[OpenID] OpenID based decentralized social networking

[Peter Williams]

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From: Peter Williams
Sent: Mon 6/18/2007 9:24 AM
To: tom
Cc: general at openid.net
Subject: RE: [OpenID] OpenID based decentralized social networking

Thanks for the context. I still have not really distinguished in my mind the "social networking" design features of OpenID, vs. implementation value-add 
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Having said that, here is what I trying to straighten out in my mind this week, given the hints folks expressed last week.

(1) Either firefox plugins acting as OPs or OpenID servers shall issue the WebSSO tokens

(2) As we learned from VeriSign folk, a plugin can be parsing one or more microformats or their HTML profile-based metadata descriptions and/or XRDS elements or element extensions

(3) We learned that XRDS can have an extensibility model, allowing for such as (a) service locators to prioritized OP Providers (servers) (b) indicate https conditions (e.g. require extended validation certs, (c) identity a given XRI proxy namne resolver access point, (d) other ideas

(4) we know microformats are engine-driven - with profile metadata describing the type system that allows for a kind of machine-processsing of semi-human-readable markup

(5) We know that an RDF Model can be built up from such machine processable tagged values, and we have a query language for the multi-source model that results from merging several data sources expressed in the microformat markups

(6) we know that FOAF is social networking centric uF

(7) we know that anchor links can express link relationships, including semantics such as authorativeness, referential integrity, copyrights, and more human-friendly FOAF properties such as "my name for Bobbysito's friend Amywhatshername"

Now as I list that mix of assurance, security and data processingcomponents, am I starting to draw out the story of how OpenID relates to the wider Web2.0 movement and trends?

What I'm missing, I think, is the linkup (if any) between Yadis, XRDS, microformats and querying RDF metamodels when enforing both the deciding and enforcing functions of a user-centric authorization system. 

Peter.