IdAS 1.1 Package

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The IdAS 1.1 Package (IdAS) is a package of components that provides a virtualized, unified view and a common means of access to identity information from multiple heterogeneous data sources. IdAS is an extensible framework that implements the Higgins Data Model 1.1 (HDM). HDM represents objects (called Entities) and their Attributes. Existing external data sources (e.g. databases, directories, etc.) are adapted to (mapped to and from) the IdAS via plug-ins called Context Providers.

Architecture

(Diagram Key)

Errata: the above diagram only shows some of the components listed below. It needs to be updated.

Components

The IdAS framework is comprised of these constituent projects (see this section) of the Components page for more details):

Components 1.X#IdAS / Org.eclipse.higgins.idas.api

Allows a consumer to perform access and update operations (as allowed) on elements of the data model. Specifically, the consumer can obtain an object which represents a Context, can read and change objects within that Context, and can read and change attributes on those subjects.

Components 1.X#IdAS / Org.eclipse.higgins.idas.spi

Is used by parties who wish to write Context Providers for IdAS. The IdAS API is only a set of interfaces which must be implemented by Context Providers. A Context Provider consists of the implementations of IdAS SPI interfaces which allow a consumer to access some specific type of identity store. One good way to see what is involved in building an IdAS Context Provider is to look at some of the existing Context Provider projects. It's suggested that the Org.eclipse.higgins.idas.cp.inmem project would be a good jumping-in point, as it tends to be fairly simple.

Components 1.X#IdAS / Org.eclipse.higgins.idas.registry

Is responsible for resolving an object identifier to all the information needed to obtain a suitable Context Provider, and to further instantiate the Context identified by the ContextId. IdAS Registry can keep an internal list of Context Providers and ContextIds, or it can use external mechanisms such as XRI Resolution.

Components 1.X#IdAS / Org.eclipse.higgins.idas.common

A set of common, useful utility methods and Authentication Materials classes.

Components 1.X#IdAS / Org.eclipse.higgins.idas.udi

Code for supporting the resolution of Context-, Entity- and Attribute UDIs.

Use cases

• IdAS Use Cases

See Also

• IdAS Authentication Materials
• Context Provider - definition of the term
• IdAS 1.0 Package - older version