System and method for creating a search form for accessing directory information

• US 6,192,362 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1997
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Goodman, David, Cherry, Steve, Schneck, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Application Number:
  US08/990,519
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/505-507, 707/1-6, 707/9, 709/217-219, 713/200-202
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4523 using lightweight directory access protocol [LDAP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A system and method for creating a search form for accessing directory information is disclosed. The system comprises a server (200) for receiving a directory request, wherein said directory request comprises the search form; a request processor (202) in communication with said server (200), wherein the request processor (202) responds to the directory request; a server control and configuration system (218) in communication with the server (200) for configuring the search form; and an administrative interface (106) in communication with the server control and configuration system (218). The method for creating custom search forms for accessing directory information comprises the following steps: (1) determining an attribute to search; (2) creating a search format; (3) creating an input section, wherein said input section allows a user to enter search data; (4) creating a search request based on said search format and said search data; and (5) creating an action string for submitting said search request.

Claims

1. A system for creating a search form for accessing directory information, said system comprising:

a server for receiving a directory request, wherein said directory request comprises said search form;

a request processor in communication with said server, wherein said request processor responds to said directory request;

a server control and configuration system in communication with said server for configuring said search form; and

an administrative interface in communication with said server control and configuration system, wherein said administrative interface comprises;

a directory information display customizer that enables the customization of, at least one of;

background color, font type, font color, font size, page layout, and graphics, for displayed directory information; and

a directory information access controller that enables control over the level of access to said directory information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said server control and configuration system comprises means for creating an LDAP search string.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a template file for controlling the publication of a response to said directory request.

4. A system for creating a search form for accessing directory information, said system comprising:

a gateway for receiving and responding to a directory request, wherein said directory request comprises said search form;

a server control and configuration system in communication with said gateway for configuring said search form; and

an administrative interface in communication with said server control and configuration system, wherein said administrative interface comprises;

a directory information display customizer that enables the customization of, at least one of;

background color, font type, font color, font size, page layout, and graphics, for displayed directory information; and

a directory information access controller that enables control over the level of access to said directory information.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said search form comprises a search format and an input section, wherein said input section allows a user to input search data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said gateway creates an LDAP search string from said search format and said search data.

7. A method for creating a search form for accessing directory information, said method comprising:

determining an attribute to search;

creating a search format;

creating an input section, wherein said input section allows a user to enter search data and said input section is associated with a placeholder, wherein said placeholder has an associated index value and said associated index value is related to the order of said placeholder appearance;

creating a search request based on said search format and said search data;

wherein said step of creating a search request comprises replacing said place holder with said search data; and

creating an action string for submitting said search request.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of creating a template file, wherein said template file controls publication of a response to said search request.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said search format is an LDAP search filter.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said input section comprises an edit box.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said input section is associated with a placeholder.

12. A system for creating a search form for accessing directory information, said system comprising:

server means that receives a directory request, wherein the directory request comprises the search form;

request processor means in communication with the server means, wherein the request processor means responds to the directory request;

server control and configuration means in communication with the server means for configuring the search form; and

administrative interface means in communication with the server control and configuration means wherein said administrative interface means comprises;

directory information display customizer means that enable the customization of, at least one of;

backgound color, font type, font color, font size, page layout, and graphics, for displayed directory information; and

directory information access controller means that enable control over the level of access to said directory information.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the server control and configuration means comprises LDAP search string creation means.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising template file means for controlling the publication of a response to the directory request.

15. A processor readable medium containing processor readable code that enables the creation of a search form for accessing directory information, said processor readable medium comprising:

search format creation code that creates a search format that enables the ability to search for an attribute;

input section creation code that enables the creation of an input section, wherein said input section allows a user to enter search data and said input section is associated with a placeholder, wherein said placeholder has an associated index value and said associated index value is related to the order of said placeholder appearance;

search request creation code that enables the creation of a search request based on said search format and said search data;

wherein said search request creation code creates a search request that comprises replacing said placeholder with said search data; and

action string creation code that enables the creation of an action string for submitting said search request.

16. The processor readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

template file creation code that enables the creation of a template file, wherein said template file controls publication of a response to said search request.

17. The processor readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

automatic formatting code that enables the automatic formatting of a result of said search request.