Metadata in directory service systems and methods
First Claim
1. In a directory service system, which utilizes a database comprising at least one table having a plurality of rows and columns, said database comprising a plurality of data items, each having a value, each being related to one of a plurality of data types and each having attributes defined by the directory, the method of managing said database comprising:
- arranging the attributes of the directory in a row-per-data type and value type format.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for implementing directory services, such as X.500 and LDAP in a SQL environment, and for providing a desired level of indexing, extensibility and scalability. In the directory service system, a plurality of objects are defined to be hierarchical, and the relationships among objects follow a tree structure where each object has a parent object and except for a root, each parent can have zero or more children. The database comprises at least one table having a plurality of rows and columns and stores a plurality of data items, each having a value, each being related to one of a plurality of data types and each having attributes defined by the directory. The attributes of the directory are arranged in a row-per-data type and value format, resulting in a representation identified as meta-data, wherein values are represented per row by
data type: identifying one of said plurality of data types,
syntax: identifying the nature of the data type, and
value: identifying the data value.
In the application of metadata to directory services, such as X.500 or LDAP, a ‘PROPERTY table’ is provided in which object name and parent name is added to the ‘principal design’. Other arrangements of tables and attributes provide for the achievement of the system goals.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. In a directory service system, which utilizes a database comprising at least one table having a plurality of rows and columns, said database comprising a plurality of data items, each having a value, each being related to one of a plurality of data types and each having attributes defined by the directory, the method of managing said database comprising:
arranging the attributes of the directory in a row-per-data type and value type format. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 36, 37, 38, 41)
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10. A method of storing attributes of a directory having the form ‘
- type’
, ‘
syntax’
, ‘
value’
, the method including the step of;
storing the ‘
type’ and
‘
syntax’
in an ATTRIBUTE table together with an identifier. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
- type’
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13. A method of representing, storing and/or processing directory services, which contain objects having attributes, the improvement comprising at least one of representing, storing and processing the attributes in the form of type, syntax, and value.
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14. A relational database comprising:
at least one table with a plurality of columns, said at least one table supporting the Structured Query Language (SQL), said table having data represented therein in a row per data type and value format.
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15. A directory service system comprising:
a database comprising at least one table having a plurality of rows and columns, said database comprising a plurality of data items, each having a value, each being related to one of a plurality of data types and each having attributes defined by the directory, wherein the attributes of the directory are arranged in a row-per-data type and value format. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 39, 40)
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25. A directory service system, which utilizes a database comprising at least one table having a plurality of rows and columns, said database comprising a plurality of data items, each having a value, each being related to one of a plurality of data types, and each having an attribute, the improvement wherein said attributes are represented in a row-per-data type and value format in the form per row of at least:
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26. An attribute, for use in a directory service system, which utilizes a database comprising at least one table having a plurality of rows and columns, said database comprising a plurality of data items, each having a value, each being related to one of a plurality of data types, said attribute being represented in a row-per-data type and value format in the form per row of at least:
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27. A directory service system which defines a plurality of objects to be hierarchical, and the relationships among objects follow a tree structure where each object has a parent object and except for a root, each parent can have zero or more children, comprising:
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a database comprising at least one table having a plurality of rows and columns, said database comprising a plurality of data items, each having a value, each being related to one of a plurality of data types and each having attributes defined by the directory, wherein the attributes of the directory are arranged in a row-per-data type and value format; and
means for implementing a plurality of data services for said database. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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42. The invention as herein disclosed.
Specification