Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium has a data structure stored thereon for constructing expressions representing software configurations to be applied to software. The data structure includes a first data field including data identifying a name of software setting for the application. A second data field includes data representing an assertion portion of an policy rule for configuring the configurations identified in the first data field to be applied to the software. The data structure also includes a third data field storing data representing an action portion of the policy rule. The second data field and the third data field form the policy rule. A fourth data field stores metadata describing the policy rule represented by the first data field, the second data field, and the third data field.

Abstract: Associating schema elements or types declared in an XML document with elements declared in another XML document. An annotation schema is defined in a first document. At least a portion of the schema declared in the original document is identified in the annotation schema of the first document. Usage properties in the annotation schema are declared for the identified portion of the schema in the original document. The declared usage properties provide additional utilities of the identified portion of the schema. The usage properties are mapped to the identified portion of the schema, and annotation data is specified in a second document based on the defined annotation schema. The specified annotation applies usages of the schema characteristics according to the usage properties.

Abstract: Applying policy rules to software installed on a device. A group of devices to receive policy rules for the software is identified. The devices belonging to the specified group is identified. A set of policy rules assigned to the devices in the specified group are identified. The policy rules assigned to the devices are aggregated into one or more policy documents. The one or more policy documents are received. The received policy documents are stored in a data store associated with the device. The set of policy rules specified by the received policy documents are applied to the software. A feedback is provided to the policy authority in response to the applying, and the feedback is indicative of whether the set of policy rules is applied to the software.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium has a data structure stored thereon for constructing expressions representing software configurations to be applied to software. The data structure includes a first data field including data identifying a name of software setting for the application. A second data field includes data representing an assertion portion of an policy rule for configuring the configurations identified in the first data field to be applied to the software. The data structure also includes a third data field storing data representing an action portion of the policy rule. The second data field and the third data field form the policy rule. A fourth data field stores metadata describing the policy rule represented by the first data field, the second data field, and the third data field.

Abstract: Managing software states using policy rules in a policy document in a distributed network. A policy document is generated and the policy document includes a set of policy rules defining one or more desired configurations of one or more pieces of software on the target devices. Target information is associated with the policy document, and the target information corresponds to a selected set of the target devices and includes information relating to characteristics of the software of the selected set of target devices. The set of policy rules included in the policy document is compared with other policy rules for the software. The policy document is modified as a function of the comparison and conflict resolution preferences. The modified policy document is provided for deployment to the selected set of the target devices.