U.S. patent application number 13/462220 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-23 for ldap replication priority queuing mechanism.
Invention is credited to Timothy Culver, Jack Poole.
Application Number | 20120215741 13/462220 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46092206 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120215741 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Poole; Jack ; et
al. |
August 23, 2012 |
LDAP Replication Priority Queuing Mechanism
Abstract
A replication priority queuing system prioritizes replication
requests in accordance with a predetermined scheme. An exemplary
system includes a Replication Priority Queue Manager that receives
update requests and assigns a priority based upon business rules
and stores the requests in associated storage means. A Replication
Decision Engine retrieves the requests from storage and determines
a destination for the update based upon predetermined replication
rules, and sends the update to the destination.
Inventors: |
Poole; Jack; (Alpharetta,
GA) ; Culver; Timothy; (Mesquite, TX) |
Family ID: |
46092206 |
Appl. No.: |
13/462220 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11567234 |
Dec 6, 2006 |
8190561 |
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13462220 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
707/634 ;
707/E17.005 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/26 20130101;
H04L 67/1095 20130101; H04L 67/322 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/634 ;
707/E17.005 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: receiving, at a replication management
system, a plurality of update requests for replicating data;
assigning, at the replication management system, a first priority
level to each update request based upon an age of the update
request; monitoring, at the replication management system, a status
of each update request to determine whether the age of the update
request has exceeded a predetermined time threshold; and assigning,
at the replication management system, a second, higher priority
level to each update request for which it is determined that the
age of the update request has exceeded the predetermined time
threshold.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing, at the
replication management system, each update request in one of a
plurality of assigned storage locations, wherein the storage
locations are assigned to each update request in accordance with a
priority level last assigned to the update request.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein if an update request is assigned
the second, higher priority level, storing the update request
includes moving the update request from a first storage location of
the plurality of ordered storage locations to a second storage
location.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first storage location
corresponds to the first priority level, and the second storage
location corresponds to the second priority level.
5. The method of claim 2, further comprising processing, at the
replication management system, each update request in order based
upon the assigned storage locations of the update requests.
6. The method of claim 2, further comprising replicating data
according to each of the update requests in order based upon the
assigned storage locations of the update requests.
7. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a
destination server among a plurality of servers in a server network
that corresponds to each update request.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising replicating data
according to each update request from a master server to the
destination server corresponding to the update request.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data according to each of the
update requests is replicated to the destination servers
corresponding to each of the update requests in order based upon
the assigned storage locations of the update requests.
10. An apparatus, comprising: a processor; and a memory storing
instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the
processor to perform a method, comprising: receiving a plurality of
update requests for replicating data; assigning, to each update
request, a first priority level based upon an age of the update
request; monitoring a status of each update request to determine
whether the age of the update request has exceeded a predetermined
time threshold; and assigning a second, higher priority level to
each update request for which it is determined that the age of the
update request has exceeded the predetermined time threshold.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instructions further
cause the processor to store each update request in one of a
plurality of assigned storage locations in accordance with a
priority level last assigned to the update request.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein if an update request is
assigned the second, higher priority level, the instructions
further cause the processor to move the update request from a first
storage location of the plurality of assigned storage locations to
a second storage location.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first storage location
corresponds to the first priority level, and the second storage
location corresponds to the second, higher priority level.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein data according to each of
the update requests is replicated in order based upon the assigned
storage locations of the update requests.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the data according to each
of the update requests is replicated to destination servers
corresponding to each of the update requests in order based on the
assigned storage locations of the update requests.
