Dynamic directory service

• US 20040117410A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Abraham, William, Carter, John B., Dietterich, Daniel J., Phillips, Robert S., Frank, Steven J., Davis, Scott H.
• Application Number:
  US10/704,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117410A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0724 in a multiprocessor or a multi-core unit multiprocessors per se G06F15/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0757 by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1425 by reconfiguration of node membership
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1435 using file system or storage system metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/182 based on mutual exchange of the output between redundant processing components
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0813 with a network or matrix configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1072 Decentralised address translation, e.g. in distributed shared memory systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/167 using a common memory, e.g. mailbox
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5016 the resource being the memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 : Distributed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 : Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

In a network of computer nodes, a directory service provides both the physical location of directory information around the network and the directory information itself in a single data structure.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining directory information, comprising:

providing a plurality of nodes interconnected by a network;

providing a directory service on the network by installing on each of the nodes a directory service program that allows directory information to be accessed by each of the nodes and that stores on one or more of the nodes a directory that includes both the directory information and information about the location of the directory information on the network; and

obtaining both the location information and the directory information by accessing the directory service.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the directory service providing step further comprises installing the directory service program on each of the nodes and the directory service program automatically replicates directory information.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the directory service providing step further comprises installing the directory service program on each of the nodes and the directory service program automatically replicates directory information based on accesses of the directory service by the nodes.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the directory service providing step further comprises installing the directory service program on each of the nodes and the directory service program automatically replicates directory information based on available resources on the network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the directory service providing step further comprises installing the directory service program on each of the nodes and the directory service program automatically migrates directory information.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the directory service providing step further comprises installing the directory service program on each of the nodes and the directory service program automatically migrates directory information based on accesses of the directory service by the nodes.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the directory service providing step further comprises installing the directory service program on each of the nodes and the directory service program automatically migrates directory information based on available resources on the network.

9. A method for storing directory information, comprising:

providing a plurality of nodes interconnected by a network; and

storing on one or more of the nodes a data structure representative of both the directory information and information about the location of the directory information on the network.

10. A system for accessing directory information, comprising:

a computer network;

a storage system for maintaining directory information; and

a plurality of computers, coupled to the network and the storage system, for accessing the storage system to obtain directory information;

wherein the storage system replicates and migrates directory information among two or more of the computers.