System and method for searching heterogeneous electronic directories
The present invention comprises a computerized system and method for searching heterogeneous electronic directories. An embodiment of the system includes a database, containing data necessary to perform a search, a user interface, and a component for performing the searches. Embodiments of the system provide a user with the ability to search directories in multiple locations and in multiple formats, both standard and non-standard, for contacts and to display the results of the search in one unified list. A system administrator or a user determines which directories the system searches and in what order the system performs the search.
1. A system for searching for a contact, comprising:
a computer storing a database in memory and receiving a search criterion, the computer searching the database comprising a plurality of references to electronic directories, the database also comprising a search-order field, the search-order field determining an order in which the plurality of references is searched, the search-order field having an integer value, such that a reference having a lowest numerical value within the search-order field is first searched, and subsequent references are searched in an ascending order of the search-order field.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of references comprises:
a location of an electronic directory;
a format descriptor of said electronic directory; and
a search descriptor of said electronic directory.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a query format converter.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said query format converter comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) querystring to lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) query converter.
5. A method for searching for a contact, comprising:
receiving a search criterion; and
searching a database comprising a plurality of references to electronic directories, the database also comprising a search-order field, the search-order field determining an order in which the plurality of references is searched, the search-order field having an integer value, such that a reference having a lowest numerical value within the search-order field is first searched, and subsequent references are searched in an ascending order of the search-order field.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein each of said plurality of references comprises:
a location of an electronic directory;
a format descriptor of said electronic directory; and
a search descriptor of said electronic directory.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving a result of said search, formatting the result, and displaying the result.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
accepting a selection of said result in a contact search user interface; and
in response to said selection, creating an email message addressed to an email address associated with said selection.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein after the step of searching said database, the method further comprises finding a directory.
10. The method of claim 5 further comprising:
searching for a directory of contacts; and
inserting a record corresponding to said directory in said database.
11. The method of claim 5 , further comprising converting said search criterion into a format supported by said electronic directory.
12. The method of claim 5 , further comprising billing for the search.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said billing comprises billing a fixed amount per search.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said billing comprises billing a fixed amount per time period.
15. The method of claim 5 , wherein said search comprises a query selected from the group consisting of a fragment-matching query; a whole-word-matching query; and an exact-match query.
16. The method of claim 5 , further comprising filtering said result based on said search criterion.
17. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded computer program code for performing a method, the method comprising:
receiving a search criterion; and
searching a database comprising a plurality of references to electronic directories, the database also comprising a search-order field, the search-order field determining an order in which the plurality of references is searched, the search-order field having an integer value, such that a reference having a lowest numerical value within the search-order field is first searched, and subsequent references are searched in an ascending order of the search-order field.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein each of said plurality of references comprises:
a location of an electronic directory;
a format descriptor of said electronic directory; and
a search descriptor of said electronic directory.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising computer program code for:
accepting a selection of said result in said contact search user interface; and
in response to said selection, creating an email message addressed to an email address associated with said selection.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising computer program code for billing for the search.