rules determines whether and how an application's deployment document should be modified. The policies and rules can take into account the application's run-time context, such as the type of transaction, the user involved, and the size and the longevity of the data needed and generated.

Abstract: A method for transparently optimizing data access. The method includes gathering information related to data usage when a system is processing and determining a usage pattern of the system using gathered information.

Abstract: A method for generating a projected graph data structure, including generating a request for the projected graph data structure using a variable usage specification, retrieving a server graph data structure using the request, generating a projected graph data structure representation using the request, the server graph data-structure, and a schema associated with the server graph data-structure, and instantiating the projected graph data-structure using the projected graph data-structure representation.

Abstract: A cache synchronization method and apparatus for a distributed application having a client side, a server side, and an object located on either the client side or the server side are disclosed. The cache synchronization method may include detecting initiation of a transition to a new state on the client side, locating data on the client side that is to be synchronized, synchronizing located data using a cache synchronizer interposed between the client side and the server side, and completing the transition to the new state on the client side. The cache synchronizer may include a client side application usage specification (AUS) manager and a server side AUS manager. The cache synchronization method may also include synchronizing data in the object by passing to a database changes made locally to the object and allowing the distributed application to transition to a new state when synchronization is complete.

Abstract: A distributed network identity is provided. An identity provider stores a portion of a user's personal information. A service provider accesses user information from one or more identity providers. System entities such as identity providers and service providers can be linked to enable information sharing and aggregation. User policies and privacy preferences are provided to control how information is shared. A single sign-on architecture is provided where an identity provider is used to facilitate cross-domain authentication and to enhance user convenience. Service delegation features are also provided.

Abstract: A method for generating a projected graph data structure, including generating a request for the projected graph data structure using a variable usage specification, retrieving a server graph data structure using the request, generating a projected graph data structure representation using the request, the server graph data-structure, and a schema associated with the server graph data-structure, and instantiating the projected graph data-structure using the projected graph data-structure representation.

Abstract: A method for dynamically casting an object graph, including creating an internal representation using a root object of the object graph, instantiating a cast object graph using a casting rule and the internal representation, and populating the cast object graph.

Abstract: A method for packaging an object graph including receiving a usage variable specification that includes a set of usages each usage specifying an attribute of an object in the object graph, creating a transient object graph representation containing the attribute specified in the variable usage specification, and packaging the transient object graph representation.

Abstract: A cache synchronization method for a distributed application having a client side and a server side, including detecting initiation of a transition to a new state on the client side, locating data on the client side that is to be synchronized, synchronizing located data using a cache synchronizer interposed between the client side and the server side, and completing the transition to the new state on the client side.

Abstract: A method for transparently injecting a proxy into a distributed application having a server portion and a client portion including creating the proxy that implements an interface of a remote object in the server portion and has a capability to cache data from the remote object, modifying the client portion to substitute a call for the remote object with a call for the proxy, and interposing a client runtime that includes the proxy between the client portion and the server portion.

Abstract: A method for a system having distributed collaborating components includes restricting direct interaction between distributed collaborating components by introducing an application-independent interface between distributed collaborating components and invoking a service from the application-independent interface in order to enable interaction between distributed collaborating components.

Abstract: A method for transparently optimizing data access. The method includes gathering information related to data usage when a system is processing and determining a usage pattern of the system using gathered information.

Abstract: An automatic caching method for a distributed application having a client and a server includes intercepting a call between the client and the server in order to collect information about objects accessed on the server during the call, prefetching data from an object based on collected information, placing data into a client cache, synchronizing marked calls with the server, and synchronizing the client cache with the server.

Abstract: A distributed system having a client and a server includes a state manager interposed between the client and the server. The state manager has a capability to generate a list of object attributes required to represent a state of the distributed system and a capability to cache object attributes so as to be locally accessible by the client. The distributed system further includes a service component interposed between the state manager and the server. The service component has a capability to fetch data from the server based on the list of object attributes.