Method and system for attribute management in a namespace

Abstract

A computer-based method and system for managing attributes of objects in a namespace and for allowing multiple views into the namespace. The namespace system allows the objects identified by the names of the namespace to be hierarchically organized. The namespace system allows for attributes of various objects, including directory objects and data objects, to be dynamically defined after creation of an object. The namespace system also allows for the querying of objects based on their dynamically defined attributes. When the namespace system receives a query specification that includes a newly defined attribute, it identifies the objects that match that query specification that includes a newly defined attribute, it identifies the objects that match that query specification.

1 . A method in a computer system for managing attributes for objects in a: namespace, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of objects;   providing a namespace interface for each object, the namespace interface for defining new attributes for an object after the object is created and for setting a value for a newly defined attribute;   receiving a query specification that specifies the newly defined attribute; and   identifying the objects that match the query specification.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the objects are directory objects or data objects. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the namespace interface includes a set functions for setting the value of an attribute with a specified name to a specified value. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the setting includes when the object has no attribute defined with the specified name, adding an attribute with the specified name to the object. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a data object includes non-attribute data. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the namespace interface includes an interface for determining whether the object matches a query specification. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein an object is stored remotely and attributes of the object are cached locally. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein an object is a portion of a file system and the namespace interface serves as a wrapper for the file system. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the portion of a file system includes directories. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein an object is an instantiated object in memory and the namespace interface serves as a wrapper for the in-memory object. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the namespace interface can be used to retrieve references to other interfaces provided by an object. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the other interfaces are customized to the type of data of the object. 
   
   
       13 . A method in a computer system for generating a hierarchical view of a namespace, the method comprising:
 receiving a query specification and a view specification for the namespace;   identifying objects of the namespace that match the query specification; and   organizing the identified objects in a hierarchical manner as specified by the view specification.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the view specification includes a list of attribute names that specify an attribute name for each level of the hierarchical organization of the identified objects, which indicates that the identified objects are to be organized based on attributes values for that attribute name at that level. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the view specification is a tree structure of attribute names. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the view specification indicates an attribute value corresponding to an attribute name. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein when the view specification indicates an attribute name for a level, the identified objects are organized based on their attribute values for that attribute name at that level. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein an attribute can be dynamically created for an object. 
   
   
       19 . A method in a computer system for synchronizing a duplicate namespace with an original namespace, the method comprising:
 receiving a query specification and a view specification;   identifying from the original namespace the objects that match the query specification;   generating a duplicate namespace using the identified objects and the view specification;   associating the query specification and view specification with the duplicate namespace;   modifying one or more objects so that the original namespace and duplicate namespace are not synchronized;   re-identifying from the original those objects that match the query specification; and   modifying one or more objects so that the original namespace and duplicate namespace are synchronized.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the modifying of the one or more objects so that namespaces are synchronized includes identifying differences between the re-identified objects and the objects of the duplicate namespace and reconciling those differences. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the duplicate namespace is stored on a device that is only temporarily connected to the original namespace. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the modifying of one or more objects so that the namespaces are not synchronized includes modifying an object of the duplicate namespace. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the modifying of one or more objects so that the namespaces are not synchronized includes modifying an object of the original namespace.