Distributed directory management system

Abstract

A distributed directory management system includes a plurality of service spaces on a network each having an object repository storing service objects to be retrieved and attribute information pieces thereof. A service object managing mechanism for each service space manages the object repository and executes retrieval of a service object using the attribute information piece as a key. A service space connection managing mechanism for each service space implements message communication with the service object managing mechanisms to collect mutual connection information of the service spaces and manages the collected mutual connection information. A service object retrieval managing mechanism for each service space sends a retrieval message from a user to the service object managing mechanism in the same service space to request execution of retrieval of a service object. Upon failure in retrieval, the service object retrieval managing mechanism requests another service object managing mechanism to execute retrieval of the service object.

1. A distributed directory management system for offering a retrieval service with respect to service objects stored in object repositories located in service spaces, respectively, said system distributed to at least one computer and comprising a service space centralized managing mechanism, service object managing mechanisms, each corresponding to a respective one of said service spaces and the object repository located therein, service space connection managing mechanisms each corresponding to a respective one of said service spaces, and service object retrieval managing mechanisms each corresponding to a respective one of said service spaces,
 wherein said service space centralized managing mechanism collects mutual connection information of said service spaces from said service space connection managing mechanisms and manages the collected mutual connection information, 
 wherein each of said service object managing mechanisms manages the object repository corresponding thereto and executes retrieval of a service object in said corresponding object repository, 
 wherein each of said service space connection managing mechanisms implements message communication with said service object managing mechanisms to collect mutual connection information of the corresponding service space and another of said service spaces, and manages the collected mutual connection information, 
 wherein each of said service object retrieval managing mechanisms sends a retrieval message from a user to a corresponding one of said service object managing mechanisms to request retrieval from the object repository corresponding thereto of one of the service objects stored therein, receives a result of the retrieval from said corresponding one of said service object managing mechanisms, analyzes the result of the retrieval, and produces a message to be sent to the user based on the analyzed result of the retrieval, 
 wherein each of said service object managing mechanism sends a message indicative of the existence thereof, every time a state thereof is changed, to a corresponding one of said service space connection managing mechanisms, and 
 wherein each of said service space connection managing mechanisms receives said message from the corresponding one of said service object managing mechanisms to update mutual connection information between the service space corresponding to said corresponding one of said service object managing mechanisms and another of said service spaces. 
 
     
     
       2. A distributed directory management system for offering a retrieval service with respect to service objects stored in object repositories located in service spaces, respectively, said system distributed to at least one computer and comprising a service space centralized managing mechanism, service object managing mechanisms, each corresponding to a respective one of said service spaces and the object repository located therein, service space connection managing mechanism each corresponding to a respective one of said service spaces, and service object retrieval managing mechanisms each corresponding to a respective one of said service spaces,
 wherein said service space centralized managing mechanism collects mutual connection information of said service spaces from said service space connection managing mechanisms and manages the collected mutual connection information, 
 wherein each of said service object managing mechanisms manages the object repository corresponding thereto and executes retrieval of a service object in said corresponding object repository, 
 wherein each of said service space connection managing mechanisms implements message communication with said service object managing mechanisms to collect mutual connection information of the corresponding service spaces and another of said service spaces, and manages the collected mutual connection information, 
 wherein each of said service object retrieval managing mechanisms sends a retrieval message from a user to a corresponding one of said service object managing mechanisms to request retrieval from the object repository corresponding thereto of one of the service object stored therein, receives a result of the retrieval from said corresponding one of said service object managing mechanisms, analyzes the result of the retrieval, and produces a message to be sent to the user based on the analyzed result of the retrieval, 
 wherein each of said service object managing mechanisms periodically sends a message indicative of the existence thereof to a corresponding one of said service space connection managing mechanisms, and 
 wherein each of said service space connection managing mechanisms receives said message from the corresponding one of said service object managing mechanisms to update mutual connection information between the service spaces corresponding to said corresponding one of said service object managing mechanisms and another of said service spaces. 
 
     
     
       3. The distributed directory management system according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said service object managing mechanisms uses a multi cast announcing function to send the message indicative of the existence thereof. 
     
     
       4. The distributed directory management system according to  claim 1 , wherein upon receiving the retrieval message from the user, the corresponding service object retrieval managing mechanism uses the mutual connection information managed by the service space connection managing mechanism corresponding to the service space to which the service object retrieval managing mechanism corresponds, so as to send said retrieval message to said service space and to another of said service spaces for requesting the retrieval. 
     
     
       5. The distributed directory management system according to  claim 1 , further comprising directory managing authentication mechanisms, each corresponding to a respective one of said service spaces and the object repository located therein, wherein each of said directory managing authentication mechanisms has a function of issuing a ticket for using the retrieval service to a user and, when said ticket is submitted by the user, verifies the legitimacy of the ticket so as to allow said user to access the object repository to which the directory managing authentication mechanism corresponds. 
     
     
       6. The distributed directory management system according to  claim 1 , further comprising directory managing authentication mechanisms, each corresponding to a respective one of said service spaces and the object repository located therein, wherein each of said directory managing authentication mechanisms has a function of verifying the legitimacy of a digitally signed retrieval message of a user so as to allow said user to access the object repository to which the directory managing authentication mechanism corresponds. 
     
