Methods, systems, and data structures for communicating object metadata
are provided. A generic metadata container is presented that allows
object metadata to be described in an extensible manner using
protocol-neutral and platform-independent methodologies. A metadata scope
refers to a dynamic universe of targets to which the included metadata
statements correspond. Metadata properties provide a mechanism to
describe the metadata itself, and metadata security can be used to ensure
authentic metadata is sent and received. Mechanisms are also provided to
allow refinement and replacement of metadata statements. Communication of
metadata is expedited using hash digests to confirm metadata versions,
and by piggybacking policy metadata requests and responses on other
substantive data communication messages, thereby dynamically altering
future communications.