16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising
instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the
processor to perform a method comprising: receiving a plurality of
update requests for replicating data; assigning, to each update
request, a first priority level based upon an age of the update
request; monitoring a status of each update request to determine
whether the age of the update request has exceeded a predetermined
time threshold; and assigning a second, higher priority level to
each update request for which it is determined that the age of the
update request has exceeded the predetermined time threshold.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16,
wherein the instructions further cause the processor to store each
update request in one of a plurality of assigned storage locations
in accordance with a priority level last assigned to the update
request.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17,
wherein if an update request is assigned the second, higher
priority level, the instructions further cause the processor to
move the update request from a first storage location of the
plurality of assigned storage locations to a second storage
location.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18,
wherein the first storage location corresponds to the first
priority level, and the second storage location corresponds to the
second, higher priority level.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17,
wherein the data according to each of the update requests is
replicated to destination servers corresponding to each of the
update requests in order based on the assigned storage locations of
the update requests.
Description
CROSS REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/567,234, filed Dec. 6, 2006, the entirety of which is herein
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Telecommunications network providers must manage large
volumes of data. For example, a telecommunications network provider
may store millions of records of customer data on database server
networks that are heavily accessed and frequently updated. This
customer data can include customer identifications, passwords,
addresses, preferences, etc. which must be accessible by a variety
of different users. A common method for managing such data includes
creating directory listings using the Lightweight Directory Access
Protocol (LDAP). LDAP is a TCP/IP compliant protocol that provides
for the quick access and update of directory listings.
LDAP-supported systems have been implemented in a variety of
contexts such as web browsers and email programs.
[0003] These LDAP directory listings are stored on database server
networks that typically include multiple server tiers, each tier
having one or more servers. For example, a server network can
include a master server tier, a HUB server tier, and a proxy server
tier, among other tiers. Each server tier is located at different
proximities from a user. For example, a proxy server may be located
in close proximity to a user whereas a higher level master server
may be located further from the user. Generally, the closer the
data is stored to a user, the quicker the response to a user query.
Thus, in an effort to avoid delays, data that is frequently
accessed by a user is typically stored on a server in close
proximity to the user. For example, data associated with common
user queries can be stored on a proxy server near the user.
[0004] When a modification to the data is made by a client
application, the data is typically updated throughout the server
network depending upon the particular characteristics of the
update. A typical update involves providing the modification to a
master server and then propagating the modification throughout the
server network. The master server serves as a gatekeeper for data
updates ensuring data integrity. The modification also referred to
herein as an update can then be sent to other servers as required.
For example, when a user creates a new password for use on the
communications network then this change is updated on the server
network. If the user has multiple access points to the network the
new password must be made available to servers serving those access
points so that the user can login from all the access points. For
example, the new password can be sent to a master server associated
with the user along with an update request requesting that the
server network be updated with the new password. The master server
receives the user's new password and update request and updates the
network by propagating the new password throughout the server
network as required. This propagation of this modification or data
update to other servers is often referred to as "replication." By
replicating data from the master server to other servers, the
modification is "pushed" to server tiers closer to the user,
thereby enabling the network to provide the user with a quick and
accurate response from multiple server locations. Thus, a
modification of the network triggers an update request requesting
that the server network be updated to reflect the modification.
This update request may be referred to as a replication request
herein.
[0005] This update or replication process allows other servers in
addition to a master server to respond to user requests. To
maintain control over the replication process and ensure data
integrity, LDAP servers are typically arranged in a master-slave
arrangement. Replication requests are thus first sent to the master
server and then updates sent to server destinations or "replicated"
as required.
[0006] As discussed above, in order to update data throughout the
server network, data is replicated across various server tiers so
that multiple servers can provide up-to-date data. Problems can
arise however when data is not efficiently updated at the master
server or efficiently replicated to other servers. Under prior art
LDAP schemes updates are processed on a first-in-first-out basis
without regard to business decisions or priorities. But many of
these updates do not require immediate replication throughout the
server network. For example, a modification changing a user's
mailing address will not immediately affect a user's use of the
telecommunications system. However, the change of a password can
significantly affect a user's ability to access the network if it
is not immediately replicated. In addition, large numbers of
replication requests are frequently stored as batch update
requests. These batch requests can require a large amount of
resources to process. Under the present first-in-first-out approach
if a large batch file is received at an LDAP server prior to the
afore-mentioned password update request, the batch request would be
processed first, thereby resulting in the delay of the replication
of the password request. This delay is undesirable as it can affect
the user's ability to access the network. Thus, there are a variety
of update requests which can be received by the master for which
immediate replication throughout the server network is desireable.
