Systems and methods for interoperation of directory services

• US 20060031185A1
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Patente GmbH & Co. KG (Atos Se)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Enterprise Communications, Inc. (Atos SE)
• Inventors: Urscheler, Roger, Jose, Sajeeve
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor

Abstract

Systems and methods according to the present invention may include providing a first directory service program, a second directory service program, and a directory service access program for handling client application information requests. The directory service access program may direct and manage the client application information requests to either the first directory service program if the requested information is associated with the first directory service program or the second directory service program if requested information is associated with the second directory service program. The present invention may also include providing a data service synchronizer that replicates certain information from the first directory service program to the second directory service program; monitors the first directory service program for changes; and updates the second directory service program with changes from the first directory service program such that the first and second directory service programs may interoperate with one another.

Claims

1. A system for allowing the interoperation of directory services resident on a computer system comprising:

a first directory service program;

a second directory service program; and

a directory service access program for handling client application information requests, the directory service access program directing the client application information requests to either the first directory service program if the requested information is associated with the first directory service program or the second directory service program if requested information is associated with the second directory service program.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first directory service program is an Active Directory directory service program.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second directory service program is an Active Directory Application Mode directory service program.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a directory service synchronizer that provides communications and synchronizes data between the first directory service program and the second directory service program.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the synchronizer at least periodically consults with the first directory service program and the second directory service program to confirm that the appropriate information is present in the first and the second directory service programs.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the synchronizer replicates and transfers information from the first directory service program to the second directory service program in order to maintain appropriate data storage.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary directory service program is configured to extend a schema of directory entries/application files associated with an application program.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the directory entries/application files with extended schema are transferred from the second directory service program to the first directory service program.

9. A method for the interoperation of directory services resident on a computer system comprising:

providing a first directory service program resident on the computer system;

providing a second directory service program resident on the computer system; and

providing a directory service access program for handling client application information requests and managing access to the first and the second directory service programs, the directory service access program directing the client application information requests to either the first directory service program if the requested information is associated with the first directory service program or the second directory service program if requested information is associated with the second directory service program.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising installing an instance entry in the first directory service program indicating the presence of the secondary service program.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising installing the second directory service program with a specific instance identification.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising comparing the information in the first and the second directory service programs.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising copying information from the first directory service program to the second directory service program.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising monitoring the data in the first and the second directory service programs.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising at least periodically copying information from the first directory service program to the second directory service program based upon the monitoring of the data in the first and the second directory service programs.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising extending schema of directory entries/application files in the second directory service program.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising copying the extend schema directory entries/application files from the second directory service program to the first directory service program.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising optionally uninstalling the second directory service program after substantially all of the extend schema directory entries/application files are copied from the second directory service program to the first directory service program.

19. A method for the interoperation of directory services resident on a computer system comprising:

providing a first directory service program resident on the computer system;

providing a second directory service program resident on the computer system; and

providing a data service synchronizer that replicates certain information from the first directory service program to the second directory service program and that monitors the first directory service program for changes in the first directory service program and periodically updates the second directory service program with changes from the first directory service program such that the first and the second directory service programs may interoperate with one another.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first directory service program is an Active Directory directory service program.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the second directory service program is an Active Directory Application Mode directory service program.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the secondary directory service program is configured to extend a schema of directory entries/application files associated with an application program.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising a directory service access program for handling client application information requests, the directory service access program directing the client application information requests to either the first directory service program if the requested information is associated with the first directory service program or the second directory service program if requested information is associated with the second directory service program.