Client side indexing of offline address book files

Abstract

A method of building an offline address book (OAB). An OAB data file and a table of attributes are generated at a server. The data file and table are transferred from the server to a client. The transferred data file and table are indexed by the client.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A method of building an offline address book (OAB) on a plurality of clients comprising:
 generating an OAB data file and a table of indexable attributes at a server, wherein each OAB;   transferring the data file and the table of indexable attributes from the server to a client; and   indexing the transferred data file according to the table of indexable attributes, wherein the index comprises:
 a header structure comprising a version number that distinguishes between different OAB file types; and 
 an offset to into the OAB data file. 
   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the table of indexable attributes comprises at least one of the following:
 an ambiguous name resolution file;   a browse index file; and   a distinguished name index file.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the OAB data file comprises the following: and OAB header, and attribute table, and a plurality of OAB records. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein generating the OAB data file further comprises truncating properties to limit the size of the OAB data file. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising maintaining a list of the properties that have been truncated. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the OAB data file is compressed. 
   
   
       27 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method comprising:
 generating an OAB data file and a table of indexable attributes at a server, wherein each OAB;   transferring the data file and the table of indexable attributes from the server to a client; and   indexing the transferred data file according to the table of indexable attributes, wherein the index comprises:
 a header structure comprising a version number that distinguishes between different OAB file types; and 
 an offset to into the OAB data file. 
   
   
   
       28 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein the table of indexable attributes comprises at least one of the following:
 an ambiguous name resolution file;   a browse index file; and   a distinguished name index file.   
   
   
       29 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein the OAB data file comprises the following: and OAB header, and attribute table, and a plurality of OAB records. 
   
   
       30 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein generating the OAB data file further comprises truncating properties to limit the size of the OAB data file. 
   
   
       31 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 30 , further comprising maintaining a list of the properties that have been truncated. 
   
   
       32 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein the OAB data file is compressed.