     
       7. The distributed directory management system according to  claim 2 , wherein upon receiving the retrieval message from the user, the corresponding service object retrieval managing mechanism uses the mutual connection information managed by the service space connection managing mechanism corresponding to the service space to which the service object retrieval managing mechanism corresponds, so as to send said retrieval message to said service space and to another of said service spaces for requesting the retrieval. 
     
     
       8. The distributed directory management system according to  claim 2 , further comprising directory managing authentication mechanisms, each corresponding to a respective one of said service spaces and the object repository located therein, wherein each of said directory managing authentication mechanisms has a function of issuing a ticket for using the retrieval service to a user and, when said ticket is submitted by the user, verifies the legitimacy of the ticket so as to allow said user to access the object repository to which the directory managing authentication mechanism corresponds. 
     
     
       9. The distributed directory management system according to  claim 2 , further comprising directory managing authentication mechanisms, each corresponding to a respective one of said service spaces and the object repository located therein, wherein each of said directory managing authentication mechanisms has a function of verifying the legitimacy of a digitally signed retrieval message of a user so as to allow said user to access the object repository to which the directory managing authentication mechanism corresponds. 
     
     
       10. A system implemented on one or more computers, comprising:
 a plurality of service spaces;   a service space centralized managing mechanism;   a plurality of service objects managing mechanisms;   a plurality of service space connection managing mechanisms; and   a plurality of service objects retrieval managing mechanisms;   wherein the service space centralized managing mechanism collects first mutual connection information of the plurality of service spaces from the plurality of service space connection managing mechanisms and manages the first mutual connection information,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object managing mechanisms manages a corresponding object repository and executes retrieval of at least one of a plurality of service objects in the corresponding object repository,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service space connection managing mechanisms implements message communication with the plurality of service object managing mechanisms to collect second mutual connection information of a corresponding one of the plurality of service spaces and another of the plurality of service spaces, and manages the second mutual connection information,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object retrieval managing mechanisms sends a retrieval message to the at least one of the plurality of service object managing mechanisms to request retrieval from the corresponding object repository of at least one of the plurality of service objects, receives a result of the retrieval from the a least one of the plurality of service object managing mechanisms, analyzes the result, and produces a first message to be sent based on the result,   wherein the at least one of the plurality of service object managing mechanisms, in response to a state change thereof, sends a second message to a corresponding one of the plurality of service space connection managing mechanisms, and   wherein the corresponding one of the plurality of service space connection managing mechanisms receives the second message and, in response to receiving the second message, updates mutual connection information between a first of the plurality of service spaces corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of service object managing mechanisms and a second of the plurality of service spaces.    
     
     
       11. A system implemented on one or more computers, comprising:
 a plurality of service spaces;   a service space centralized managing mechanism;   a plurality of service objects managing mechanisms;   a plurality of service space connection managing mechanisms; and   a plurality of service objects retrieval managing mechanisms;   wherein the service space centralized managing mechanism collects first mutual connection information of the plurality of service spaces from the plurality of service space connection managing mechanisms and manages the first mutual connection information,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object managing mechanisms manages a corresponding object repository and executes retrieval of at least one of a plurality of service objects in the corresponding object repository,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service space connection managing mechanisms implements message communication with the plurality of service object managing mechanisms to collect second mutual connection information of a corresponding one of the plurality of service spaces and another of the plurality of service spaces, and manages the second mutual connection information,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object retrieval managing mechanisms sends a retrieval message to the at least one of the plurality of service object managing mechanisms to request retrieval from the corresponding object repository of at least one of the plurality of service objects, receives a result of the retrieval from the a least one of the plurality of service object managing mechanisms, analyzes the result, and produces a first message to be sent based on the result,   wherein the at least one of the plurality of service object managing mechanisms periodically sends a second message to a corresponding one of the plurality of service space connection managing mechanisms, and   wherein the corresponding one of the plurality of service space connection managing mechanisms receives the second message and, in response to receiving the second message, updates mutual connection information between a first of the plurality of service spaces corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of service object managing mechanisms and a second of the plurality of service spaces.    
     
     
       12. The system of claim 11, further comprising objects repositories in the plurality of service spaces.  
     
     
       13. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of service objects comprise data files or programs.  
     
     
       14. The system of claim 11, further comprising attribute information associated with the service objects.  
     
     
       15. A system comprising a plurality of service spaces and a data processor comprising modules of computer-executable instructions comprising:
 a service space centralized managing module;   a plurality of service object managing modules;   a plurality of service space connection managing modules; and   a plurality of service object retrieval managing module;   wherein the service space centralized managing module collects first mutual connection information of the plurality of service spaces from the plurality of service space connection managing modules and manages the first mutual connection information,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules manages a corresponding object repository and executes retrieval of at least one of a plurality of service objects in the corresponding object repository,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service space connection managing modules implements message communication with the plurality of service object managing modules to collect second mutual connection information of a corresponding one of the plurality of service spaces and another of the plurality of service spaces, and manages the second mutual connection information,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object retrieval managing modules sends a retrieval message to the at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules to request retrieval from the corresponding object repository of at least one of the plurality of service objects, receives a result of the retrieval from the a least one of the plurality of service object managing modules, analyzes the result, and produces a first message to be sent based on the result,   wherein the at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules is adapted to send, in response to a state change thereof, a second message to a corresponding one of the plurality of service space connection managing modules, and   wherein the corresponding one of the plurality of service space connection managing modules is adapted to receive the second message and, in response to receiving the second message, update mutual connection information between a first of the plurality of service spaces corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules and a second of the plurality of service spaces.    
     
