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Definition of the term "Context"

A Context is a container of Digital Subjects and their network of relationships with other Digital Subjects and related objects. A Context provides these Digital Subjects with their surrounding environment and circumstances that in turn determines their meaning as well as the polices and protocols that govern their interactions. Contexts are not an intrinsic part of the Higgins framework, they are provided by Context Providers.

Examples of Contexts include directories, informal groups, project teams, collaboration spaces, and communications systems and networks.

Every Context has an associated Digital Subject unique identifier namespace. Every Digital Subject within a Context has a unique identifier from this namespace.

Every Context has a schema (or more correctly an ontology) that describes kinds of DigitalSubjects and Identity Attributes that an instance of this Context contains.

<to-be-written: describe authN policies>

<to-be-written: describe authZ policies>

Contexts are implemented by ContextProviders. 

Digital Subject Networks

In a given Context an Entity is represented as one or more DigitalSubjects engaged in interactions with other DigitalSubjects. These interactions between DigitalSubjects are represented by [Subject Relationship] objects. Digital Subjects are connected by these [Subject Relationships] into a directed graph structure. This graph is often referred to as the Network (as in social network). A Context with no inter-DigitalSubjects links is effectively equivalent to a directory or a list.