Schema signing and just-in-time installation

• US 7,788,227 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Nettleton, David J., Hunter, Jason T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson; Greta L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weinrich; Brian E
• Application Number:
  US11/367,212
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 707/640, 717/174, 726/10
• US Class Current: 707/640
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications

Abstract

A system and/or methodology that enables schema motion and “just-in-time” installation thereof. Aspects of the invention employ signing technology to facilitate secure definition of schema data. These public key technologies can also be employed to facilitate verification of the document (e.g., schema) received at a destination.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of transferring a schema between a client and a store, the method comprising:

employing a processor to execute computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium to implement the following acts;

creating an instance of a data type at the client for storage in the store, the data type defined by a schema;

ascertaining that the schema defining the data type is not installed in the store;

upon determining that the schema is not installed in the store;

automatically locating a schema package defining the data type from a schema catalog, based on a classifier that predicts an automation preference of a user, the classifier being a function that maps an input attribute vector to a confidence associated with the automation preference and the schema package defining a unit of installation for the schema;

signing the schema package with a digital signature, the digital signature providing an authentication for a subsequent installation of the schema package;

transferring the schema package to the store; and

installing the schema package in the store prior to persisting the data type instance in the store.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the schema package describes a data structure of a document.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the act of signing the schema package includes signing with a key.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising naming the schema with a unique name.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the unique name includes a token mathematically related to the key used to sign the schema package.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, the unique name further including at least one of a name element, a version number element, or a setting.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the ascertaining further comprises querying a namespace component that includes a list of all schemas installed in the store.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the namespace component is implemented in the data store.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the schema catalog is implemented on at least one of a client, as part of a data instance, or a network as a remotely accessible service.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transferring a document defined by the schema from the client to the store.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the act of installing the schema package includes installing the schema package just-in-time based at least in part on the transferring of the document.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the act of installing the schema package includes delaying an installation of the schema package based at least in part on the transferring of the document.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising predicting a user intention as a function of a criterion.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising automating an action by employing a rules-based logic.

15. A system to facilitate transfer of an electronic document from a client to a store, comprising:

a memory having computer executable components stored thereon; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the computer executable components, the computer executable components comprising;

a locator component configured to perform a schema query on a schema catalog to determine whether a schema required to persist the electronic document is present in the store;

a transfer component configured to perform a schema transfer of a schema package to the store when the locator component determines that the schema is not present in the store, the schema package signed with a digital signature prior to the schema transfer and defined as a unit of installation of the schema, the digital signature providing an authentication for a subsequent installation of the schema package wherein the transfer component includes an artificial intelligence component configured to automate the schema transfer by automatically locating the schema package based on a classifier that predicts an automation preference of a user, the classifier being a function that maps an input attribute vector to a confidence associated with the automation preference; and

an installation component configured to perform a schema installation of the schema package in the store prior to persisting the electronic document in the store.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the schema package describes a data structure of the electronic document.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the digital signature is computed for the schema package using a key prior to the schema transfer.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a naming component configured to name and install the schema package with a unique name based at least in part on the key.

19. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer-readable instructions, the computer-readable instructions including instructions for causing at least one processor to perform at least the following acts:

determining whether a schema required to persist an instance of a data type is installed in a store;

automatically locating a schema package defining the data type from a schema catalog upon determining that the schema is not installed in the store based on a classifier that predicts an automation preference of a user, the classifier being a function that maps an input attribute vector to a confidence associated with the automation preference, and the schema package defining a unit of installation of the schema;

signing the schema package with a digital signature prior to a transfer using a public encryption key, the unique digital signature providing an authentication for a subsequent installation of the schema package;

naming the schema package with a unique name, the unique name including at least a friendly name element, a version number element, a culture setting, and a public key token, wherein the public key token is a unique value derived from the public encryption key; and

installing the schema package in the store.