Method and system for attribute management in a namespace
A computer-based method and system for managing attributes of objects in a namespace and for allowing multiple views into the namespace. The namespace system allows the objects identified by the names of the namespace to be hierarchically organized. The namespace system allows for attributes of various objects, including directory objects and data objects, to be dynamically defined after creation of an object. The namespace system also allows for the querying of objects based on their dynamically defined attributes. When the namespace system receives a query specification that includes a newly defined attribute, it identifies the objects that match that query specification that includes a newly defined attribute, it identifies the objects that match that query specification.
1. A method in a computer system for synchronizing a duplicate namespace with an original namespace, the method comprising:
receiving a query specification and a view specification for one or more objects in the namespace, the view specification indicating how objects satisfying the query specification are to be organized;
identifying from the original namespace the objects that match the query specification;
generating a duplicate namespace using the identified objects and the view specification;
associating the query specification and view specification with the duplicate namespace;
modifying one or more objects so that the original namespace and duplicate namespace are not synchronized;
re-identifying from the original those objects that match the query specification; and
modifying one or more objects so that the original namespace and duplicate namespace are synchronized.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the modifying of the one or more objects so that namespaces are synchronized includes identifying differences between the re-identified objects and the objects of the duplicate namespace and reconciling those differences.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the duplicate namespace is stored on a device that is only temporarily connected to the original namespace.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the modifying of one or more objects so that the namespaces are not synchronized includes modifying an object of the duplicate namespace.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the modifying of one or more objects so that the namespaces are not synchronized includes modifying an object of the original namespace.