Patent · US Expired

Managing a distributed directory database

US7120690B1 · kind B1 · utility

98Cited by
7References
89Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 27, 2001
Grant dateOct 10, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 15, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F16/27
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a computer network having a plurality of computer nodes, a directory database (DDB) distributed throughout the network in each of the nodes, the contents of the DDB being maintained consistent or replicated throughout the network in a manner to avoid a single point of failure through the use of one of its nodes having been appointed as master node. The master node has a privileged status as compared to the other nodes. The master node updates each DDB in each node in its network or domain configuration when the configuration changes, such as when a node fails, a network link fails and/or a node is added or removed. A node can be added to or removed from the configuration through the master node or through a non master node. A node can fail under different circumstances in which it may or may not know which node is its master node. A master node can fail and be replaced or can be replaced for other reasons. A global administrator is a privileged user compared to other computer network users who has authority to replace or appoint a master node and to configure a domain, and who performs these and other functions by way of computer terminal screen dialogs offered by a graphical us…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.