Virtual attribute service in a directory server

• US 20030088678A1
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Mark C., Rowley, Pete, Boreham, David W.
• Application Number:
  US09/993,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088678A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4523 using lightweight directory access protocol [LDAP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories

Abstract

A virtual attribute service in a directory server including an attribute value associated with an entry, a virtual attribute service provider, and an interface using the virtual attribute service provider to generate the attribute value associated with the entry.

Claims

1. A virtual attribute service in a directory server, comprising:

an attribute value associated with an entry;

a virtual attribute service provider; and

an interface using the virtual attribute service provider to generate the attribute value associated with the entry.

2. The virtual attribute service of claim 1, wherein the attribute value is not physically contained within the entry.

3. The virtual attribute service of claim 1, wherein the virtual attribute service provider comprises a role service.

4. The virtual attribute service of claim 1, wherein the virtual attribute service provider comprises a class of service.

5. The virtual attribute service of claim 1, wherein the virtual attribute service provider is implemented as a plugin to the directory server.

6. A method of generating a value of a virtual attribute, comprising:

calling a virtual attribute service by an executable application; and

consulting a virtual attribute service provider within a common interface of the virtual attribute service;

wherein the value of the virtual attribute is generated by the virtual service provider accessed by the common interface.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

using a memory cache to store the value of the virtual attribute.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

maintaining a count for a number of times a query passes through the common interface; and

flagging an error and aborting the execution of the virtual attribute service if the count exceeds a threshold number.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

checking a configuration change within a service provider against the configuration of all service providers;

determining whether a cycle is created; and

flagging an error and aborting the execution of the virtual attribute service if a cycle is created.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the virtual attribute service provider comprises a role service.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the virtual attribute service provider comprises a class of service.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the virtual attribute service provider is implemented as a plugin to the directory server.

13. A method of generating a value of a virtual attribute, comprising:

calling a virtual attribute service by an executable application;

consulting a virtual attribute service provider within a common interface of the virtual attribute service;

using a memory cache to store the value of the virtual attribute;

maintaining a count for the number of times a query passes through the common interface;

flagging an error and aborting the execution of the virtual attribute service if the count exceeds a threshold number;

checking a configuration change within a service provider against the configuration of all service providers;

determining whether a cycle is created; and

flagging an error and aborting the execution of the virtual attribute service if a cycle is created;

wherein the value of the virtual attribute is generated by the virtual service provider accessed by the common interface.

14. A class of service in a directory server, comprising:

a definition entry identifying a type of class of service; and

a dynamic template entry storing a list of the shared attribute values;

wherein the definition entry and the dynamic template entry interact to provide an attribute value to a target entry.

15. The class of service of claim 14, wherein the definition entry is stored as a subentry in a directory information tree below a branch at which the class of service is effective.

16. The class of service of claim 14, wherein the target entry comprises an entry pointing to the class of service.

17. The class of service of claim 14, wherein changes to the attribute value of the dynamic template entry are applied to all entries sharing the attribute value.

18. A method for generating an attribute value of a class of service in a directory server, comprising:

identifying a dynamic template entry by a distinguished name;

adding a specific attribute to the dynamic template entry; and

generating the attribute value of the dynamic template entry while a client application is accessing the directory server.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the specific attribute is a cosPointerDefinition object class.

20. A method for generating an attribute value of a class of service in a directory server, comprising:

identifying a dynamic template entry by an attribute value of a target entry;

adding a specific attribute to the dynamic template entry; and

generating an attribute value of the dynamic template entry while a client application is accessing the directory server.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the specific attribute is a cosIndirectDefinition object class.

22. A method for generating an attribute value of a class of service in a directory server, comprising:

identifying a dynamic template entry by a distinguished name and an attribute value of a target entry;

adding a specific attribute to the dynamic template entry; and

generating an attribute value of the dynamic template entry while a client application is accessing the directory server.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the specific attribute is a cosClassicDefinition object class.

24. An apparatus for generating a value of a virtual attribute, comprising:

means for calling a virtual attribute service by an executable application; and

means for consulting a virtual attribute service provider within a common interface of the virtual attribute service;

wherein the value of the virtual attribute is generated by the virtual service provider accessed by the common interface.