International Business Machines Corporation

James C North

Richard V Hom

Eric Marshall Nelson

The invention is directed to just-in-time (JIT) retrieval of directory information to reduce network traffic and load on directory servers and/or data sources by requesting only the information that is currently needed from the directory server. In the invention, a request handler operating with the directory server provides this capability. Specifically, the request handler and directory server are configured to receive a request for directory information from a client and to determine a location corresponding to a set of current attribute values for responding to the request. The request handler retrieves the set of current attribute values from at least one of the following: the directory server and an external source. A set of current attributes is returned to the client from the directory server. The request handler propagates information in a JIT manner so that only the information that will be currently used by the client is propagated across the network.

Integrated just-in-time synchronization

The invention is directed to just-in-time (JIT) retrieval of directory information to reduce network traffic and load on directory servers and/or data sources by requesting only the information that is currently needed from the directory server. In the invention, a wrapper operating with a directory server and an application programming interface (API) provides this capability. The wrapper is configured to receive a request from a client and to determine a location corresponding to a set of current attribute values for responding to the request. The wrapper retrieves the set of current attribute values in a JIT manner from at least one of the following: the directory server and an external source. A set of current attributes is returned to the client from the wrapper. By propagating information in a JIT manner, only the information that will be currently used is propagated across the network.

Just-in-time wrapper synchronization

The invention is directed to off-peak and just-in-time (JIT) retrieval of directory information to reduce network traffic and load on directory servers and/or data sources by requesting only the information that is currently needed from the directory server, while subsequently updating the directory information during an off-peak period in the case that the directory information retrieved in a JIT manner is outdated. In these embodiments, a hybrid integrator operable with an integration directory capable of retrieving directory information in a JIT manner provides this functionality.

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Virginia Beach, VA, United States of America

James C North