Nested queries with index

• US 20080104028A1
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Rowley, Peter A., Parkinson, Steven W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,730,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• 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

Values for virtual recursive attributes are generated for distinguished name entries in a lightweight directory access protocol directory by navigating through the directory tree starting at the distinguished name entry specified by an input value. An attribute list of the values for the virtual recursive attributes may be cached or indexed. In another aspect, attribute lists are generated for all branches of the directory tree.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an input attribute and an input value for a distinguished name entry, the input attribute and the distinguished name entry corresponding to objects defined in a schema for a lightweight directory access protocol directory; and

generating an attribute list by navigating through a directory tree starting at the distinguished name entry specified by the input value until a value for the attribute in a distinguished name entry satisfies a criterion, wherein the generating comprises;

extracting a distinguished name value from the input attribute for each distinguished name entry in the directory tree; and

adding the distinguished name value as an entry in the attribute list, wherein the attribute list defines values for a virtual recursive attribute that does not correspond to an object defined in the schema.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the criterion is selected from the group consisting of a null value for the input attribute, and a non-existent input attribute.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

outputting the attribute list as a response to a query that specifies the input attribute and the input value for the distinguished name entry.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

caching the attribute list.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating an index for the entries in the attribute list.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigating comprises:

using the extracted distinguished name value of a current distinguished name entry to locate a next distinguished name entry in the directory tree.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an attribute list is created for each branch of the directory tree.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having executable instructions to cause a processor to perform a process comprising:

receiving an input attribute and an input value for a distinguished name entry, the input attribute and the distinguished name entry corresponding to objects defined in a schema for a lightweight directory access protocol directory; and

generating an attribute list by navigating through a directory tree starting at the distinguished name entry specified by the input value until a value for the attribute in a distinguished name entry satisfies a criterion, wherein the generating comprises;

extracting a distinguished name value from the input attribute for each distinguished name entry in the directory tree; and

adding the distinguished name value as an entry in the attribute list, wherein the attribute list defines values for a virtual recursive attribute that does not correspond to an object defined in the schema.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the criterion is selected from the group consisting of a null value for the input attribute, and a non-existent input attribute.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the process further comprises:

outputting the attribute list as a response to a query that specifies the input attribute and the input value for the distinguished name entry.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the process further comprises:

caching the attribute list.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the process further comprises:

generating an index for the entries in the attribute list.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the navigating comprises:

using the extracted distinguished name value of a current distinguished name entry to locate a next distinguished name entry in the directory tree.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein an attribute list is created for each branch of the directory tree.

15. A computer system comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory through a bus; and

instructions executed from the memory by the processor to cause the processor to perform a process comprising;

receiving an input attribute and an input value for a distinguished name entry, the input attribute and the distinguished name entry corresponding to objects defined in a schema for a lightweight directory access protocol directory; and

generating an attribute list by navigating through a directory tree starting at the distinguished name entry specified by the input value until a value for the attribute in a distinguished name entry satisfies a criterion, wherein the generating comprises;

extracting a distinguished name value from the input attribute for each distinguished name entry in the directory tree; and

adding the distinguished name value as an entry in the attribute list, wherein the attribute list defines values for a virtual recursive attribute that does not correspond to an object defined in the schema.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the criterion is selected from the group consisting of a null value for the input attribute, and a non-existent input attribute.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the process further comprises:

outputting the attribute list as a response to a query that specifies the input attribute and the input value for the distinguished name entry.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the process further comprises:

caching the attribute list.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the process further comprises:

generating an index for the entries in the attribute list.

20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the navigating comprises:

using the extracted distinguished name value of a current distinguished name entry to locate a next distinguished name entry in the directory tree.

21. The computer system of claim 15, wherein an attribute list is created for each branch of the directory tree.

22. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving an input attribute and an input value for a distinguished name entry, the input attribute and the distinguished name entry corresponding to objects defined in a schema for a lightweight directory access protocol directory; and

means for generating an attribute list by navigating through a directory tree starting at the distinguished name entry specified by the input value until a value for the attribute in a distinguished name entry satisfies a criterion, wherein the means for generating

extracts a distinguished name value from the input attribute for each distinguished name entry in the directory tree, and

adds the distinguished name value as an entry in the attribute list, wherein the attribute list defines values for a virtual recursive attribute that does not correspond to an object defined in the schema.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the criterion is selected from the group consisting of a null value for the input attribute, and a non-existent input attribute.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for generating further caches the attribute list.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the mean for generating further generates an index for the entries in the attribute list.