Just-in-time wrapper synchronization

摘要

The invention is directed to just-in-time (JIT) retrieval of directory information to reduce network traffic and load on directory servers and/or data sources by requesting only the information that is currently needed from the directory server. In the invention, a wrapper operating with a directory server and an application programming interface (API) provides this capability. The wrapper is configured to receive a request from a client and to determine a location corresponding to a set of current attribute values for responding to the request. The wrapper retrieves the set of current attribute values in a JIT manner from at least one of the following: the directory server and an external source. A set of current attributes is returned to the client from the wrapper. By propagating information in a JIT manner, only the information that will be currently used is propagated across the network.

主权项

1. A method for just-in-time (JIT) retrieval of directory information, the method comprising:
providing a directory server and a repository, the directory server operating with an application programming interface (API) and a wrapper, wherein the repository is a cache capable of receiving refreshed attributes from an external source, and wherein the external source comprises a lightweight directory application protocol (LDAP) provider; intercepting, by the wrapper, a request made from a client application intended for the directory server, wherein the wrapper integrates with the repository only when the request is made, and wherein following the making of the request, the client application interfaces with the wrapper instead of the repository; identifying by the wrapper a set of attribute values of an entry in the repository for responding to the request; determining by the wrapper, a location corresponding to the set of attribute values for responding to the request, wherein the determining the location comprises:
evaluating whether the set of attribute values have been refreshed in the repository within a first predetermined period of time;in the case that the set of attribute values have been refreshed in the repository within the first predetermined period of time, determining, based on the evaluation, the repository as the location corresponding to the set of attribute values;in the case that the set of attribute values in the repository have not been refreshed within the first predetermined period of time, determining whether the external source can satisfy the request, and determining the external source as the location corresponding to the set of attribute values, based on the determination that the external source can satisfy the request;in the case that the external source is unable to satisfy the request, determining whether the set of attribute values in the repository have been refreshed within a second predetermined period of time, and determining the repository as the location corresponding to the set of attribute values, based on the determination that the set of attribute values in the repository have been refreshed within the second predetermined period of time; retrieving the set of attributes values from the determined location and responding to the request; updating the repository by caching the set of attribute values in the repository and associating a refresh date with the set of attribute values as determined by the wrapper, in the case that the set of attribute values is retrieved from the external source.