Method for deferred deletion of entries for a directory service backing store
First Claim
1. A method, in a data processing system, for searching a database from a directory service, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a search query at the data processing system for a directory, wherein the directory service is a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory service and the database is managed by a relational management service;
responsive to a search by the data processing system for directory entries that satisfy the search query, excluding given entries from search results that otherwise satisfy the search query to form modified search results, wherein the given entries identify database entries that have been tagged for deletion by setting a creation time of the directory entry to a predetermined value; and
returning, by the data processing system, the modified search results.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for deleting entries from a directory in which directory information is stored in a set of database tables begins upon a request to delete a directory entry. In response, the directory entry is tagged, preferably by setting the entry'"'"'s creation time to a null value. If a search query is received thereafter, the routine excludes tagged entries from search results that would otherwise satisfy the search query. Periodically, the routine searches for tagged entries, and references to the tagged entries are then deleted throughout the set of database tables. Thus, the inventive method defers entry deletions to enable directory queries to be processed even if deleted entries have not yet been fully expunged from the directory.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method, in a data processing system, for searching a database from a directory service, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a search query at the data processing system for a directory, wherein the directory service is a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory service and the database is managed by a relational management service; responsive to a search by the data processing system for directory entries that satisfy the search query, excluding given entries from search results that otherwise satisfy the search query to form modified search results, wherein the given entries identify database entries that have been tagged for deletion by setting a creation time of the directory entry to a predetermined value; and returning, by the data processing system, the modified search results. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A computer program product in a computer-readable storage medium for searching a database from a directory service, comprising:
-
instructions for receiving a search query for a directory, wherein the directory service is a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory service and the database is managed by a relational management service; instructions, responsive to a search for directory entries that satisfy the search query, for excluding given entries from search results that otherwise satisfy the search query to form modified search results, wherein the given entries identify database entries that have been tagged for deletion by setting a creation time of the directory entry to a predetermined value; and
instructions for returning the modified search results. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A directory service, comprising:
-
a bus; a communications unit connected to the bus; a storage device connected to the bus, wherein the storage device includes computer usable program code; a directory organized as a naming hierarchy having a plurality of entries each represented by a unique identifier, wherein the directory is compliant with the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP); a relational database management system having a backing store for storing directory data in a set of database tables; and a processor unit connected to the bus, wherein the processor unit executes the computer usable program code to receive a search query for a directory, wherein the directory service is a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory service and the database is managed by a relational management service; responsive to a search for directory entries that satisfy the search query, exclude given entries from search results that otherwise satisfy the search query to form modified search results, wherein the given entries identify database entries that have been tagged for deletion by setting a creation time of the directory entry to a predetermined value; and
return the modified search results. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification