Method and apparatus for presenting, searching, and viewing directories

• US 7,519,575 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Simpson, Michel Shane, Garrett, Brett Dee, Peterson, William Donald III, Jensen, Nathan Blaine
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene; John E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly; Anh
• Application Number:
  US09/943,786
• Time in Patent Office: 2,783 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1-1041, 709/203, 709/213, 709/225, 709217-219, 709/223, 709/226
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A directory shell references one or more directories. Each directory comprises a plurality of directory objects each having object attributes and attribute data. One or more categories in the directory shell are associated with one or more directory objects and at least a portion of the associated object attribute. A user interface is operable for a user to query the categories in the directory shell. A directory interface is operable to send a search request to the directories in accordance with the query and receive data from the directories that satisfy the search request.

Claims

1. A computer program product available on a computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for loading on a computing device, comprising:

a directory shell able to reference two or more disparate directories each having a directory class, the directory class in one of the directories being dissimilar in directory objects and data from the directory class in another of the directories;

an administrator utility with the directory shell configurable to associate the directory class in the one of the directories to the directory class in the another of the directories, the result of associating the directory classes being a user-searchable category including a category attribute mapped to one or more class attributes of the directory class; and

a directory browser with the directory shell whereby users can search the directory classes of the two or more disparate directories with a single query of the user-searchable category, including a panel where users can view search results of the single query.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the two or more disparate directories are managed on a plurality of servers in communication with the computing device onto which the directory shell is loaded.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, further including a directory interface operable to send the single query to the two or more disparate directories.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, further including a director driver for each of the two or more disparate directories to allow the directory interface to communicate therewith.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the administrator utility further includes a table for associating the directory class in the one of the directories to the directory class in the another of the directories.

6. A method of searching in a computer system, comprising:

providing a directory shell with an administrator utility and a directory browser for loading onto a computer;

enabling the administrator utility to associate directory classes of two or more disparate directories into a single user-searchable category, including enabling mapping a category attribute to one or more class attributes of one of the directory classes;

from the directory browser, enabling direct searching of the directory classes of the two or more disparate directories with a single query of the single user-searchable category; and

causing displaying of search results of the single query on a panel of the directory browser.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the enabling further includes mapping a category attribute of the single user-searchable category to one or more class attributes of the directory class.

8. A computer program product available on a computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for loading on a computing device, comprising:

a directory shell for loading on the computing device which is in communication with one or more servers having two or more disparate directories each with a directory class, the directory class in one of the directories being dissimilar in directory objects and data from the directory class in another of the directories, the directory shell having an administrator utility and a directory browser;

a table in the administrator utility configurable to associate the directory class in the one of the directories to the directory class in the another of the directories, the result of associating the directory classes being a user-searchable category including a category attribute mapped to one or more class attributes of the directory class, the table having an enable column to indicate directory classes associated with the user-searchable category;

a query portion in the directory browser whereby users can directly search the directory classes of the two or more disparate directories with a single query of the user-searchable category; and

a panel in the directory browser where users can view search results of the single query.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the query portion and the panel are on a same page of the directory browser.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the table includes one or more check boxes for the associating of the directory classes.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the administrator utility and directory browser is formatted to be displayed in HTML format.

12. A method of searching in a computer system, comprising:

creating a single user-searchable category from directory classes of two or more disparate directories, the creating including mapping a category attribute to one or more class attributes of one of the directory classes and indicating the directory classes associated with the user-searchable category by way of an enable column; and

directly searching the directory classes of the two or more disparate directories with a single query of the user-searchable category, the directly searching substantially avoiding creating or using a virtual or other directory.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the creating further includes associating, in an administrator utility, the directory class in the one of the directories to the directory class in the another of the directories.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the creating further includes creating additional user-searchable categories for additional directory classes of the two or more directories.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the creating further includes providing a directory shell for loading on a computer in communication with one or more servers having the two or more disparate directories.