초록 ▼

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing a data framework and associated client/server protocol for storing and exchanging data among computers in a network. A data schema having an n-way tree-type structure with a root node layer, intermediate node layers, and a data layer for storing conf

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing a data framework and associated client/server protocol for storing and exchanging data among computers in a network. A data schema having an n-way tree-type structure with a root node layer, intermediate node layers, and a data layer for storing configuration data is described. The intermediate node layers contain a multitude of nodes containing categorical information relating to components and various aspects of the computer network. Following a tree structure, each intermediate node and root node has branches emanating to nodes below it. These subordinate nodes are referred to as children nodes. The data node layer is at the bottom of the tree and contains actual specific configuration data relating to components and other aspects of the computer network, such as information regarding users registered to use the network. Certain portions of the intermediate nodes and data nodes make up persistent dataspaces in which the actual specific configuration data in the data nodes is modified on either a client or a server computer, and is stored on the server computer. This allows the associated specific information to be nonvolatile and accessible by a multiplicity of client computers. The client/server protocol allows configuration data to be transferred between a client and server and for the maintenance of the connection between the client and the server. Configuration data and user profiles are stored on a server computer thereby minimizing the amount of memory needed by the client computer, which can be a device with low memory capabilities such as network computers, PDAs, or smart cards. The protocol also includes a method of coalescing configuration data before sending it to a client computer thereby reducing the memory requirements of the client computer.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A virtual data framework for storing user and client configuration data in a computer network including a plurality of client computers connected to at least one server computer, the virtual data framework comprising:a root node level;at least one intermediate node level

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A virtual data framework for storing user and client configuration data in a computer network including a plurality of client computers connected to at least one server computer, the virtual data framework comprising:a root node level;at least one intermediate node level including a plurality of intermediate nodes subordinate to the root node level storing categorical information relating to the computer network;a data node level subordinate to the intermediate node level storing specific values relating to the user and client configuration data in the computer network; anda plurality of persistent dataspaces including at least one such intermediate node from the intermediate node level and such associated specific values as stored in a data node level, where data in each persistent dataspace can be modified on each such client computer or the server computer and stored on the client computer, the associated specific values being nonvolatile such that the associated specific values persist after modification and are accessible by any client computer from any other client computer.