XRIs provide a standard syntax and resolution protocol for abstract identifiers-identifiers that are independent of a specific location, domain, application, or protocol. The XRI specifications are built directly on top of the foundation provided by the URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) and IRI (Internationalized Resource Identifier) specifications from IETF and W3C.
URIs introduced a standard means of identifying resources across distributed networks that in only 15 years has become the most successful identifier scheme in history. IRIs subsequently extended the generic URI scheme, which supports only the ASCII character set, to include the full UCS (Unicode Character Set).
XRIs take a third step by adding additional syntax and resolution features that enable XRIs to solve problems of abstract identification that are not easily addressed by conventional URI or IRI syntax or resolution. One of these problems - persistence - has been addressed by other URI schemes for abstract identifiers, such as the URN (Uniform Resource Name) scheme RFC 2141. While XRIs fulfill the requirements for URNs as specified in RFC 1737, they go on to address a much wider range of issues in abstract identification.
Here are features provided by XRI,
XRIs provide a uniform syntax and resolution protocol for both persistent and reassignable abstract identifiers.
XRIs provide a uniform syntax for delegating abstract identifiers between authorities at any level or context.
XRIs provide a uniform syntax (called "cross-references") for sharing abstract identifiers across all contexts.
XRIs provide both a generic and a trusted protocol for resolving a single abstract identifier into any number of concrete identifiers.
XRIs provide a simple, standard means of discovering URIs that may be associated with a resource, including those needed for additional metadata discovery.
XRIs provide a standard means of protecting privacy by revealing the least possible information in an identifier and allowing an authority to control further access.
XRIs provide a standard means of extension without sacrificing interoperability.
Currently a Reference Implementation is provided for XRI Resolution through OpenXRI project
Download Latest Code for OpenXRI (At sourceforge.net)
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On this server we have latest version of OpenXRI deployed for you to try the Syntax Resolution.
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