Supporting multiple application program interfaces

• US 7,478,407 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Jain, Vikas, Lee, Michele C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Van H
• Application Number:
  US10/325,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20040010791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,216 Days
• Field of Search: 719/310, 719/318, 719/328, 719/331, 719/332, 719/311, 717/164, 713/191, 707/102, 709/203, 726/3, 726/227
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• 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 2209/543 Local
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

Technology for supporting multiple application program interfaces. A main application identifies an application program interface to employ with a program outside of the main program, such as a plug-in. In one instance, the main application employs an application program interface registration list to identify the proper application program interface to use with a desired program—allowing the proper application program interface to be identified before interacting with the desired program. The registration list includes a set of entries. Each entry identifies a program and a corresponding application program interface to use with the program. The main application accesses an entry in the registration list for the desired program to identify the corresponding application program interface. When an event occurs, the main application accesses an event catalog entry to identify a program that corresponds to the event and the application program interface that corresponds to the program.

Claims

1. A method of managing an interface, the method comprising:

providing, in an Identity System configured to provide identity management services for users on a network, an application program interface registration list comprising a plurality of entries, each of the entries correlating an application program interface to a program outside the Identity System, wherein the Identity System supports a plurality of application program interfaces;

identifying, in the Identity System, an application program interface corresponding to a program, based at least in part on an entry in the application program interface registration list; and

invoking said program outside said Identity System in accordance with said identified application program interface.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

identifying said entry.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said entry corresponds to an event.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said entry is identified in response to said event.

5. A method according to claim 1, where said method further comprises:

identifying said program from said entry.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said identifying an application program interface is performed by a first application and said program is a client program outside of said first application.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said first application is a User Manager application.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said identifying an application program interface and said interacting with said program are performed by a first application and said identified application program interface is one of plurality of application program interfaces supported by said first application.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said application program interface registration list is an event catalog.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said identifying an application program interface is performed by a first application prior to said first application interacting with said program for a first time.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said program is a client program outside of said Identity System.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method is performed as part of an Access System.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said program is a client program outside of said Access System.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said Identity system is integrated with said Access System.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said program is a client program outside of said integrated Identity/Access System.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing identity management services for users on a network comprises managing a plurality of identity profiles, each of the identity profiles being associated with a user.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein each identity profile comprises a plurality of attributes.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein managing a user profile comprises allowing a user to create a new user identity profile.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein said Access System is configured to provide security for one or more resources across one or more web servers.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein said Access System is further configured to perform authentication and authorization of users.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein said program is an encryption program.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of interfaces comprise first application program interface that is compatible with a prior version of the Identity System and a second application program interface that supports additional functionality in a new version of the Identity System.

23. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said one or more processor readable storage devices, said processor readable being executable by one or more processors and comprising:

code for providing, in an Identity System configured to provide identity management services for users on a network, an application program interface registration list comprising a plurality of entries, each of the entries correlating an application program interface to a program outside the Identity System, wherein the Identity System supports a plurality of application program interfaces;

code for identifying, in the Identity System, an application program interface corresponding to a program, based at least in part on an entry in the application program interface registration list; and

code for invoking said program outside said Identity System in accordance with said identified application program interface.

24. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 23, wherein said processor readable code further comprises:

code for identifying said entry.

25. One ore more processor readable storage devices according to claim 24, wherein said entry corresponds to an event, wherein said entry is identified in response to said event.

26. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 23, wherein said processor readable code further comprises:

code for identifying said program from said entry.

27. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 23, wherein a first application comprises said code for identifying an application program interface, and said program is a client program outside of said first application.

28. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 23, wherein a first application comprises said code for identifying an application program interface, and wherein said application program interface is identified prior to said first application interacting with said program for a first time.

29. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 23, wherein said processor readable code is executed by an Access System.

30. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 29, wherein said Access System is integrated with said Identity System.

31. An Identity System configured to provide identity management services for users on a network, the Identity System comprising:

one or more storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said one or more storage devices; and

one or more processors in communication with said one or more storage devices, wherein said processor readable code is executable by said one or more processors, said processor readable code comprising;

code for providing, in an Identity System configured to provide identity management services for users on a network, an application program interface registration list comprising a plurality of entries, each of the entries correlating an application program interface to a program outside the Identity System, wherein the Identity System supports a plurality of application program interfaces;

code for identifying, in said Identity System, an application program interface corresponding to a program, based at least in part on an entry in the application program interface registration list; and

code for invoking said program outside said Identity System in accordance with said identified application program interface.

32. An Identity System according to claim 31, wherein said processor readable code further comprises:

code for identifying said entry, wherein said entry corresponds to an event, wherein said entry is identified in response to said event.

33. An Identity System according to claim 31, wherein said application program interface is identified prior to interacting with said program for a first time.

34. A method of managing an interface, the method comprising:

identifying, in an Identity System, an entry in a configuration file, wherein said Identity System is configured to provide identity management services for users on a network, and wherein said configuration file comprises an application program interface registration list comprising a plurality of entries, each of the entries correlating an application program interface to a program outside the Identity System, wherein the Identity System supports a plurality of application program interfaces; and

identifying an application program interface from said entry, wherein said application program interface is used to invoke a program outside the Identity System.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein said configuration file is an event catalog.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein said entry corresponds to an event.

