Abstract: Smart containers are disclosed. A definition is received of a logical structure configured to manage associated content. A policy or operation specified by the definition is applied to an item of content associated with an instance of the logical structure.

Abstract: Virtual repository management to provide functionality is disclosed. An indication is received that a content management functionality is desired to be performed with respect to one or more external content items stored in a repository that does not provide the content management functionality as a native functionality. The repository is caused to perform one or more native repository operations that enable a result associated with the content management functionality to be achieved.

Abstract: Virtual repository management is disclosed. An indication is received that a content management functionality is desired to be available with respect to one or more external content items. A reference object is created for each for the one or more external content items that represents the external content item and enables the content management functionality to be performed with respect to the external content item.

Abstract: A method for storing content on a storage system wherein the content is defined an associated retention period. The retention period prescribes a fixed amount of time that the content will be stored without the possibility of deletion. After the retention period expires, the content and all metadata associated with the content can be deleted from the storage system.

Abstract: A method and system of generating metadata for a document so that the document may be identified by a subsequent search. A conceptual model is generated for the document, wherein the conceptual model indicates one or more concepts that are recognized in the document. A concept is defined by a plurality of features, each feature being associated with a feature weight. By referencing the conceptual model, one or more auto-attributes may be assigned to the document. Also, by referencing the conceptual model, the document may be categorized to one or more categories of a categorization taxonomy by assigning one or more auto-categories. The generated metadata, including the conceptual model, the one or more auto-attributes, and the one or more auto-categories, may be stored in a memory so that the subsequent search may identify the document by examining the generated metadata.