Server-client communication over a network

• US 6,247,017 B1
• Filed: 03/20/1998
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Martin, Jean-Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US09/045,498
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102, 707/104, 707/8, 707/201, 395/200, 709/226
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A network element maintains a local representation of a variable from a network directory service without needing to poll the variable in the directory service. The network element is arranged to accept replication messages from the directory service for updating the local record. By using a replication mechanism, it is possible to maintain the current value of a variable without repeated polling of the variable in the directory service.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of updating a local record of a variable in an appliance comprising a directory user agent forming a client of a directory service on a telecommunications network, said directory service being configured to store and distribute information related to managing said telecommunications network including data on resources available on said telecommunications network and said variable relating to a portion of the network information and being maintained in a directory of said directory service, the method comprising:

at the directory service, establishing a replication request for the variable with respect to said appliance;

operating the directory service to identify a change in the variable at the directory service;

responding to the change to said variable by issuing said replication message to said directory user agent;

receiving with said directory user agent a replication message from said directory service in respect of a change to said variable; and

responding to said replication message to update said local record of said variable in the appliance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing comprises establishing a filter for said variable manually by an operator, wherein the filter directs the replication message to said directory user agent of said appliance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing comprises establishing a filter automatically in response to a request from said appliance, wherein the filter directs the replication message to the directory user agent of said appliance.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said replication message is an LDAP replication message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said computer network directory is an object-based directory.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said computer network directory is an Internet directory service X.500 directory.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a cache is provided in local storage, said appliance being responsive to a request for said variable initially to access said cache, and in the absence of said variable in said cache, remotely to access said directory service for said variable.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said appliance is an information processing device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said appliance is an application operable on the appliance.

10. A network element for forming a client of a directory service on a telecommunications network, said network element comprising:

local storage for variables; and

a directory user agent including a response mechanism configured to be operable to receive an unsolicited replication message from said directory service in respect of a change to a variable at said directory service and to respond to said replication message to update a local record of said variable in said local storage of the network element for forming the client and a request and response mechanism configured to transmit request messages to said directory service specifying operations on said variable and to receive in response to said transmitted request messages solicited messages from said directory service.

11. The network element of claim 10, wherein said replication message is an LDAP replication message.

12. The network element of claim 10, wherein said local storage provides a cache, said network element being configured to be responsive to a request for a variable initially to access said cache, and in the absence of said variable in said cache, remotely to access said directory service for said variable.

13. The network element of claim 10, wherein said network element is an appliance and the unsolicited replication message is a modify RDN request, an add message, a modify message, or a delete message for said variable in said local storage and the solicited message is a search for said variable message, an add said variable message, a modify said variable message, a modify RDN request, or a delete said variable message.

14. The network element of claim 13, wherein said appliance is an information processing device.

15. The network element of claim 14, wherein said appliance is an application operable on the network element.

16. A computer program product on a data carrier medium for a network element of a computer network forming a client of a directory service on said computer network, said computer program product comprising:

a response mechanism configured to be operable to receive unsolicited replication message from said directory service of said computer network in respect of a change to a variable pre-established as a monitored network variable with a filter at said directory service;

an update mechanism configured to be responsive to said replication message to update a local record of said variable at said network element forming a client; and

a request and response mechanism configured to be operable to transmit request messages to said directory service specifying operations on said variable and to receive in response to said transmitted request messages solicited messages from said directory service related to said variable.