+/**
+ * A {@link CustomSerializer} supports and generates values in the form:
+ * <ul>
+ * <li><tt>custom^<i>TYPE</i>^<i>ENCODED_VALUE</i></tt></li>
+ * </ul>
+ * <p>
+ * In this scheme, the values are:
+ * <ul>
+ * <li><tt>custom</tt>: a fixed keyword</li>
+ * <li><tt>^</tt>: a fixed separator character (the
+ * <tt><i>ENCODED_VALUE</i></tt> can still use it inside its content, though</li>
+ * <li><tt><i>TYPE</i></tt>: the object type of this value</li>
+ * <li><tt><i>ENCODED_VALUE</i></tt>: the custom encoded value</li>
+ * </ul>
+ * <p>
+ * To create a new {@link CustomSerializer}, you are expected to implement the
+ * abstract methods of this class. The rest should be taken care of bythe
+ * system.
+ *
+ * @author niki
+ */