System and method for managing hierarchical objects

摘要

A system and method for storing hierarchical objects. The system stores a list of hierarchies as a single object. The object includes all information relating to a particular data element. The data element may be a concept. The concept may include all related information such that if one or more portions of the data element are requested by a user, the entire data object including the requested portions is retrieved. A user may navigate forward and backward through the hierarchy and search for other information. The object is stored as a self-defining object such that all information relating to the data element is stored within the object.