OpenID Attribute Exchange Working Group

Charter Proposal

In accordance with the OpenID Foundation IPR policies and procedures this note proposes the formation of a new working group chartered to produce an OpenID specification. As per Section 4.1 of the Policies, the proposed charter is below (still liable to change during this feedback period).

I. Name

Attribute Exchange Extension Working Group (AX)

II. Statement of Purpose

Produce an updated version of the Attribute Exchange (AX) and Simple Registration (SREG) Extensions. The extensions should be backwards-compatible with AX 1.0, AX1.1 and SREG 1.0.

III. Scope

Update the Attribute Exchange Extension to include support for identified needs. Currently identified:

• Introduce the concept of more generic schema for sending/requesting properties about attributes.
  • The new attribute property schemas attach to specific attribute types.
  • Each attribute property schema is bound to a unique attribute-type namespace, can be described by a standard key string (does not need to be defined through a URL value).
  • Attribute property values can be transmitted within any request or response type, allowing communication of attribute properties in both directions in indirect communication request/response pairs.
• Introduce a direct communication method in both directions (OP<->RP), supported via discovery, for bulk exchange of attributes about (potentially) multiple users.
• Update AX to include support for RPs to send a link to their site's privacy policy to the OP. This feature is currently supported in SREG 1.0 and was omitted in AX 1.0.

   

Define a lightweight registration mechanism for AX attribute type schemas.

Update the Simple Registration Extension to include commonly requested registration data, including the user's avatar image, and metadata regarding the user's email address.

IV. Specifications

OpenID Attribute Exchange 2.0

Simple Registration Extension 1.2

V. Anticipated audience

All those interested in the obtaining attributes about users authenticated via OpenID.

VI. Language of business

English.

VII. Method of work

Mailing list discussion. Posting of intermediate drafts in the OpenID Wiki. Virtual conferencing on an ad-hoc basis.

VIII. Basis for completion of the activity

The Attribute Exchange 1.1, 2.0 and Simple Registration 1.2 spec final drafts are delivered and the form of management and maintenance of the registry is established.

Background Information

I. Related Work

Attribute Exchange (1.0), and Simple Registration (1.0 and 1.1 Draft).

II. Initial Membership

• Allen Tom, atom@yahoo-inc.com. Yahoo! Inc (editor)
• Mike Graves, mgraves@janrain.com, JanRain, Inc.
• Dick Hardt, dick@skip.com. Sxip Identity.
• Breno de Medeiros, breno@google.com. Google, Inc. (editor)
• Hideki Nara, hdknr@ic-tact.co.jp, Tact Communications
• Nat Sakimura, n-sakimura@nri.co.jp (editor)
• John Bradley, ve7jtb@ve7jtb.com
• Will Norris, will@willnorris.com

III. Expected contribution

http://step2.googlecode.com/svn/spec/attribute_exchange_validate/trunk/openid-attribute-exchange-validate-mode.html