37. A method according to claim 35, wherein:

the event catalog comprises a plurality of event catalog entries, and wherein each event catalog entry comprises an identifier for an event, an identifier for a program to invoke in response to the event, and an identifier for an API to use with the program;

identifying an entry in a configuration file comprises identifying an event catalog entry, based on the event; and

identifying an application program interface comprises identifying, from the event catalog entry, a program to invoke in response to the event and an application program interface to use with the identified program.

38. A method according to claim 34, wherein said entry corresponds to an event and said method further comprises:

interacting with said program corresponding to said event using said application program interface.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein said identifying an entry and said identifying an application program interface are performed by a first application and said identified application program interface is one of a plurality of application program interfaces supported by said first application.

40. A method according to claim 38, wherein said method further comprises:

identifying said program from said entry.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein said entry specifies said program.

42. A method according to claim 34, wherein said entry specifies said application program interface.

43. A method according to claim 34, wherein said method is performed as part of an Access System.

44. A method according to claim 43, wherein said Access System is integrated with said Identity System.

45. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said one or more processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code being executable by one or more processors and comprising:

code for identifying, in an Identity System, an entry in a configuration file, wherein said Identity System is configured to provide identity management services for users on a network, and wherein said configuration file comprises an application program interface registration list comprising a plurality of entries, each of the entries correlating an application program interface to a program outside the Identity System, wherein the Identity System supports a plurality of application program interfaces; and

code for identifying an application program interface from said entry, wherein said application program interface is used to invoke a program outside the Identity System.

46. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 45, wherein said entry corresponds to an event and said processor readable code further comprises:

code for interacting with said program corresponding to said event using said application program interface.

47. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 46, wherein said processor readable code further comprises:

code for identifying said program from said entry.

48. An Identity System configured to provide identity management services for users on a network, the Identity System comprising:

one or more storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said one or more storage devices; and

one or more processors in communication with said one or more storage devices, wherein said processor readable code is executable by said one or more processors, said processor readable code comprising;

code for identifying an entry in a configuration file, wherein said configuration file comprises an application program interface registration list comprising a plurality of entries, each of the entries correlating an application program interface to a program outside the Identity System, wherein the Identity System supports a plurality of application program interfaces; and

code for identifying an application program interface from said entry, wherein said application program interface is used to invoke a program outside the Identity System.

49. An Identity System according to claim 48, wherein said entry corresponds to an event and said processor readable code further comprises:

code for interacting with said program corresponding to said event using said application program interface; and

code for identifying said program from said entry.

50. A method of managing an interface, comprising the steps of:

identifying, in an Identity System, an application program interface in a plurality of application program interfaces, wherein said application program interface corresponds to a program outside said Identity System, and wherein said Identity System is configured to provide identity management services for users on a network; and

invoking said program in accordance with said identified application program interface, wherein said application program interface is identified prior to invoking said program for a first time.

51. A method according to claim 50, wherein identifying an application program interface comprises:

identifying said application program interface, based at least in part on a configuration file, wherein said configuration file contains an entry correlating said program to said application program interface.

52. A method according to claim 51, wherein identifying an application program interface comprises:

identifying said application program interface from said entry.

53. A method according to claim 52, further comprising:

identifying said entry in response to an event; and

identifying said program from said entry.

54. A method according to claim 53, wherein said configuration file is an event catalog.

55. A method according to claim 50, wherein said application program interface is identified by a first application and said program is a client program outside of said first application.

56. A method according to claim 50, wherein said method is performed as part of an Access System.

57. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said one or more processor readable storage devices, said processor readable being executable by one or more processors and comprising:

code for identifying, in an Identity System, an application program interface in a plurality of application program interfaces, wherein said application program interface corresponds to a program outside said Identity System, and wherein said Identity System is configured to provide identity management services for users on a network; and

code for invoking said program in accordance with said identified application program interface, wherein said application program interface is identified prior to invoking said program for a first time.

58. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 57, wherein said code for identifying an application program interface comprises:

code for identifying said application program interface, based at least in part on a configuration file, wherein said configuration file contains an entry correlating said program to said application program interface.

59. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 58, wherein:

said code for identifying an application program interface further comprises;

code for identifying said application program interface from said entry, and said processor readable code further comprises;

code for identifying said entry in response to said event; and

code for identifying said program from said entry.

60. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 57, wherein said application program interface is identified by a first application and said program is a client program outside of said first application.

61. An Identity System configured to provide identity management services for users on a network, the Identity System comprising:

one or more storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said one or more storage devices; and

one or more processors in communication with said one or more storage devices, wherein said processor readable code is executable by said one or more processors, said processor readable code comprising;

code for identifying, in said Identity System, an application program interface in a plurality of application program interfaces, wherein said application program interface corresponds to a program outside said Identity System; and

code for invoking said program in accordance with said identified application program interface wherein said application program interface is identified prior to invoking said program for a first time.

62. An Identity System according to claim 61, wherein said code for identifying an application program interface comprises:

code for identifying said application program interface, based at least in part on a configuration file, wherein said configuration file contains an entry correlating said program to said application program interface.

63. An Identity System according to claim 62, wherein:

said code for identifying an application program interface further comprises;

code for identifying said application program interface from said entry, and said processor readable code further comprises;

code for identifying said entry in response to an event; and

code for identifying said program from said entry.