Dynamic directory service

Abstract

In a network of computer nodes, a directory service provides both the physical location of directory information around the network and the directory information itself in a single data structure. This single data structure is distributed throughout the network, and continuously redistributed, so as to create a directory service that is both more flexible, and more robust, than prior art directory services.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . At least one computer-readable medium containing a set of executable instructions for causing programmable apparatus to perform a method of obtaining directory information, said method being operable on a plurality of nodes interconnected by a network, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a distributed directory service on the network by installing on each of the nodes a directory service program that allows directory parts to be selectively and dynamically migrated between ones of said plurality of nodes, without requiring restructuring the directory, storing on said plurality of nodes the directory that includes both the directory information and information about the location of the directory information on the network, such that said directory is not statically replicated to all nodes of said plurality of nodes; and   obtaining both the location information and the directory information by accessing the distributed directory service.   
   
   
       12 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the directory service providing step further comprises the step of utilizing the directory service program on each of the plurality of nodes to replicate said directory parts. 
   
   
       13 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 12  wherein the directory service providing step further comprises the step of utilizing the directory service program on each of the plurality of nodes to selectively and dynamically replicate said directory parts based on the number of accesses of the directory service by each of said nodes. 
   
   
       14 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 12  wherein the directory service providing step further comprises the step of utilizing the directory service program on each of the plurality of nodes to selectively and dynamically replicate said directory parts based on available resources on the network. 
   
   
       15 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the distributed directory service providing step further comprises the step of utilizing the directory service program on each of the plurality of nodes to selectively and dynamically migrate said directory parts based on the number of accesses of the distributed directory service by the nodes. 
   
   
       16 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the distributed directory service providing step further comprises the step of utilizing the directory service program on each of the plurality of nodes to selectively and dynamically migrate said directory parts based on available resources on the network.