Directory Services - Algorithms for Computed Names

Purpose

This document describes the data sources and algorithms used to compute the values of name attributes in Directory Services, including the Whitepages Directory and Person Directory.

Contents

Overview

Because there are several different use cases for name attributes, the values vary between directories services based on data source, algorithm, and intended uses. The current design (editor – or future; see status above) for computing values and publishing data has all data proxied to the directories through the Identity Registry, as it masters at least one of the attributes in the directories (editor – at least one of values?).

Data Sources

Whitepages Directory

LDAP stores: ou=Students, ou=People, o=University of Washington, c=US
LDAP stores: ou=Faculty and Staff, ou=People, o=University of Washington, c=US

Records only appear in the above LDAP stores if the associated publishing flag is set.  If an individual appears in both the attributes in each record are identical.

Attributes

cn - typically the person's full name

1. Preferred First Name + Preferred Middle Name + Preferred Last Name
2. Employee legal name in First + Last order (if published)
3. Student whitepages name in First + Last order (if published)

givenName - holds the part of a person's name which is not their surname nor middle name

1. Preferred First Name
2. Employee legal first name (if published)
3. Student whitepages first name (if published)

sn - the family name of a person

1. Preferred Last Name
2. Employee legal last name (if published)
3. Student whitepages last name (if published)

Person Directory Service (PDS aka eds.u.washington.edu)

LDAP store: ou=People,dc=personregistry,dc=washington,dc=edu

Attributes

displayName - single field to represent the user (first last)

1. Preferred First Name + Preferred Middle Name + Preferred Last Name
2. Employee legal name in First + Last order
3. Student whitepages name in First + Last order
4. Registered Name Rollup
   
   1. First Active record in priority order
   2. First Inactive record in priority order

uwEWPName - Employee whitepages name (last, first)

1. Preferred Lastname, Preferred First Name Preferered Middle Name
2. Employee whitepages name: Last, First

uwSWPName - Student whitepages name (last, first)

1. Preferred Lastname, Preferred First Name Preferered Middle Name
2. Student whitepages name: Last, First

uwRegisteredName - Registered first name (first)
uwRegisteredSurname - Registered last name (last)
cn - Common Name (first last)
sn - Surname (last)

1. First active Identity Registry record in priority order
2. First inactive Identity Registry record in priority order