Extending a directory schema independent of schema modification

US6952704B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Stewart P. MacLeod · Woodinville, US
• James H. Booth · Issaquah, US
• Kim Cameron · Bellevue, US
• Jonathan Fischer · Carnation, US
• Max L. Benson · Redmond, US
• Felix Wong · Bellevue, US
• Robert Dan Thompson IV · Fort Worth, US
• Hilal Al-Hilali · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 26, 2001
• Grant date: Oct 4, 2005
• Expiry date: Aug 19, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S707/99945
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The described arrangements and procedures provide a directory schema with object classes that have flexible attributes. This means that attributes can be extended independent of modifications to the directory schema. Specifically, an object instance of a content class described in the directory schema is instantiated. The content class includes a flexible attribute having a data type. A property is assigned to the attribute. The property is any combination of an operational and data providing property. The property is independent of the attribute's data type. Thus, without modifying the directory schema, multiple instances of the same object class can have attributes that provide completely different data types and completely different data operations.