Directory service system and method with tolerance for data entry storage and output

• US 7,315,860 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harvey, Richard Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam; Shahid Al
• Application Number:
  US09/427,263
• Time in Patent Office: 2,989 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 4, 707/10, 707/100, 707/101, 707/102, 709/203, 709/217, 715/513
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for applying an application of a data service, such as X.500 and LDAP, to a relational database, a database design and use of the database to perform such directory services. Specifically addressed is the problem of achieving efficient searching of a directory service database coupled with effective input or output of data from the database. The disclosed method and apparatus, which provide end efficiency and data tolerance in the provision of a variety of database services, is based upon the concurrent storage in a database of both a normalised (syntax normalised) form and a raw (protocol encoded) form of the data. The raw form of data may be in ASN.1. A further feature of the disclosed method and apparatus concerns the transfer of data in and out of a database, where, in finding data in the database, a normalised form is used, and, in transferring data out of the database, a raw form is used. Syntax rules are used to convert the raw form of data to or from the normalised form in which it is stored.

Claims

1. A method of storing data in a database, comprising:

obtaining a first raw data value;

generating a first syntax-normalized data value associated with the first raw data value;

storing concurrently in a first table and a second table both the first syntax-normalized data value and the first raw data value;

receiving a query associated with an object and with the first syntax-normalized data value, wherein;

the object is associated with a first entry identifier; and

the first syntax-normalized data value is associated with an attribute identifier;

retrieving from the first table a plurality of entry identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of entry identifiers is associated, in the first table, with a parent entry identifier that matches the first entry identifier; and

for each of the retrieved entry identifiers;

identifying in the second table an entry associated with the respective retrieved entry identifier, wherein the entry is associated with the attribute identifier and comprises a respective syntax-normalized data value and a respective raw data value; and

if the respective syntax-normalized data value matches the first syntax-normalized data value, retrieving the respective raw data value.

2. A method of storing data in a database, as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said first syntax-normalized data value is generated from said first raw data value.

3. A method of storing data in a database, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said generating step comprises:

applying directory service attribute syntax rules to the first raw data value.

4. A method of storing data in a database, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storing comprises:

maintaining both the first syntax-normalized data value and the first raw data value for data base searching and data retrieval.

5. A method of storing data in a database, as claimed in claim 4 wherein said maintaining comprises maintaining said first raw data value and said first syntax-normalized data value in at least two entry tables.

6. A method of storing data in a database, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said maintaining further comprises correlating the storage location of said first raw data value and said first syntax-normalized data value in said at least two entry tables.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1,2,4,5 and 6 wherein the first raw data value is stored in ASN.1 format.

8. A method of locating data in a database, wherein a first raw data value is stored in a first table and a second table and linked to a concurrently stored first syntax-normalized data value, comprising:

receiving a query associated with an object and with the first syntax-normalized data value, wherein;

the object is associated with a first entry identifier; and

the first syntax-normalized data value is associated with an attribute identifier;

retrieving from the first table a plurality of entry identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of entry identifiers is associated, in the first table, with a parent entry identifier that matches the first entry identifier; and

for each of the retrieved entry identifiers;

identifying in the second table an entry associated with the respective retrieved entry identifier, wherein the entry is associated with the attribute identifier and comprises a respective syntax-normalized data value and a respective raw data value; and

if the respective syntax-normalized data value matches the first syntax-normalized data value, retrieving the respective raw data value.

9. A database apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a first raw data value;

means for generating a first syntax-normalized data value associated with the first raw data value;

a storage medium operable to store concurrently in a first table and a second table both the first syntax-normalized data value and the first raw data value; and

means for receiving a query associated with an object and with the first syntax-normalized data value, wherein;

the object is associated with a first entry identifier; and

the first syntax-normalized data value is associated with an attribute identifier;

means for retrieving from the first table a plurality of entry identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of entry identifiers is associated, in the first table, with a parent entry identifier that matches the first entry identifier; and

means for searching data, wherein the search comprises, for each of the retrieved entry identifiers;

identifying in the second table an entry associated with the respective retrieved entry identifier, wherein the entry is associated with the attribute identifier and comprises a respective syntax-normalized data value and a respective raw data value; and

if the respective syntax-normalized data value matches the first syntax-normalized data value, retrieving the respective raw data value.

10. A database apparatus for storing data in a database, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first syntax-normalized data value is generated from the first raw data value.

11. A database apparatus for storing data in a database, as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

means for applying directory service attribute syntax rules to the first raw data value.

12. A database apparatus for storing data in a database, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said storage medium is operative to maintain both the first syntax-normalized data value and the first raw data value for data base searching and data retrieval.

13. A database apparatus for storing data in a database, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said storage medium is operative to maintain said first raw data value and said first syntax-normalized data value in at least two entry tables.

14. A database apparatus for storing data in a database as claimed in claim 13, wherein said storage locations of said first raw data value and said first syntax-normalized data value are correlated in said at least two entry tables.

15. An apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 9,10,12,13 or 14 wherein said first raw data value is stored in ASN.1 format.

16. An apparatus for locating data in a database, wherein:

a first raw data value is stored in a first table and a second table and linked to a concurrently stored first syntax-normalized data value, the first syntax-normalized data value generated from the first raw data value; and

comprising;

means for receiving a query associated with an object and with the first syntax-normalized data value, wherein;

the object is associated with a first entry identifier; and

the first syntax-normalized data value is associated with an attribute identifier;

means for retrieving from the first table a plurality of entry identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of entry identifiers is associated, in the first table, with a parent entry identifier that matches the first entry identifier; and

means for searching data, wherein the search comprises, for each of the retrieved entry identifiers;

identifying in the second table an entry associated with the respective retrieved entry identifier, wherein the entry is associated with the attribute identifier and comprises a respective syntax-normalized data value and a respective raw data value; and

if the respective syntax-normalized data value matches the first syntax-normalized data values retrieving the respective raw data value.

17. An apparatus for locating data in a database, as claimed in claim 16 wherein said searching is performed using SQL.

18. In a directory service system, having a database in which a first raw data value and an associated first syntax-normalized data value are stored in a first table and a second table, apparatus for transferring data into and out of the database, comprising:

means receiving a query associated with an object and with the first syntax-normalized data value, wherein;

the object is associated with a first entry identifier; and

the first syntax-normalized data value is associated with an attribute identifier;

means for retrieving from the first table a plurality of entry identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of entry identifiers is associated, in the first table, with a parent entry identifier that matches the first entry identifier; and

means for searching data, wherein the search comprises, for each of the retrieved entry identifiers;

identifying in the second table an entry associated with the respective retrieved entry identifier, wherein the entry is associated with the attribute identifier and comprises a respective syntax-normalized data value and a respective raw data value; and

if the respective syntax-normalized data value matches the first syntax-normalized data value, retrieving the respective raw data value.