Managing identifiers

1. A method of managing attributes comprising:

obtaining a unique mutable identifier for storage in memory in response to a request from an end entity to an attribute service provider to generate the unique mutable identifier;

utilizing a processor to provide a set of attributes of the end entity selected by the end entity and provided to the attribute service provider for association with the unique mutable identifier and storage at the attribute service provider;

providing, by the end entity, the unique mutable identifier from the end entity to a first application whereby the first application can obtain the associated set of attributes of the end entity by inquiring the attribute service provider;

providing the unique mutable identifier to a second application whereby the second application can obtain the associated set of attributes of the end entity by inquiring the attribute service provider; and

upon request from the end entity to the attribute service provider, obtaining a modified mutable identifier associated with the selected set of attributes previously associated with the unique mutable identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein an application running on the end entity provides the request and the selected set of attributes.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the application stores the unique mutable identifier and provides that identifier to third party applications for enforcing the set of attributes.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of attributes are a set of privacy preferences.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of attributes are a set of security preferences.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a unique login identifier corresponds to the unique mutable identifier.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the unique mutable identifier is modified in response to a request to modify the unique mutable identifier sent by the end entity with the unique login identifier to the attribute service provider, the modified unique mutable identifier being associated with the set of attributes of the end entity and originating from the end entity.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein multiple unique mutable identifiers are associated with the set of attributes.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the modified mutable identifier is uncorrelated with the unique mutable identifier.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the set of attributes is modified in response to a request sent with the unique login identifier to the attribute service provider, the modified set of attributes being associated with the unique mutable identifier.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the application stores the unique mutable identifier and provides that identifier to third party applications for enforcing the set of attributes; wherein the set of attributes is selected from a group consisting of a set of privacy preferences and a set of security preferences; and wherein the unique mutable identifier is modified in response to a request sent with the unique login identifier to the attribute service provider, the modified unique mutable identifier being associated with the set of attributes.

12. A computer usable program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable storage medium including computer usable code for use in managing attributes, the computer usable program product comprising code for performing the steps of:

obtaining a unique mutable identifier for storage in memory in response to a request from an end entity to an attribute service provider to generate the unique mutable identifier;

utilizing a processor to provide a set of attributes of the end entity selected by the end entity and provided to the attribute service provider for association with the unique mutable identifier and storage at the attribute service provider;

providing, by the end entity, the unique mutable identifier from the end entity to a first application whereby the first application can obtain the associated set of attributes of the end entity by inquiring the attribute service provider;

providing the unique mutable identifier to a second application whereby the second application can obtain the associated set of attributes of the end entity by inquiring the attribute service provider; and

upon request from the end entity to the attribute service provider, obtaining a modified mutable identifier associated with the selected set of attributes previously associated with the unique mutable identifier.

13. The computer usable program product of claim 12 wherein an application running on the end entity provides the request and the selected set of attributes.

14. The computer usable program product of claim 13 wherein the application stores the unique mutable identifier and provides that identifier to third party applications for enforcing the set of attributes.

15. The computer usable program product of claim 12 wherein the set of attributes are a set of privacy preferences.

16. The computer usable program product of claim 12 wherein the set of attributes are a set of security preferences.

17. The computer usable program product of claim 12 wherein a unique login identifier corresponds to the unique mutable identifier.

18. The computer usable program product of claim 17 wherein the unique mutable identifier is modified in response to a request to modify the unique mutable identifier sent by the end entity with the unique login identifier to the attribute service provider, the modified unique mutable identifier being associated with the set of attributes of the end entity and originating from the end entity.

19. The computer usable program product of claim 17 wherein multiple unique mutable identifiers are associated with the set of attributes.

20. The computer usable program product of claim 12 wherein the modified mutable identifier is uncorrelated with the unique mutable identifier.

21. The computer usable program product of claim 17 wherein the set of attributes is modified in response to a request sent with the unique login identifier to the attribute service provider, the modified set of attributes being associated with the unique mutable identifier.

22. A data processing system for managing attributes, the data processing system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing program instructions which when executed by the processor execute the steps of:

obtaining a unique mutable identifier for storage in the memory in response to a request from an end entity to an attribute service provider to generate the unique mutable identifier;

utilizing the processor to provide a set of attributes of the end entity selected by the end entity and provided to the attribute service provider for association with the unique mutable identifier and storage at the attribute service provider;

providing, by the end entity, the unique mutable identifier from the end entity to a first application whereby the first application can obtain the associated set of attributes of the end entity by inquiring the attribute service provider;

providing the unique mutable identifier to a second application whereby the second application can obtain the associated set of attributes of the end entity by inquiring the attribute service provider; and

upon request from the end entity to the attribute service provider, obtaining a modified mutable identifier associated with the selected set of attributes previously associated with the unique mutable identifier.

23. The data processing system of claim 22 wherein an application running on the end entity provides the request and the selected set of attributes.

24. The data processing system of claim 23 wherein the application stores the unique mutable identifier and provides that identifier to third party applications for enforcing the set of attributes.

25. The data processing system of claim 22 wherein the set of attributes are a set of privacy preferences.

26. The data processing system of claim 22 wherein the set of attributes are a set of security preferences.

27. The data processing system of claim 22 wherein a unique login identifier corresponds to the unique mutable identifier.

28. The data processing system of claim 27 wherein the unique mutable identifier is modified in response to a request to modify the unique mutable identifier sent by the end entity with the unique login identifier to the attribute service provider, the modified unique mutable identifier being associated with the set of attributes of the end entity and originating from the end entity.

29. The data processing system of claim 27 wherein multiple unique mutable identifiers are associated with the set of attributes.

30. The data processing system of claim 22 wherein the modified mutable identifier is uncorrelated with the unique mutable identifier.

31. The data processing system of claim 27 wherein the set of attributes is modified in response to a request sent with the unique login identifier to the attribute service provider, the modified set of attributes being associated with the unique mutable identifier.