Resolving strings to actual objects

Hello

Is someone aware of a dbms_ package, a dba_ view or anything that I can use to resolve a string to an actual object.

I face the problem that I have some string, for example FOO. Now, someone might have set a public synonym for FOO to point at SOMEONE.BAR. I'd like this function, view or whatever to return SOMEONE.BAR if I give it the string FOO. Also, FOO might be a _real_ object, not a synonym, in which case I'd like that mechanism to return RENE.FOO (RENE being the username with which I am logged into Oracle).

Version 9i or 10g.

Thanks,
Rene

-- 
  Rene Nyffenegger
  http://www.adp-gmbh.ch/