Directory access method

A directory server connected to at least one client through a network, comprising:

• a database for storing directory information;
• non-transaction processing means for processing accesses to the database, said non-transaction processing means treating each of access requests from said client as a different transaction;
• transaction processing means for processing accesses to the database, said transaction processing means treating a sequence of access requests from said client as a single transaction;
• a phase management table for storing a connected client and a processing phase for an access request;
• and
• phase management means for passing an access request of said client to said non-transaction processing means or to said transaction processing means based on a processing phase stored in said phase management table.

A network system comprising:

• a directory server including a database for storing directory information;
• and
• at least one client connected to said directory server through a network,
• said client having means for defining a transaction;
• and
• said directory server including:
• non-transaction processing means for processing accesses to the database, said non-transaction processing means treating each of access requests from said client as a different transaction;
• transaction processing means for processing accesses to the database, said transaction processing means treating a sequence of access requests from said client as a single transaction;
• a phase management table for storing a connected client and a processing phase for an access request;
• and
• phase management means for determining whether an access request from a connected client is defined as a transaction, storing a processing phase in said phase management table, and passing the access request from said client to said non-transaction processing means or to said transaction processing means based on the stored processing phase.

A program storage device readable by a directory server, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the directory server to perform method steps for accessing directory information in a system including a directory server having a database for storing directory information, and at least one client connected to said directory server through a network, comprising the steps of:

• analyzing a request transmitted thereto from said client;
• treating a sequence of directory information access requests defined as a transaction in said client as a single transaction;
• accessing directory information in said database for each transaction;
• and
• accessing the directory information in said database for each request when directory information access requests transmitted from said client are not defined as a transaction.