Delivering output XML with dynamically selectable processing

• US 6,816,871 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oblix, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Michele C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mofiz, Apu M
• Application Number:
  US09/998,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20020147746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/10, 707/103.Y, 707/103.R, 707/104.1, 235/462.01, 701/33, 709/218, 709/246, 709/310, 715/501.1, 715/513, 715/523, 717/102, 717/106
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

In response to a user request, an Identity System generates an Output XML containing raw identity information organized in accordance with a set of XML templates. The Identity System dynamically determines the desired response type and prepares the response from the Output XML. One response type is server-side processing—the Identity System combines the Output XML with XSL stylesheets to generate a HTML response. An alternative response type is client-side processing—the Identity System supplies the user with the Output XML. In further client-side embodiments, the Identity System provides XSL stylesheet references along with the Output XML. Additional embodiments provide for the Identity System to perform customized post-processing on the Output XML.

Claims

1. A method for using an Identity System, comprising:

(a) receiving a request to access one or more identity profiles in said Identity System, each of said identity profiles include a plurality of attributes, said request includes an indication as to whether to perform client-side output processing or server-side output processing;

(b) accessing said one or more identity profiles and generating XML output in response to said request, said XML output includes information based on at least a subset of said attributes;

(c) determining whether to perform client-side processing or server-side processing of said XML output based on said indication included in said request; and

(d) preparing a client-side response to said request based on said XML output if said determination in said step (c) calls for performing client-side processing and preparing a server-side response to said request based on said XML output if said determination in said step (c) calls for performing server-side processing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of preparing a client-side response includes:

providing said XML output without references to any XSL stylesheet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of preparing a client-side response includes:

providing said Output XML and references to a set of one or more XSL stylesheets.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said step (c) includes the step of:

(i) determining whether to include references to a set of XSL stylesheets with said client-side response.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (d) includes:

preparing a HTML response based on said Output XML and a set of XSL stylesheets.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (c) includes the step of:

examining a parameter in said request to determine whether to perform client-side processing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (d) includes the step of:

examining a parameter in said request to identify a XSL stylesheet for use in preparing said response.

8. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

(e) performing post-processing on said XML output to obtain a modified XML Output.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step (e) includes the steps of:

(1) retrieving a pointer to a post-processing application from an event catalogue; and

(2) performing said post-processing application.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said post-processing application is a decryption application.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said steps (a), (b), (c), and (d) are performed by an Identity System integrated with an Access System.

12. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to access one or more identity profiles in said Identity System, each of said identity profiles include a plurality of attributes, said request includes an indication as to whether to perform client-side output processing or server-side output processing;

accessing said one or more identity profiles and generating XML output in response to said request, said XML output includes information based on at least a subset of said attributes;

preparing a response to said request, said step of preparing includes preparing a client-side response to said request based on said XML output if said indication included in said request calls for performing client-side output processing and preparing a server-side response to said request based on said XML output if said indication included in said request calls for performing server-side output processing.

13. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 12, wherein said step of preparing a client-side response includes:

(i) providing said XML output.

14. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 12, wherein said step of preparing a client-side response includes:

(ii) providing said XML output and references to a set of XSL stylesheets.

15. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 12, wherein said step of preparing a server-side response includes:

(i) preparing a HTML response based on said XML output and a set of one or more XSL stylesheets.

16. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 12, further including the step of:

(e) performing post-processing on said XML output to obtain a modified Output XML.

17. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 12, wherein said steps (a), (b), (c), and (d) are performed by an Identity System in communication with an Access System.

18. An apparatus comprising:

one or more communications interfaces;

one or more storage devices; and

one or more processors in communication with said one or more storage devices and said one or more communication interfaces, said one or more processors perform a method comprising;

receiving a request to access one or more identity profiles in said Identity System, said request includes an indication as to whether to perform client-side output processing or server-side output processing;

accessing said one or more identity profiles and generating XML output in response to said request;

preparing a response to said request, said step of preparing includes preparing a client-side response to said request based on said XML output if said indication included in said request calls for performing client-side output processing; and

preparing a server-side response to said request based on said XML output if said indication included in said request calls for performing server-side output processing.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said step of preparing a client-side response includes:

(i) providing said XML output without references to any XSL stylesheets.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said step of preparing a client-side response includes:

providing said XML output and references to a set of XSL stylesheets.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said step of preparing a server-side response includes:

(i) preparing a HTML response based on said XML output and a set of XSL stylesheets.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, further including the step of:

(e) performing post-processing on said XML output to obtain a modified Output XML.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

said one or more processors implement an Identity System integrated with an Access System.

24. A method for using an Identity System, comprising:

receiving a request to access one or more identity profiles in said Identity System, each of said identity profiles include a plurality of attributes, said request includes an indication as to whether to perform client-side output processing or server-side output processing;

accessing said one or more identity profiles in response to said request;

generating XML output in response to said request, said XML output includes information based on at least a subset of said attributes;

preparing a client-side response to said request based on said XML output if said indication included in said request calls for performing client-side output processing; and

preparing a server-side response to said request based on said XML output if said indication included in said request calls for performing server-side output processing.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein:

said XML output includes at least a subset of said attributes.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein:

said step of preparing a server-side response includes creating a new format for said XML output.

27. A method according to claim 24, wherein:

said step of preparing a server-side response includes using XSL to create HTML for said XML output.

28. A method according to claim 24, wherein:

said step of preparing a client-side response includes transmitting said XML output to a first client.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein:

said XML output includes at least a subset of said attributes;

said step of preparing a server-side response includes using XSL to create HTML output for said XML output; and

said HTML output includes one or more of said subset of said attributes.

30. A method according to claim 24, wherein:

said XML output includes a data file.

31. A method for using an Identity System, comprising:

receiving a request to access one or more identity profiles in said Identity System, each of said identity profiles include a plurality of attributes, said request indicates whether to output in XML format or HTML format;

accessing said one or more identity profiles in response to said request;

generating an output in response to said request, said output includes information based on at least a subset of said attributes;

dynamically determining whether to supply said output in XML format or HTML format based on said request;

providing said output in HTML format if said step of dynamically determining concludes to supply said output in HTML format; and

providing said output in XML format if said step of dynamically determining concludes to supply said output in XML format.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein:

said output is initially in XML format.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein:

said output includes at least a subset of said attributes.