Thus, problems can arise with the prior art first-in-first-out
replication method. For example, large batch files of low priority
may be received prior to more important requests which will be
delayed as the system processes or replicates the earlier batch
files.
[0007] Thus, it is desirable to have an improved method of updating
server networks and more particularly processing update or
replication requests and replicating data on a server network that
overcomes these difficulties and allows high priority requests to
be processed in a more timely manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] As required, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein. These embodiments should be viewed with the
knowledge that they are only examples of the invention and that the
invention may be embodied in many various and alternative forms.
The figures are not to scale and some features may be exaggerated
or minimized to show details of particular elements, while related
elements may have been eliminated to prevent obscuring novel
aspects. Well known structures and functions have not been shown or
described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the
description of the embodiments of the invention. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims
and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art
to variously employ the present invention.
[0009] The present invention provides systems and methods for
processing database requests in accordance with predetermined
schemes thereby allowing more important or time critical updates to
be processed prior to less important updates. By requests it is
meant update requests received by a master server that require the
replication of data across a network. The requests can include
modifications, updates, or other operations but will be referred to
generically herein as a request, an update request, or a
replication request. In an exemplary embodiment of a system of the
invention, a Replication Management System (RMS) is provided which
is adapted to prioritize requests based upon a predetermined
scheme. An update request can be received by the RMS, assigned a
particular priority level, and stored in a designated priority
queue. The update request can then be executed in accordance to the
priority queue to which it is assigned. For example, an update
request can be assigned to one of 5 priority queues and processed
according to priority. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention
the RMS can comprise a Replication Priority Queue Manager (RPQM)
which receives update requests from a server network. The RMS can
further comprise storage means for storing update requests and a
Replication Decision Engine (RDE) for executing update requests in
accordance with the predetermined rules and a request's particular
assigned priority level. For example, all requests having highest
priority, designated as priority 1, can be stored in a first queue
at a first storage means, requests having the next highest
priority, designated as priority 2, can be stored in a second queue
at a second storage means, and so on. In the exemplary embodiment
discussed herein, five priority levels and five associated queues
are employed but it is contemplated that any number of priority
levels or queues can be used.
[0010] While in the exemplary embodiments the update requests are
shown as being stored in different physical storage means such as
different databases, updates requests could be stored in a single
physical structure but flagged as a particular priority in some
way. The Replication Decision Engine processes the update requests
in accordance with these priority levels. In one exemplary
embodiment the RDE simply processes the updates for each storage
means sequentially by priority level. For example, the RDE
processes all of the priority 1 level requests stored in a first
storage means queue and if all the priority one requests have been
satisfied (i.e., when the first storage means is empty) then the
RDE processes the priority 2 level requests until either another
priority one request is received or until all priority 2 level
requests are executed. This process can continue through the
various priority levels. For example, once all priority 2 and
priority 1 level requests are completed the RDE can begin
processing the next highest priority level, level 3. Thus, updates
in the highest priority queue are processed first and then the
updates the other queues are processed in order of decreasing
priority. The RDE system can continuously monitor the receipt of
new requests so that if a new higher priority request is received,
such as a level 1 priority request, then the new higher priority
request can be processed prior to an existing lower priority
request. It is contemplated that variations of the scheme can be
implemented, for example more tiers can be employed and various
methods used for determining a priority scheme. The priority level
of an update request can also be dynamic. For example, an update
request can increase in priority as it ages.
