Method and apparatus for aggregating disparate namespaces

• US 6,061,743 A
• Filed: 02/19/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Caldwell, Thomas Edward, Thatcher, Jim Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/025,741
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/219, 709/225, 709/223, 709/300, 709/302, 709/303, 709/304, 709/305, 707/10, 707/100, 707/102, 707/103, 707/104, 707/101
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A computer system has a first namespace with a target, and interface module operative to read the first namespace. A second interface module is operative to read the second namespace. A registry comprises information that associates the first namespace with the first interface module, the second namespace with the second interface module, and the target with the second interface module. A generic user interface is capable of accessing the registry, and determining the associations therein. The user interface is further operative to display the first namespace based on information read by the first interface module, and upon the selection of the target, being operative to display at least a portion of the second namespace based on information read by the second interface module.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a) a host namespace;

b) a foreign namespace,

c) an interface module operative for accessing the foreign namespace; and

d) a generic user interface displaying at least a portion of the host namespace and at least a portion of the foreign namespace based on information provided to the user interface from the interface module, said generic user interface being independent of the host and foreign namespaces.

2. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first namespace is a management service.

3. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the interface module is specifically designed to read the second namespace.

4. A computer system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a registry accessible to the user interface, the registry having an association between the interface module with the foreign namespace.

5. A computer system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a host interface module operative for reading the host namespace.

6. A computer system as recited in claim 5, wherein the displayed portion of the host namespace is provided to the user interface from the host interface module.

7. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the interface module is further operative to write to the foreign namespace.

8. A method in a computer system, comprising the steps of:

a) registering a first namespace having a plurality of objects;

b) registering a second namespace;

c) displaying on a generic user interface at least a portion of the first namespace, the generic user interface being independent of the first and second namespaces;

d) selecting a target object in the first namespace;

e) if the target object has an association with the second namespace, accessing the second namespace and determining at least a portion of the second namespace; and

f) displaying on the generic user interface at least a portion of the second namespace in relation to the target object.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first namespace is displayed hierarchically and the second namespace is displayed subordinate to the target object within the hierarchy of the first namespace.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the step of:

if the target object has subordinate objects, reading the first namespace and determining at least a portion of the subordinate objects.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of:

displaying the subordinate objects in relation to the target object.

12. A computer readable medium comprising instructions capable of performing the method of claim 8.

13. A computer system, comprising:

a) a first namespace having a target;

b) a first interface module operative to read the first namespace;

c) a second namespace;

d) a second interface module operative to read the second namespace;

e) a registry comprising information associating;

(i) the first namespace with the first interface module,

(ii) the second namespace with the second interface module,

(iii) the target with the second interface module; and

f) a generic user interface separate from the first and second interface modules, said user interface being capable of accessing the registry and determining the associations therein, and being operative to display the first namespace based on information read by the first interface module, and upon the selection of the target being operative to display at least a portion of the second namespace based on information read by the second interface module.

14. A computer system as recited in claim 13, wherein the first namespace is a distributed directory.

15. A computer system as recited in claim 13, wherein the first and second interface modules are further operative to modify the first and second namespaces, respectively.

16. A computer system as recited in claim 13, wherein the registry comprises a namespace registration portion and an extension registration portion.

17. A computer system as recited in claim 13, wherein registry associates the target and the second interface module based on the target'"'"'s type.

18. A computer system as recited in claim 13, wherein registry associates the target and second interface module by identifying the class that implements the second interface module.

20. A computer system as recited in claim 13, further comprising interface modules operative to modify the first and second namespaces.

19. A method for using the computer system of step 13, comprising the steps of:

a) determining from the registry the association between the first interface module and the first namespace;

b) reading the first namespace by the first interface module;

c) displaying in the user interface the target in relation to at least a portion of the first namespace based on the information read from the first namespace;

d) requesting to expand the target;

e) determining from the registry the association between the second interface module and the target;

f) reading the second namespace by the second interface module; and

g) displaying in the user interface at least a portion of the information read from the second namespace in relation to the target.