[OpenID] OpenID - Service Discovery?

[Chad Groneman]

Hello all,

I'm investigating the possibility of using OpenID as a way to convey
service information to interested parties.  In other words, if a user
logs into a site that would like more specific details on a particular
topic, it could query to get any information providers which are
associated with the user.  I imagine using the Attribute Exchange, but
there may be a better solution.

A very simple example would be if a user logged in to a site that would
like to know the exact location of a user.  There could be many
providers of this information, so the site queries for the user's
provider.  It finds a provider, and from there is able to query the
provider to find the user's exact location.  All this is done without
needing to have the user select their provider from a list and log in to
that provider.

It seems to me that OpenID would be a good way to do it, although it may
be abusing the Attribute Exchange - especially as more types of services
emerge.

What are your thoughts?  Is this in-line with the goals of OpenID?  Is
there anything else you would recommend investigating?

Thank you.

-- 
Chad Groneman