I-name

The i-names are a format of XRI - an open standard for the numerical identifiers OASIS designed to share resources and data on fields and applications. The i-names of XRIs readable by the human ones and are intended to be as easy as possible to memorize and use. For example, a personal i-name could be as simple as " =Eve" or " =Eve.Dupont". A i-name of organization can be as simple as " @Pinko" or " @Pinko.Corporation."

A problem that XRIs are supposed to solve is permanent addressing - with knowing how to maintain an address which does not need to change it the frequency does not matter to which the data of the person or the organization changes. XRIs manage to do that by adding a new d'" layer; abstract" on the existing number of IP and the layers of naming DNS used today on the Internet (just like on good of other types of addresses, such as the phone numbers). Such a layer of abstraction is not new - URN S (Uniform Resource Names) and other architectures of persistent identifiers have the same effect. What is single in connection with layer XRI is that it offers a uniform single syntax and a protocol of resolution for two types different of identifiers:

the I-name S - identifiers readable by the human ones which resemble domain names but are even simpler and easier to use. Even if they generally have a long lifespan, the i-names can, like domain names, being transferred and réassignés with another resource by its owner. For example, a company which changes its name of company could sell its old i-name at another company, whereas the two companies could preserve their i-numbers origin. Nevertheless what differentiates the i-names from domain names is that in practice they will have a i-number synonymous (equivalent) persistent (see in lower part).

the I-number S - identifiers machine-readable (similar to the IP addresses) which is recorded towards a resource (nobody, organization, application, file, digital object, etc) and ever réassignés. This wants to say that a i-number can always be used to address a representation network of the resource as long as it remains available some share on the network. I-numbers, as IP addresses, are designed to be very effective for the routers of networks to treat and solve.

Syntax XRI also allows the i-names and the i-numbers to be combined in the same XRI. Thus makes layer XRI of it supports at the same time the synonyms i-name and i-number for the resources - one which return to the semantics of the true world and can change with the wire of time, and one which reflects the identity persistente of a resource can imports the frequency to which can change its attributes (including its i-names). And the same protocol of resolution XRI based on HTTP can be used to solve is a i-name or a i-number (or any combination of both).

XRIs are retro-compatible with the systems of DNS and of addressing IP, thus it is possible for domain names and IP addresses to be used like i-names (or in rare cases, like i-numbers). Like the names of DNS, XRIs can be also " déléguées" , for example overlapping on several levels of depth, just like the repertory of names of a local system of file on a computer. For example, a company can highest record a i-name (total) for the level for itself and then to assign i-names of second - or low level to its divisions, collaborators, etc Exemples

=Eve.Dupont =@Tontine*France.Bordeaux

The i-names are called unified digital addresses because they can be solved by using the protocol XRI inside any other type of data of contact of the identity which they represent (or any other type of data under the control of its identity - to see XDI). The intimacy is protected because the owner of the identity controls this resolution. For example, the recorder of " =Marie.Jean" would not receive a spam coming from sound i-name because it is not an address e-mail. To solve " =Mari.Jean" inside an address email would initially oblige to receive the permission of Mary and such requests can be checked by the I-brokers to make sure that they are legitimate.

In addition to the " =noms" for the people and " @noms" for the organizations, the third essential type of the i-names is " +noms" for generic concepts. This is equivalent XRI of a generic English name, for example, " +flowers" , " +phone.number" , or " +table.of.contents". The extensions +names are very useful in the division of distributed data because they can be used like cross-country race-references XRI to specify the precise type of data to be divided. For example " =Eve.Dupont/(+phone.number)/(+daytime) " and " @Pinko/(+phone.number)/(+daytime) " can be used respectively to ask the phone numbers in the day of Eve and Pinko.

Use of the i-names

See too

I-number
I-broker
XRI
XDI
Social Web
Architecture Centralized Identity

External bonds

OASIS XRI Technical Committee
OASIS XDI Technical Committee
XDI.org
XDI.org Total Services Specifications
XDI.org SpécificationsI-Services
inames.net (the XDI.org gate for the i-names)
Social The Web: Creating Open Year Social Network with XDI in the Planetwork Newspaper.
i-namers (a group user i-name)
the blog of Andy Paves in connection with XRI, XDI and of the Identity

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