System for providing users with a filtered view of interactive network directory obtains from remote properties cache that provided by an on-line service
First Claim
1. A method for providing a filtered view of directory information of a hierarchical directory structure, the directory information stored as a plurality of content nodes, each content node comprising properties, the method comprising:
- receiving a request from a client computer, the request directly or indirectly identifying a group of content nodes of the plurality of content nodes, the request comprising a filter limiting information to be returned to the client computer;
applying the filter to content nodes of the group to identify a subgroup of content nodes, the applying comprising comparing the filter to at least one property of the content nodes of the group; and
for at least one property of the content nodes of the subgroup of content nodes;
if the property is not stored in a remote properties cache, then retrieving the property from an on-line service and storing the retrieved property in the remote properties cache; and
returning the property to the client computer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed directory service for an on-line services network comprises multiple, separate services, referred to as “Directory Service Providers,” running on respective groups of application servers. Each Directory Service Provider stores and provides access to a respective hierarchical directory structure, with nodes of the directory structures representing the various on-line services and other content entities which may be accessed by end users of the network. Junction point nodes are used to provide user-transparent links between the different directory structures, so that the directory structures appear to end users as a single, hierarchical directory. A common application program interface (API) is implemented by all Directory Service Providers, allowing client applications running on computers of end users to access the different directory structures using a common set of software methods. Data items that are shared by multiple nodes, such as icon bitmaps and sound files, are optionally stored by the Directory Service Providers within a shared database (separately from the nodes), and are accessed via special API methods. Various forms of node filtering, including language-based filtering and access rights filtering, are performed by the Directory Service Providers to determine which nodes to show to end users.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for providing a filtered view of directory information of a hierarchical directory structure, the directory information stored as a plurality of content nodes, each content node comprising properties, the method comprising:
-
receiving a request from a client computer, the request directly or indirectly identifying a group of content nodes of the plurality of content nodes, the request comprising a filter limiting information to be returned to the client computer;
applying the filter to content nodes of the group to identify a subgroup of content nodes, the applying comprising comparing the filter to at least one property of the content nodes of the group; and
for at least one property of the content nodes of the subgroup of content nodes;
if the property is not stored in a remote properties cache, then retrieving the property from an on-line service and storing the retrieved property in the remote properties cache; and
returning the property to the client computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing a method for providing a filtered view of directory information of a hierarchical directory structure, the directory information stored as a plurality of content nodes, each content node comprising properties, the method comprising:
-
receiving a request from a client computer, the request directly or indirectly identifying a group of content nodes of the plurality of content nodes, the request comprising a filter limiting information to be returned to the client computer;
applying the filter to content nodes of the group to identify a subgroup of content nodes, the applying comprising comparing the filter to at least one property of the content nodes of the group; and
for at least one property of the content nodes of the subgroup of content nodes;
if the property is not stored in a remote properties cache, then retrieving the property from an on-line service and storing the retrieved property in the remote properties cache; and
returning the property to the client computer.
-
-
5. A method for returning a requested property of a content entity of an on-line services network, the content entity corresponding to an on-line service, the method comprising:
-
storing a list of local properties of the content entity on an application server, the list of properties comprising a textual description of the content entity;
providing a cache of remote properties on the application sewer, the remote properties provided by the on-line service;
receiving a request from a client application for a property of the content entity; and
in response to the request, if the requested property is stored on the application server, then retrieving the property and returning the property to the client application, else if the property is not stored on the application sewer, then calling the on-line service to obtain the property and storing the property in the remote properties cache. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
-
8. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing a method for returning a requested property of a content entity of an on-line services network, the content entity corresponding to an on-line service, the method comprising:
-
storing a list of local properties of the content entity on an application server, the list of properties comprising a textual description of the content entity;
providing a cache of remote properties on the application server, the remote properties provided by the on-line service;
receiving a request from a client application for a property of the content entity; and
in response to the request, if the requested property is stored on the application server, then retrieving the property and returning the property to the client application, else if the property is not stored on the application server, then calling the on-line service to obtain the property and storing the property in the remote properties cache.
-
-
9. A directory service for a computer network, the directory service comprising:
-
a plurality of nodes stored within a hierarchical directory on at least one application server, the plurality of nodes representing and providing access to a plurality of online services, each node of the plurality of nodes comprising properties;
a service application running on at least one application server, the service application configured to return properties of the plurality of nodes in response to a request from a client application; and
an application program interface (API) provided by the service application, the API passing a variable-length list of property identifiers from a client application to the service application, the API allowing the client application to specify particular properties to be returned by the service application. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification