Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-15
2001-03-27
Alam, Hosain T. (Department: 2172)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C709S241000, C709S225000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208986
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an electronic messaging system and more particularly relates to World Wide Web (“Web”) interface and method for displaying and accessing directory information.
2. Description of the Background
Electronic directories are evolving into important information tools having a myriad of applications. They operate much like a printed directory; that is, they provide names, locations and other information about people, products, equipment and organizations. First generation network directories were designed for a particular application, such as an employee or e-mail system directory, and thus had limited usefulness outside the scope of the application. However, the growth of local area networks (LANs), heterogeneous e-mail networks, the Internet, and other electronic communications media such as telephone and fax has resulted in enterprises having to manage a hodgepodge of proprietary directory systems. These directory systems rarely interoperate, are costly to maintain, and frequently contain redundant information. Enterprises today are finding a need to unify these disparate directories with a single standards-based directory to reduce maintenance costs and provide universal access through well-defined interfaces. Most directory vendors have chosen X.500 as the technology best suited to meet this need.
Until recently, users could only access information contained in an X.500 directory through specialized applications called directory user agents, or DUAs. DUAs were typically limited in functionality, because (a) they were tailored for particular X.500 implementations, making them unable to interoperate with other X.500 directories, and (b) they typically displayed directory information in a fixed format, with little, if any, ability to customize the presentation of data.
Another shortcoming of existing directory access systems is that they fail to provide users with access to directory information via a World Wide Web (“Web”) interface in a configurable manner. Neither the format in which the information is published nor the particular content of the information is customizable. The end result therefore looks the same for any user requesting the information, irrespective of whether the user is linked via an internal network, such as a corporate intranet, or via an external network, such as the Internet. Moreover, the location or identification of the user does not affect the type of information that is provided. This may result in the disclosure of personal or otherwise secure information (such as a home telephone number) to unintended recipients.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome these and other drawbacks of existing systems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a messaging directory system that provides access to directory information in homogeneous and heterogeneous messaging environments.
Another object of the invention is to provide a messaging directory system that allows users to publish multiple views of scalable, robust, secure messaging directories.
Another object of the invention is to allow administrators to easily define data mappings and conversions from a wide variety of data sources, thereby integrating multi-sourced content into a directory.
Another object of the invention is to enable users to access information about people, products and resources in an X.500 directory. This information can be on an internal network for enterprise use or on a public network accessible by various individuals, organizations and the like.
Another object of the invention is to combine an X.500 and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory server with Web interface technology to provide a user-friendly way to publish enterprise directory information in HyperText Markup Language (HTML) format via the Internet or intranets. Administrators can easily publish directory information that users can access, search and view from Web browsers, LDAP-enabled clients and X.500-based applications.
Another object of the invention is to utilize HTML to allow administrators to define their own LDAP templates, including search criteria, so that users can access this information without having to step through the directory one level at a time or know the structure of the underlying schema.
A technical advantage of the present invention is that it provides an administrator the ability to customize the appearance of the displayed directory information. Another technical advantage is that the invention provides an administrator with improved control over access to the directory information. Another technical advantage is that the invention provides an administrator with the ability to create custom directory information search forms.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, these and other objects and technical advantages of the invention are achieved by providing a Web interface and method for displaying directory information. The Web interface for displaying directory information comprises a server for receiving a directory request, a request processor operatively connected to the server, wherein the request processor links directory data to a template file in response to the directory request, wherein the template file dynamically creates a response to the directory request, and a publisher for publishing the response.
In another embodiment, a method for displaying directory information in accordance with the invention comprises the following steps: (1) receiving at least one information request; (2) retrieving data from a directory responding to the information request; (3) correlating the data with a template file to create a response, the template file comprising tags for controlling display of the data; and (4) publishing the response.
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Cherry Steve
Goodman David
Schneck David H.
Alam Hosain T.
Corrielus Jean M.
Hunton & Williams
International Business Machines - Corporation
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