     
       16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of service objects comprising data files or programs.  
     
     
       17. The system of claim 15, further comprising attribute information associated with the service objects.  
     
     
       18. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules comprises a service object managing interface module and a service object managing main module.  
     
     
       19. The system of claim 18, wherein the service object managing interface module includes a connection managing interface and a registration-deletion-update retrieval interface.  
     
     
       20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules is adapted to send information indicative of a state of the at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules to the plurality of service space connection managing modules.  
     
     
       21. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules comprises a rightness examining module adapted to check whether a selected service object of the plurality of service obiects is available.  
     
     
       22. A system comprising a data a plurality of service spaces and processor comprising modules of computer executable instructions comprising:
 a service space centralized managing module;   a plurality of service object managing modules;   a plurality of service space connection managing modules; and   a plurality of service objects retrieval managing modules;   wherein the service space centralized managing module collects first mutual connection information of the plurality of service spaces from the plurality of service space connection managing modules and manages the first mutual connection information,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules manages a corresponding object repository and executes retrieval of at least one of a plurality of service objects in the corresponding object repository,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service space connection managing modules implements message communication with the plurality of service object managing modules to collect second mutual connection information of a corresponding one of the plurality of service spaces and another of the plurality of service spaces, and manages the second mutual connection information,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object retrieval managing modules sends a retrieval message to the at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules to request retrieval from the corresponding object repository of at least one of the plurality of service objects, receives a result of the retrieval from the a least one of the plurality of service object managing modules, analyzes the result, and produces a first message to be sent based on the result,   wherein at least one of the service object managing modules is adapted to periodically send a second message to a corresponding one of the plurality of service space connection managing modules, and   wherein the corresponding one of the plurality of service space connection managing modules is adapted to receive the second message and, in response to receiving the second message, update mutual connection information between a first of the plurality of service spaces corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules and a second of the plurality of service spaces.    
     
     
       23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions adapted to retrieve objects from service spaces, comprising:
 a service space centralized managing module;   a plurality of service objects managing modules;   a plurality of service space connection managing modules; and   a plurality of service objects retrieval managing modules;   wherein the service space centralized managing module collects first mutual connection information of the plurality of service spaces from the plurality of service space connection managing modules and manages the first mutual connection information,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules manages a corresponding object repository and executes retrieval of at least one of a plurality of service objects in the corresponding object repository,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service space connection managing modules implements message communication with the plurality of service object managing modules to collect second mutual connection information of a corresponding one of the plurality of service spaces and another of the plurality of service spaces, and manages the second mutual connection information,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object retrieval managing modules sends a retrieval message to the at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules to request retrieval from the corresponding object repository of at least one of the plurality of service objects, receives a result of the retrieval from the a least one of the plurality of service object managing modules, analyzes the result, and produces a first message to be sent based on the result,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules is adapted to send, in response to a state change thereof, a second message to a corresponding one of the plurality of service space connection managing modules, and   wherein the corresponding one of the plurality of service space connection managing modules is adapted to receive the second message and, in response to receiving the second message, update mutual connection information between a first of the service spaces corresponding to the at least one of the service object managing modules and a second of the service spaces.    
     
     
       24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions adapted to retrieve objects from service spaces, comprising:
 a service space centralized managing mechanism;   a plurality of service objects managing modules;   a plurality of service space connection managing modules; and   a plurality of service objects retrieval managing mechanisms;   wherein the service space centralized managing module collects first mutual connection information of the plurality of service spaces from the plurality of service space connection managing modules and manages the first mutual connection information,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules manages a corresponding object repository and executes retrieval of at least one of a plurality of service objects in the corresponding object repository,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service space connection managing modules implements message communication with the plurality of service object managing modules to collect second mutual connection information of a corresponding one of the plurality of service spaces and another of the plurality of service spaces, and manages the second mutual connection information,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object retrieval managing modules sends a retrieval message to the at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules to request retrieval from the corresponding object repository of at least one of the plurality of service objects, receives a result of the retrieval from the a least one of the plurality of service object managing modules, analyzes the result, and produces a first message to be sent based on the result,   wherein at least one of the plurality of service object managing modules is adapted to periodically send a second message to a corresponding one of the plurality of service space connection managing modules, and   wherein the corresponding one of the plurality of service space connection managing modules adapted to receive the second message and, in response to receiving the second message, update mutual connection information between a first of the service spaces corresponding to the at least one of the service object managing modules and a second of the service spaces.