Object Persistence Framework
OPF

    (OPF) Any system for storing objects so they
   can be reloaded into a future session.  Typically this will
   use a relational database along with some kind of object
   relational mapping.  Another typical solution would store
   objects in XML files (a form of serialisation).  One of
   the trickier problems to solve is how to maintain references
   between objects, e.g. replacing memory pointers with unique
   names or identifiers.

   Virtually identical considerations apply to transferring
   objects, or indeed any kind of data structure, from one
   process to another via some communications channel, e.g. a
   TCP/IP connection.

   Apple's Enterprise Objects Framework (EOF) is a mature and
   powerful example.

   (2009-01-15)