Object-oriented distributed communications directory service

• US 6,031,977 A
• Filed: 12/18/1995
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Object Technology Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Pettus, Christopher Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US08/573,899
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 395/200.01, 395/700, 395/600, 395/200.6, 395/200.5, 395/200.8, 395/200.33
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4517 using open systems interconnection [OSI] directories, e.g. X.500
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

On a multi-node client server network, a client node obtains access to remote services by means of a communications directory service located in each node of the network. The communications directory service includes a tree structure to which existing directory services and other network services can be added. The tree structure has a plurality of nodes each of which includes specific methods that query and browse the associated directory service if such actions are supported by the underlying service. The communications directory service further includes shared libraries which store a service object associated with each service offered on the network. The service object, in turn, includes the service exchange address and communication link configuration information. A client desiring to access a remote service retrieves the appropriate service object from the communications directory service and uses the service object to set up the communications path.

Claims

1. A computer network system for connecting a client node having a memory to a server node having a memory with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the computer network system comprising:

a dynamically programmable network stack connecting the client node to the network system;

a directory service program in the client node having means for storing, in the client node memory, stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the network system;

installer apparatus for installing a service program in the server node for providing the service, the installer apparatus using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the client node memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service; and

apparatus located in the client node responsive to the service request for using the directory service to locate and retrieve the stored service object and for using the stack definition referenced therein to dynamically program the network stack to operate with a communication protocol required by the service program so that the client node can receive the service without becoming involved in details of communication protocols.

2. A computer network system according to claim 1 further comprising a directory service program in the server node having means for storing in the server node memory stack definitions for using different communication protocols on the network system.

3. A computer network system according to claim 2 wherein the installer apparatus stores the service object in the server node memory, the service object comprising a reference to a stack definition stored in the server node, which stack definition is required to access the service.

4. A computer network system according to claim 3 wherein the server node further comprises a second dynamically programmable network stack connecting the server node to the network system and wherein the service object comprises a stack definition for programming the second programmable network stack.

5. A computer network system according to claim 2 further comprising means for copying directory service information from the directory service program in the server node to the directory service program in the client node.

6. A computer network system according to claim 1 wherein the directory service program further comprises:

a directory tree structure having a plurality of node objects, at least one of which corresponds to the service; and

a mechanism responsive to user-entered criteria for traversing the tree structure to locate the node object corresponding to the service.

7. A computer network system according to claim 6 wherein the node object corresponding to the service has the service object stored therein.

8. A method for connecting a client node having a memory to a server node having a memory with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting the client node to the network system with a dynamically programmable network stack;

(b) creating in the client node, a directory service program having means for storing in the client node memory stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the network system;

(c) installing a service program in the server node for providing the service and using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the client node memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service; and

(d) using the request with the directory service to locate and retrieve the stored service object in order to use the stack definition referenced therein to dynamically program the network stack to operate with a communication protocol required by the service program so that the client node can receive the service without becoming involved in the details of communication protocols.

9. A method according to claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

(e) creating a directory service program in the server node having means for storing in the server node memory stack definitions for using different communication protocols on the network system.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein step (c) comprises the step of:

(c1) storing the service object in the server node memory, the service object comprising a reference to a stack definition stored in the server node, which stack definition is required to access the service.

11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of:

(f) using a second dynamically programmable network stack to connect the server node to the network system and wherein the service object comprises a stack definition for programming the second programmable network stack.

12. A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of:

(g) copying directory service information from the directory service program in the server node to the directory service program in the client node.

13. A method according to claim 8 wherein step (b) comprises the step of:

(b1) creating a directory tree structure having a plurality of node objects, at least one of which corresponds to the service; and

(b2) traversing the tree structure in response to user-entered criteria to locate the node object corresponding to the service.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein step (b1) comprises the step of:

(b1a) creating the node object corresponding to the service with the service object stored therein.

15. A computer program product for connecting a client node having a memory to a server node having a memory with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, including:

program code for connecting the client node to the network system with a dynamically programmable network stack;

program code for creating in the client node, a directory service program having means for storing, in the client node memory, stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the network system;

program code for installing a service program in the server node for providing the service, the program code using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the client node memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service; and

program code for using the request with the directory service to locate and retrieve the stored service object in order to use the stack definition referenced therein to dynamically program the network stack to operate with a communication protocol required by the service program so that the client node can receive the service without becoming involved in the details of communication protocols.

16. A computer program product according to claim 15 further comprising program code for creating a directory service program in the server node having means for storing, in the server node memory, stack definitions for using different communication protocols on the network system.

17. A computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the program code for installing a service program in the server node comprises program code for storing the service object in the server node memory, the service object comprising a reference to a stack definition stored in the server node, which stack definition is required to access the service.

18. A computer program product according to claim 17 further comprising program code for using a second dynamically programmable network stack to connect the server node to the network system and wherein the service object comprises a stack definition for programming the second programmable network stack.

19. A computer program product according to claim 16 further comprising program code for copying directory service information from the directory service program in the server node to the directory service program in the client node.

20. A computer program product according to claim 15 wherein the program code for creating a directory service program comprises:

program code for creating a directory tree structure having a plurality of node objects, at least one of which corresponds to the service; and

program code for traversing the tree structure in response to user-entered criteria to locate the node object corresponding to the service.

21. A computer program product according to claim 20 wherein the program code for creating a directory tree structure comprises program code for creating the node object corresponding to the service with the service object stored therein.

22. A server node for use with a computer network for connecting to a client node with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the server node comprising:

a memory;

a dynamically programmable network stack connecting the server node to the network system;

a communications directory service program having means for storing stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the computer network;

a service program for providing the service;

installer apparatus for installing the service program in the server node, the installer apparatus using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service program and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service; and

means for making an entry in the directory service program associating the service with the service object.

23. A client node for use in a computer network system for connecting to a server node with a selected one of a plurality of different communication protocols in response to a request by the client node for a service, the server node having installer apparatus therein for installing a service program in the server node for providing the service, the installer apparatus using characteristics of the service program to create and store a service object in the client node memory, the service object comprising a network address for the service and a reference to a stored stack definition required to access the service, the client node comprising:

a memory;

a dynamically programmable network stack connecting the client node to the network system;

a directory service program having means for storing in the memory stack definitions for programming the network stack to operate with different communication protocols on the network system; and

apparatus responsive to the service request for using the directory service to locate and retrieve the stored service object and for using the stack definition referenced therein to dynamically program the network stack to operate with a communication protocol required by the service program so that the client node can receive the service without becoming involved in the details of communication protocols.