[0011] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of
prioritizing update requests, comprises: receiving an update
request at a Replication Priority Queue Manager; determining a
priority for the request based upon a predetermined prioritization
scheme; and storing the update request in a priority queue for
retrieval by a Replication Decision Engine. In an exemplary
embodiment of a method of the invention, a method of replicating an
update or modification is provided which comprises: receiving an
update request; determining a priority of the request in accordance
with a predetermined scheme; storing the request in a priority
queue in accordance with its assigned priority; and retrieving the
update request in accordance with its assigned queue. The step of
executing the update request in accordance with its assigned queue
can comprise determining a destination for the request and sending
the request to that destination.
[0012] An exemplary method of executing the replication requests
comprises: retrieving a request from a queue, comparing the request
with predetermined replication rules to determine a destination for
the request; and sending the update request to the destination.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a communications system in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a Replication Management System in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a communications system in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a method of processing update requests in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 shows a method of executing an update request in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 shows a method of replicating in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 7 shows a system flow diagram of a method or processing
replication requests in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein
are merely examples of the present invention which may be embodied
in various and alternative forms. The figures are not to scale and
some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of
particular elements, while related elements may have been
eliminated to prevent obscuring novel aspects. Therefore, the
structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be
interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and
as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention.
[0021] Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for
efficiently processing update requests to a listing directory. The
system provides for the processing of update requests in accordance
with a predetermined scheme so as to provide for the efficient
updating of a directory. Furthermore, the present invention
provides systems and methods for replicating updates throughout a
server system.
[0022] In one exemplary embodiment a Replication Management System
(RMS) is provided that receives an update request and assigns a
queue value to the update request depending upon the predetermined
scheme. The update request is then stored in a corresponding queue
associated with its assigned priority. Updates are then executed in
accordance with the assigned priority. In an exemplary embodiment,
a Replication Management System comprises a Replication Priority
Queue Manager (RPQM) and a Replication Decision Engine (RDE).
[0023] Turning to the figures where like reference numerals
represent like features throughout, FIG. 1 shows a communications
system 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
invention. The communications system 100 includes a server network
103 adapted to receive update requests 104 from a client
application 105. By update request it is meant a request sent to
the server network requesting an update to the server network 103
that is typically triggered by a modification made by a client
application. The update request can include a request to replicate
the modification to servers in addition to a master server and/or
all LDAP servers in a server network, and may be referred to herein
as a replication request. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the
client application 105 can be an email application residing on a
cellular telephone, but it should be understood that the client
application could be one of a variety of applications.
[0024] The server network 103 is adapted to receive the update
request and communicate with a Replication Management System 107 as
will be described in more detail below. The Replication Management
System (RMS) 107 receives the update requests 104 from the server
network 103 and assigns each update request a priority level based
upon a predetermined scheme. Each update request is then assigned
to a queue based upon it assigned priority. The update requests are
then processed in accordance with the particular queue in which
they are located.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a Replication Management System (RMS) 107 in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this
example, the RMS 107 comprises a Replication Priority Queue Manager
(RPQM) 201, a plurality of storage means 203A-203E, and a
Replication Decision Engine (RDE) 205. Although shown as outside
the sever network 103, it is contemplated that the RMS 107 could be
part of the server network 103 such as residing on a master server
as discussed in more detail below.
[0026] The RPQM 201 can include an instruction module 210 including
instructions for determining a priority of a request in accordance
with a predetermined scheme, a processor 212 communicatively
coupled to the instruction module 210 and adapted for executing the
instructions. The instruction can include memory for storing the
instructions of the instruction module. Though shown as a processor
212 and an instruction module 210 in FIG. 2, the RPQM 201 can be in
the form of hardware, software, or firmware.
