1. A computer system for identifying a target component in an apparatus that has components related in a hierarchy, the computer system comprising: a first computer executing a first application in that objects represent corresponding components, wherein the first application relates the objects in a type-object hierarchy; a second computer coupled to the first computer via a network; wherein the first computer has a message generator that receives type-object hierarchy information from the application and that provides a message with a type chain in parent-child direction and an object chain also in parent-child direction, wherein both chains in combination identify a target object that corresponds to the target component; and wherein the second computer has a message interpreter that parses both chains to provide identification of the target component with type and object as well as identification of the parent components with types and objects.