Context

Definition

A Context is a container of one or more Digital Subjects. Contexts are provided by Context Providers.

Examples of multiple-subject Contexts include: directories, informal groups, project teams, collaboration spaces, and communications systems and networks.

Every Context defines its own identifier namespace. Every Digital Subject within a Context has a unique identifier from this namespace called "CUID" --a Contextually Unique Identifier Identity Attribute.

Every Context has a schema (or more correctly, ontology) that describes kinds of Digital Subjects and Identity Attributes that an instance of this Context contains.

<to-be-written: describe authN policies>

<to-be-written: describe authZ policies>

Contexts are implemented by Context Providers.

Digital Subject Relationships

In a given Context an Entity is represented as one or more Digital Subjects that may have relationships with other Digital Subjects in the same Context. These relationships are directed edges called Subject Relationships. Digital Subjects are connected by these edges into a directed graph structure. A Context with no inter-Digital Subjects relationships is equivalent to a traditional directory or a list.

Digital Subjects may also have directed SubjectRelationships that link them to Digital Subjects in other Contexts.