Patent US 8,799,301

A method for processing a data object for a database, the database containing data representing a first data model and a set of one or more mapping rules, includes receiving a data object that conforms to a second data model. The method then selects one or more of the mapping rules. The mapping rules provide a mapping between a set of elements of the second data model and a corresponding set of elements of the first data model. The method applies the selected mapping rules to transform a set of elements of the received data object into a corresponding set of elements of a target data object conforming to the first data model. The method then searches the database for the set of elements of the target data object to identify instances of the target data object in the database. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also disclosed.