Patent ID: 6366913
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for use in connection with application and network services to provide a directory service that defines dynamic groups of directory members, the method comprising the steps of:defining a directory search specification for a dynamic group based upon user attribute information, where said dynamic group is any set of users in which membership is dynamically determined and in which groups of users are defined by said directory search specification; evaluating said directory search specification at a service delivery time; determining whether information maintained in a directory matches said directory search specification; delivering said service to said dynamic group; providing a directory server to maintain information about users; and providing a messaging server that maintains information about groups in said directory server; wherein when said messaging server sends a search specification to said directory server which causes said directory server to return a set of users or group objects; and wherein said message server then causes said message to be sent to each of the users or groups returned by said search.