/// <summary>
/// Clones the object by using serialization and deserialization.
/// </summary>
/// <returns>
/// A deep copy of the object.
/// </returns>
private object cloneBySerialization()
{
  Object result;
  MemoryStream buffer = new MemoryStream();
  BinaryFormatter formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
  formatter.Serialize(buffer, this);
  buffer.Position = 0;
  result = formatter.Deserialize(buffer);
  return result;
}