Directory service for a computer network
First Claim
1. A directory service for a computer network, comprising:
- a first service application running on a first group of application servers to implement a first service, said first service storing a first plurality of content nodes that represent a first plurality of content entities of said computer network, said first plurality of content entities accessible to users of said computer network via said first service;
a second service application running on a second group of application servers to implement a second service, said second service storing a second plurality of content nodes that represent a second plurality of content entities of said computer network, said second plurality of content entities accessible to said users of said computer network via said second service; and
an interface that links said first service to said second service to provide an integrated directory service.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed directory service for an on-line services network comprises multiple, separate services, referred to as “Directory Service Providers,” running on respective groups of application servers. Each Directory Service Provider stores and provides access to a respective hierarchical directory structure, with nodes of the directory structures representing the various on-line services and other content entities which may be accessed by end users of the network. Junction point nodes are used to provide user-transparent links between the different directory structures, so that the directory structures appear to end users as a single, hierarchical directory. A common application program interface (API) is implemented by all Directory Service Providers, allowing client applications running on computers of end users to access the different directory structures using a common set of software methods. Data items that are shared by multiple nodes, such as icon bitmaps and sound files, are optionally stored by the Directory Service Providers within a shared database (separately from the nodes), and are accessed via special API methods. Various forms of node filtering, including language-based filtering and access rights filtering, are performed by the Directory Service Providers to determine which nodes to show to end users.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A directory service for a computer network, comprising:
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a first service application running on a first group of application servers to implement a first service, said first service storing a first plurality of content nodes that represent a first plurality of content entities of said computer network, said first plurality of content entities accessible to users of said computer network via said first service;
a second service application running on a second group of application servers to implement a second service, said second service storing a second plurality of content nodes that represent a second plurality of content entities of said computer network, said second plurality of content entities accessible to said users of said computer network via said second service; and
an interface that links said first service to said second service to provide an integrated directory service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 69)
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29-68. -68. (Canceled)
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70-71. -71. (Canceled)
Specification