Directory Object Discovery via Precomputed Path Lookup

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Searching directories for specific objects or containers is often time-consuming and process-intensive, especially when limited information is known about the object or its location, leading to inefficient and inaccurate queries.

Innovation Solution

A method that discovers branches and groups containing a specific object in a directory information tree by determining paths and using branch and group information to locate the object, prioritizing branches over groups and utilizing specific attributes to increase the likelihood of finding the object, and employing classes like AttributeString, SearchCriterion, and SearchAttributes to simplify the search process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a full directory search is performed to locate objects, then complete object discovery is achieved, but search time and processing intensity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject discovery completenessVSAvoidsearch time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing path information from the directory root to each object in the directory tree. When a search is needed, the system retrieves pre-stored path data instead of performing a complete directory traversal, significantly reducing search time while maintaining complete object discovery capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary computation to build and store hierarchical path information in advance. This pre-processing creates a lookup structure that enables fast object location without requiring intensive real-time searching, thus resolving the contradiction between search completeness and search speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If limited information is used to search for objects, then search speed improves, but query accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch speedVSAvoidquery accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces path information as an intermediary data structure that bridges the gap between limited search inputs and accurate object location. By using pre-computed paths as a mediator, the system can perform fast searches with limited information while maintaining high query accuracy through the guidance of stored hierarchical path data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If comprehensive directory searching is performed, then all objects are located, but processing intensity becomes excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject location accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the directory structure into hierarchical path segments from root to each object. Instead of performing monolithic comprehensive searches, the system segments the search space using pre-computed path information, allowing efficient object location with reduced processing complexity while maintaining reliable object discovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8738658B2Method for using paths in a directory for locating objects
Publication Date: 2014.05.27 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP
  • US8738658B2 patent drawing
  • US8738658B2 patent drawing
  • US8738658B2 patent drawing

AI summary

One embodiment is a method that discovers branches and groups that include a reference to an object located in a directory information tree. Paths are determined through the directory information tree to the branches and the groups. Information about the paths is then used to describe the object in the directory information tree.