Directory server tracking tool

• US 7,197,555 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2000
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sheikh, Attaullah
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong; Thomas
• Application Number:
  US09/660,931
• Time in Patent Office: 2,386 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 707/9
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4505 using standardised directories; using standardised directory access protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4523 using lightweight directory access protocol [LDAP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories

Abstract

Tracking changes made in a directory server by establishing plural multicast groups for a respective plurality of change categories. Change information is submitted for multicast responsive to a change in the directory server, the change information being submitted to a selected one of the plural multicast groups, for multicast by the selected group, in correspondence to the category of the change. The change information may be submitted to the multicast group utilizing a connectionless protocol. Clients register with at least one of the plural multicast groups in order to obtain the change information.

Claims

1. A method for multicasting changes made in a directory server which contains information within a directory and makes a change to the information in the directory in accordance with a directory change operation, comprising the steps of:

establishing plural multicast groups, each multicast group corresponding to a respective change category for a type of change made to the directory in the directory server; and

submitting change information responsive to a change being made to the directory in the directory server, the change information being submitted to each member which belongs to a selected one of the plural multicast groups corresponding to the change category for the type of change made to the directory in the directory server.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the change information is submitted to the multicast group utilizing a connectionless protocol.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of change categories correspond to an add, delete, modify or search change.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein changes made in the directory server are performed utilizing a Lightweight Directory Server Protocol.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein change information is submitted for multicast by a plug-in that extends capabilities of the directory server.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the plug-in generates information packets based on changes made in the directory server, and submits the information packets to the multicast groups.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein a client registers with at least one of the plural multicast groups in order to obtain the change information corresponding to each multicast group for which the client has registered.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the client registers with multicast groups established for a plurality of directory servers.

9. A method for obtaining change information from a directory server which contains information within a directory and which makes a change to the information in the directory in accordance with a directory change operation, comprising the steps of:

registering as a member of at least one of a plurality of multicast groups, each of the plurality of multicast groups corresponding to a respective change category for a type of change made to the directory in the directory server; and

receiving from the directory server, change information submitted to each member which belongs to the multicast group corresponding to the change category for the type of change made to the directory in the directory server.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the member registers with multicast groups established for a plurality of directory servers.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the member registers with at least one multicast group corresponding to add, delete, modify or search change categories.

12. An apparatus for multicasting changes made in a directory server which contains information within a directory and which makes a change to the information in the directory in accordance with a directory change operation, wherein plural multicast groups are established such that each multicast group corresponds to a respective change category for a type of change made to the directory in the directory server, comprising:

a processor for executing executable process steps; and

a memory medium storing executable process steps, wherein the executable process steps comprise (a) generating change information responsive to a change being made to the directory in the directory server, wherein the change information corresponds to the type of change made to the directory, and (b) submitting the change information to each member which belongs to a selected one of the plural multicast groups corresponding to the change category for the type of change made to the directory in the directory server.

13. Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to multicast changes made in a directory server which contains information in a directory and which makes a change to the information in the directory in accordance with a directory change operation, wherein plural multicast groups are established such that each group corresponds to a respective change category for a type of change made to the directory in the directory server, the computer-executable process steps comprising:

generating change information responsive to a change being made to the directory in the directory server, wherein the change information corresponds to the type of change made to the directory; and

submitting the change information to each member which belongs to a selected one of the plural multicast groups corresponding to the change category for the type of change made to the directory in the directory server.

14. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 13, wherein the change information is submitted to the multicast group utilizing a connectionless protocol.

15. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of change categories correspond to add, delete, modify or search.

16. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 13, wherein changes made in the directory server are performed utilizing a Lightweight Directory Server Protocol.

17. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 13, wherein the process steps comprise a plug-in for extending capabilities of the directory server.

18. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 13, wherein a client registers with at least one of the plural multicast groups in order to obtain the change information corresponding to each multicast group for which the client has registered.

19. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 18, wherein the client registers with multicast groups established for a plurality of directory servers.

20. Computer executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to obtain change information from a directory server which contains information in a directory and which makes a change to the information in the directory in accordance with a directory change operation, the computer-executable process steps comprising:

registering as a member of at least one of a plurality of multicast groups, wherein each of the plurality of multicast groups corresponds to a respective change category for a type of change made to the directory in the directory server; and

receiving, from the directory server, change information submitted to each member which belongs to the multicast group corresponding to the change category for the type of change made to the directory in the directory server.

21. Computer executable process steps according to claim 20, wherein the member registers with multicast groups established for a plurality of directory servers.

22. Computer executable process steps according to claim 20, wherein the member registers with at least one multicast group corresponding to add, delete, modify or search change categories.

23. A method for providing notification of changes made in a directory server which contains information in a directory and which makes a change to the information in the directory in accordance with a directory change operation, comprising the steps of:

establishing plural groups each corresponding to a respective change category for a type of change made to the directory in the directory server; and

in response to a change being made to the directory in the directory server, providing notification of the change to each member which belongs to a selected one of the plural groups that corresponds to the change category for the type of change made to the directory in the directory server.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the plurality of change categories correspond to different directory change operations.

25. Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to provide notification of changes made in a directory server which contains information in a directory and which makes a change to the information in the directory in accordance with a directory change operation, the process steps comprising the steps of:

establishing plural groups each corresponding to a respective change category for a type of change made to the directory in the directory server; and

in response to a change being made to the directory in the directory server, providing notification of the change to each member which belongs to a selected one of the plural groups that corresponds to the change category for the type of change made to the directory in the directory server.

26. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of change categories correspond to different directory operations.