1. A computer-implemented method for retrieving a subset of object data from a persistence layer over a network, wherein the persistence layer is structured at least partially upon an object model definition, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving over the network a request from a client computer for object persisted data stored in the persistence layer; (b) parsing the request to obtain search criteria and object association data, wherein the object association data identifies at least one association between a pair of objects; (c) creating filtering criteria based upon the parsed search criteria and parsed object association data, wherein the object model definition determines how the search criteria and the object association data form the filtering criteria; (d) filtering object data from the persistence layer by the filtering criteria in order to generate the object data subset; and (e) transmitting the object data subset to the client computer over the network.