Context

Introduction

This page describes the Context concept.

Definition

• A Context is a set of one or more Entities identified by a ContextId.
• Each Context is an instance of a Context Type.
• A Context may have zero or more Attributes.
• A Context has a schema that describes kinds of Entities and Attributes that an instance of this Context contains.
• Every Context has its own security and access control policy

Examples

Examples of Contexts that contain multiple Entities include: directories, informal groups, project teams, collaboration spaces, and communications systems and networks. Examples of Contexts that, at least from the point of view of the authenticated consumer, typically contain only a single Digital Subject are: driver's licenses, credit cards, business cards, and many other kinds of security devices.

HOWL

	<owl:Class rdf:ID="Context">
		<rdfs:comment>
                This instance represents the containing Context itself.
                </rdfs:comment>
	</owl:Class>

Footnote

Some Contexts are abstract. An example of an abstract Context would be the internet mail Context associated with the internet mail ContextId. The Digital Subjects within this Context have a SubjectId that is an email address (e.g. "foo@boo.com") within the email namespace defined by internet mail. This ContextId cannot be resolved to a physical Context because there is no globally defined set of all email addresses.

See Also

• ContextId
• LocalId
• Concepts

Links

• Higgins Home