Computer directory system having an application integration driver infrastructure

Abstract

An application integration driver infrastructure for facilitating the use of a distributed directory running in a computer network is provided. The infrastructure can transform specific directory events into a vendor-neutral data identification system and then use vendor-neutral transformation technologies to transform the neutral data identification into a specific application's data format, and vice-versa. The infrastructure receives an event from the distributed directory into a markup language generation system, such as an extensible markup language ('XML') generator. The XML generator converts the event into XML data and provides the XML data to a transformation processing system, such as an extensible transformation language ('XSLT') processor. The XSLT processor transforms the XML data to a predetermined format. The format can be dictated by a stylesheet provided to the XSLT processor, the stylesheet being responsive to requirements of a computer application. The transformed data is then provided to the application for the application to use in a conventional manner. The application may use an application shim to convert the transformed data into a native application program interface (“API”) for the application.