[0027] The RPQM 201 is communicatively coupled to the server
network 103 so that when the server network 103 receives an update
request, the request can be sent from the server network 103 to the
RPQM 201. When the RPQM 201 receives the update request from the
server network 103, it determines a priority for the update request
in accordance with a predetermined scheme. For example, if the
update is of high priority it can be assigned a priority level 1
whereas if the update is of low priority it can be assigned a
priority level of 5. The update request is then stored in one of
the storage means 203A-E in accordance with its assigned priority
level.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary method 300 of operation that can
be practiced by the RPQM 201. At step 310 an update request is
received by the RPQM 201. At step 320 the RPQM 201 assigns a
priority level to the update request in accordance with a
predetermined scheme. The particular scheme employed by the RPQM
201 can vary and can be periodically modified. The scheme can be
based upon a variety of factors such as, by way of example and not
limitation, the field or record which will be updated, the identity
of the requester of the update, the time the update is requested,
the age of the update request, and the identity of the application
being modified. For example, an update request to change a password
field can be given a higher priority than an update request to
modify to a billing address field; an update request from a third
party content provider can be given a higher priority than an
update request from a party that does not provide content; an
update request associated with a premium application can be
assigned a higher priority than an update request associated with a
non-premium application; and an update request submitted during day
time hours can be assigned a higher priority than a request
submitted during night time hours. In addition, update requests can
be assigned a higher priority when it ages beyond a predetermined
time threshold. At step 330 the RPQM 201 stores the update request
in the storage means 203A-E in accordance with its assigned
priority. This process is repeated for each request received. The
RPQM 201 can continue to monitor the status of the requests and can
change a request's priority level over time. For example, if the
selected scheme includes a rule which increases a request's
priority as it ages, the RPQM 201 can monitor the age of the
requests and reassign an update request priority accordingly. For
example, an update request that was assigned a priority level 2 and
stored in storage means 203B can be moved up to a priority level 1
and moved to storage means 203A if the update request ages beyond a
predetermined time threshold. This helps prevent the situation in
which a low priority request that has already been received is
never processed due to continuously incoming higher priority
requests.
[0029] The Replication Decision Engine (RDE) 205 processes the
update requests stored by the RPQM 201. In one exemplary
embodiment, the RDE 205 simply executes the update requests in
accordance with their storage location. Because the RPQM 201 has
stored the update requests in locations (storage means 203A-E)
according to their priority, the RDE 205 can simply progress
through the different storage means in order of each storage means
priority. For example, storage means 203A can be used to store
update requests having a priority 1, storage means 203B can be used
to store update requests having priority level 2, and so on. The
RDE 205 can then process the requests stored in storage means 203A,
then 203B, and so on, effectively processing the update requests in
order of priority. It is contemplated that the RDE 205 can also be
provided with a scheme for processing the update requests within
each storage means 203A-E. For example, the RDE 205 can be assigned
a scheme for processing the update requests within each storage
means, such as on a first-in-first-out basis. The RDE 205 can also
continually check as to whether a higher priority update request
has been received while the RDE 205 is processing lower level
requests. If that is the case, then the RDE 205 can stop executing
a lower level requests to execute the newly received higher level
update request. Of course the scheme of the RDE 205 should be
compatible with the scheme used by the RPQM 201 in assigning the
priority levels to ensure that higher priority requests are
processed prior to lower priority requests.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary method of processing the update
requests. At step 402 the RDE 205 determines whether the queue for
the highest priority update requests, queue 1, is empty. This can
be done by determining whether the storage means 203A associated
with the priority 1 update requests is empty. If the priority 1
queue is not empty, i.e., there are priority 1 update requests to
be processed, the RDE 205 processes those update requests at step
404. If at step 402 it is determined that the priority 1 queue is
empty then at step 406 the RDE 205 determines whether the priority
2 queue is empty. If the priority 2 queue is not empty, then the
RDE 205 processes update requests in the priority 2 queue at step
408. After the priority 2 queue updates are processed the RDE 205
again goes to step 402 to determine whether the priority 1 queue is
empty. In this example, the RDE 205 processes all of the priority 2
queue updates before again determining whether the priority 1 queue
is empty. It is contemplated however that the RDE 205 can be
provided with various rules for monitoring whether there are update
requests in the priority 1 queue. For example, the RDE 205 can
continuously monitor the priority 1 queue and if an update request
is found immediately execute that update.
