Abstract: A security trimming system disclosed herein uses intelligent caching of the security trimming information received from a security datastore. The security trimming system uses an access cache to store the security trimming information received from the access datastore together with other parameters associated with such security trimming information. Subsequently, in responding to a request for the security trimming information, the security trimming system uses the cached value of the security trimming information together with the other associated parameters to determine a response to the request from the content providers. In one implementation, if the other parameters associated with a particular security trimming information imply that the security trimming information in the cache is still valid, the cached security trimming information is used in the request response. Otherwise, a new request is sent to the security datastore for an updated value of the security trimming information.

Abstract: A security trimming system disclosed herein uses intelligent caching of the security trimming information received from a security datastore. The security trimming system uses an access cache to store the security trimming information received from the access datastore together with other parameters associated with such security trimming information. Subsequently, in responding to a request for the security trimming information, the security trimming system uses the cached value of the security trimming information together with the other associated parameters to determine a response to the request from the content providers. In one implementation, if the other parameters associated with a particular security trimming information imply that the security trimming information in the cache is still valid, the cached security trimming information is used in the request response. Otherwise, a new request is sent to the security datastore for an updated value of the security trimming information.

Abstract: Tools and techniques for asynchronous database updates between client applications and search utilities are provided. These tools may receive indications of updates occurring within a workspace in which two or more users are collaborating. Updates to the collaborative workspace may be committed to a collaboration database maintained internally by a collaboration application. The tools may generate request to commit these updates to a search utility, so that the updates are searchable. The search utility maintains a search database that is decoupled from and operates independently of the collaboration database. The tools may increment a notification counter associated with the collaborative workspace, with the notification counter tracking how many requests to commit updates are pending. Finally, the tools may send the request to commit the update to the search database asynchronously with respect to the collaboration database.

Abstract: Proper user-to-data associations are maintained in shared spaces created in a peer-to-peer collaborative system by means of a simplified and minimal user interface that permits users to easily authenticate other members of a shared space. In particular, support is provided for automatically building authenticated relationships even if users do not take the time to authenticate other users. When a user enters a shared space and views the contacts in that space, the display names of each contact are accompanied by distinctive icons that identify that authentication status of that contact. A mechanism is provided for resolving conflicts between contacts with the same display names to prevent confusion and contact “spoofing.” Security policies can be established to provide a uniform approach to authentication. These policies can be set by a user or, alternatively, the policies can be set by an administrator.

Abstract: Proper user-to-data associations are maintained in shared spaces created in a peer-to-peer collaborative system by means of a simplified and minimal user interface that permits users to easily authenticate other members of a shared space. In particular, support is provided for automatically building authenticated relationships even if users do not take the time to authenticate other users. When a user enters a shared space and views the contacts in that space, the display names of each contact are accompanied by distinctive icons that identify that authentication status of that contact. A mechanism is provided for resolving conflicts between contacts with the same display names to prevent confusion and contact “spoofing.” Security policies can be established to provide a uniform approach to authentication. These policies can be set by a user or, alternatively, the policies can be set by an administrator.