Abstract: Described are a system and method for accepting a string-based search expression, parsing the search expression into an expression tree, distributing the tree (or portion thereof) across heterogeneous repositories, and merging the results. The system is data-location transparent, encapsulates a federation model within query nodes and query trees. A client application produces and issues the search expression to the system. One type of expression tree node is an attribute node corresponding to an attribute included in the search expression. Metadata is associated with the attribute node for identifying each repository that supports the attribute represented by that attribute node. A call passes to the expression tree to perform the search, which occurs in a recursive-descent traversal of the tree. The search completes in a single tree traversal. Sub-trees receive a relevant portion of the search expression to translate into a query expression specific for each type of searched repository.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for generating a search expression for use in searching heterogeneous repositories. An application program receives user-supplied input. A template is selected based on a structure of the input. The input is scanned and tokenized. Each token is substituted into one or more locations within the template designated for that token to produce a string-based search expression. The search expression can have logical OR and logical AND operations, parentheses to specify precedence of evaluation, and an infix notation. Templates are modifiable for changing the content of search expressions constructed for a given user input.

Abstract: A framework is provided for declaratively specifying authorization enforcement points and associating them with classes and subclasses by using declarations that map constants, local variables, or instance variables to permission classes and subclasses such as Java Permission, PermissionFactory, PrivilegedAction and PrivilegedActionFactory classes.

Abstract: A thread consistency support system 10 provides thread consistency from a Connector Application Program Interface 50 that creates multiple threads to a Thread-dependent Connector 40 that only allows a single thread to link to that connector for all operations on that connector. The system includes a Detection/Activation routine 20 that activates a Threading MetaConnector routine 30 in response to the Detection/Activation routine identifying a multi-threaded application 60 attempting to access a Thread-dependent Connector 40. The Threading MetaConnector routine 30 interfaces between the Connector Application Program Interface 50 and the Thread-dependent Connector 40. The Threading MetaConnector routine 30 establishes a connection handle for a single internal thread 80 with the Thread-dependent Connector 40 that is returned to the Connector Application Program Interface 50 of a calling multi-threaded application 60 in place of multiple requested thread connection handles.