[0031] If there were no update requests found in step 406 then at
step 410 the RDE 205 determines whether there are any priority 3
updates to process. If so, then at step 412 the priority 3 requests
are processed. If not then at step 414 the RDE 205 determines
whether there are priority 4 update requests to process and either
processes the priority 4 update requests 416 or looks for priority
5 requests 418. If priority 5 requests are found they are processed
at step 420. As shown in FIG. 4, the RDE 205 continues to determine
whether a higher priority update request is found and if so,
processes that request.
[0032] While FIG. 4 shows an exemplary method 400 of how the RDE
205 determines which update request to process, FIG. 5 500 shows an
exemplary method of executing a particular update request. To
execute a particular update request the RDE 205 retrieves the
request from the storage means 203A-E. The RDE 205 then reads the
request and matches the request against predetermined replication
rules to determine a final destination for the update request.
Depending upon the particular request, the destination can be
another server, by way of example and not limitation, another LDAP
master server, a LDAP hub server, or a LDAP proxy server.
[0033] Thus, as shown in an exemplary method of processing an
update request in FIG. 5, at step 510 the RDE 205 retrieves an
update request. At step 520 the RDE 205 determines the desired
destination of the update. This can be done by comparing the
request with predetermined replication rules. Once the appropriate
destination is determined, at step 530 the RDE 205 sends the update
to the appropriate destination thereby replicating the update
throughout the server network. The present invention thus provides
methods and systems for processing update requests and replicating
data in accordance with predetermined business rules.
[0034] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary flow diagram of processing a
request by a server network. As seen in FIG, 7, a server network
700 can include two branches 710; 712 that serve different
locations of the server network 700. Each server branch 710; 712
includes servers that form a part of different server tiers,
including a LDAP client server tier 702, an LDAP proxy server tier
704, a LDAP consumer/hub server tier 706, and a LDAP master server
tier 708.
[0035] At step 602 a real time LDAP modification is made at the
LDAP client server tier 702 and received by a LDAP proxy server 716
at an LDAP proxy tier 704. This modification includes a replication
request. For example, a request is made to send updated data to a
LDAP consumer server 720 at the LDAP consumer/hub server tier
706.
[0036] At step 604 the replication request is sent to the
Replication Priority Queue Manager (RPQM) 201 that resides at a
primary master server 718. As discussed above, the RPQM 201
receives the replication request at step 606 and at step 608
determines a priority for the replication request using a
predetermined scheme of business rules stored in the instruction
module 210. At step 610 the update is stored in a storage means
203A-E. In this example it will be assumed that the replication
request is assigned a priority level of 2 and stored in storage
means 203B.
[0037] As discussed above the Replication Decision Engine (RDE) 205
retrieves the request from the storage means 203B in step 612 after
processing the updates from the higher priority queue of storage
means 203A. At step 614 the RDE 205 matches the replication rules
with the replication request to determine the destination
associated with the replication request, In this case, because the
destination is a LDAP consumer server 722 on the LDAP proxy tier
704 the update is replicated to the LDAP consumer server 722 at
step 616. With the update now replicated to LDAP consumer server
722, client LDAP searches 724 can be satisfied as the LDAP proxy
server 716 of the LDAP proxy tier 704 performs a search on the
updated LDAP consumer server 722 of the LDAP consumer/hub tier 706.
In this exemplary embodiment the update was sent to a LDAP consumer
server 722 on the server branch 710 at which the request is
received it is contemplated that the update can be replicated to
other servers on the server network 700 such as LDAP hub servers
718, LDAP consumer servers 720, and LDAP proxy servers 716.
Furthermore, whereas the Replication Management System 750 is shown
associated with a primary master tier server 718 it is contemplated
that an RMS 750 could be used on other servers.
[0038] Again, the illustrated and described embodiments of the
present invention contained herein are exemplary examples set forth
for a clear understanding of the invention and are not intended to
be interpreted as limitations. Variations and modifications may be
made to the above-described embodiments, and the embodiments may be
combined, without departing from the scope of the claims.
* * * * *