Extending a directory schema independent of schema modification

• US 6,952,704 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2001
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Al-Hilali, Hilal, Cameron, Kim, Wong, Felix, Booth, James H., Thompson, Robert Dan IV, Benson, Max L., Fischer, Jonathan A., MacLeod, Stewart P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALAUBAIDI, HAYTHIM J
• Application Number:
  US09/995,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20030105770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103.R, 707/103.Y, 707/103.Z, 707/104.1, 707/10, 707/100, 707/103
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

The described arrangements and procedures provide a directory schema with object classes that have flexible attributes. This means that attributes can be extended independent of modifications to the directory schema. Specifically, an object instance of a content class described in the directory schema is instantiated. The content class includes a flexible attribute having a data type. A property is assigned to the attribute. The property is any combination of an operational and data providing property. The property is independent of the attribute'"'"'s data type. Thus, without modifying the directory schema, multiple instances of the same object class can have attributes that provide completely different data types and completely different data operations.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for extending a directory schema independent of schema modification, the method comprising:

instantiating, by an application program, a first object instance of a content class comprising a flexible attribute that is based on a complex data type, the first object instance being created in a directory based on the directory schema, the content class and flexible attribute being defined in the directory schema;

accessing, by the application program, a first property to the attribute, the first property being operational or data providing in nature, the property having a data type that is independent of the complex data type; and

independent of directory schema modification;

(a) instantiating a second object instance of the content class, the second object comprising a second flexible attribute that is base on the complex data type;

(b) assigning a second property to the second flexible attribute, the second property having a different number of data elements than the first property; and

(c) wherein each data element in the first and second properties comprising data such that neither the first or second properties contribute to data sparsity of a directory based on the directory schema.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the directory schema is independent from any values that the object instance may store.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the complex data type is an XML data type.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first property is described by an XML string, the XML string being compatible with the complex data type.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the directory schema defines a plurality of object classes for a versioning aware directory.

6. A computer implemented method for extending a directory schema independent of schema modification, the method comprising:

instantiating, by an application program, a first object instance of a content class comprising a flexible attribute that is based on a complex data type, the first object instance being created in a directory based on the directory schema, the content class and flexible attribute being defined in the directory schema;

accessing, by the application program, a first property to the attribute, the first property being operational or data providing in nature, the property having a data type that is independent of the complex data type; and

independent of directory schema modification;

without modifying the directory schema, instantiating a second object instance of the content class, the second object comprising a second flexible attribute that is base on the complex data type; and

assigning a second property to the second flexible attribute, the second property being completely independent of any operational or data characteristics of the first property.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the first and second properties are described by respective XML strings that are compatible with the complex data type.

8. A server comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory, the memory comprising computer executable instructions, the processor being configured to fetch and execute the computer-executable instructions for;

instantiating a first object instance of a content class comprising a flexible attribute that is based on a complex data type, the first object instance being created in a directory based on the directory schema, the content class and flexible attribute being defined in the directory schema;

accessing a first property to the attribute, the first property being operational or data providing in nature, the property having a data type that is independent of the complex data type; and

independent of directory schema modification;

(a) instantiating a second object instance of the content class, the second object comprising a second flexible attribute that is base on the complex data type;

(b) assigning a second property to the second flexible attribute, the second property having a different number of data elements than the first property; and

(c) wherein each data element in the first and second properties comprising data such that neither the first or second properties contribute to data sparsity of a directory based on the directory schema.

9. A server as recited in claim 8, wherein the directory schema is independent from any values that the object instance may store.

10. A server as recited in claim 8, wherein the complex data type is an XML data type.

11. A server as recited in claim 8, wherein the first property is described by an XML string, the XML string being compatible with the data type.

12. A server as recited in claim 8, wherein the directory schema defines a plurality of object classes for a versioning aware directory.

13. A server comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory, the memory comprising computer executable istructions, the processor being configured to fetch and execute the computer-executable instructions for;

instantiating a first object instance of a content class comprisings a flexible attribute that is based on a complex data type, the content class and flexible attribute being defined in a directory schema; and

assigning a first property to the attribute, the first comprising a particular number of data elements, the first property being operational or data providing in nature, the property having a data type that is independent of the attribute'"'"'s data type;

without modifying the directory schema, instantiating a second object instance of the content class, the second object comprising a second flexible attribute that is based on the complex data type; and

assigning a second property to the second flexible attribute, the second property being completely independent of any operational or data characteristics of the first property.

14. A sever as recited in claim 13, wherein the first and second properties are described by respective XML strings that are compatible with the complex data type.

15. A server for extending a directory schema independent of schema modification, the server comprising:

Processing means for;

instantiating a first object instance of a content class comprising a flexible attribute that is based on a complex data type, the first object instance being created in a directory based on the directory schema, the content class and flexible attribute being defined in the directory schema;

accessing a first property to the attribute, the first property being operational or data providing in nature, the property having a data type that is independent of the complex data type; and

independent of directory schema modification;

(a) instantiating a second object instance of the content class, the second object comprising a second flexible attribute that is base on the complex data type;

(b) assigning a second property to the second flexible attribute, the second property having a different number of data elements than the first property; and

(c) wherein each data element in the first and second properties comprising data such that neither the first or second properties contribute to data sparsity of a directory based on the directory schema.

16. A server as recited in claim 15, wherein the directory schema is independent from any values that the object instance may store.

17. A server as recited in claim 15, wherein the complex data type is an XML data type.

18. A server as recited in claim 15, wherein the first property is described by an XML string, the XML string being compatible with the complex data type.

19. A server as recited in claim 15, wherein the directory schema defines a plurality of object classes for a versioning aware directory.

20. A server for extending a directory schema independent of schema modification, the server comprising:

processing means for;

instantiating a first object instance of a content class comprising a flexible attribute that is base on a complex data type, the content class and flexible attribute being defined in a directory schema; and

assigning a first property to the attribute, the first property being operational or data providing in nature, the first property having a data type that is independent of the complex data type, the first property comprising a particular number of data elements;

independent of modification to the directory schema, instantiating a second object instance of the content class, the second object comprising a second flexible attribute that is based on the complex data type; and

assigning a second property to the second flexible attribute, the second property being completely independent of any operational or data characteristics of the first property.

21. A server as recited in claim 20, wherein the first and second properties are described by respective XML strings that are compatible with the complex data type.