Abstract: A policy, associated with a group, controls user subscription to and unsubscription from that group. In one embodiment, there are at least four policies for subscribing/unsubscribing: open, open with filter, control through workflow and closed. An open policy does not restrict subscription or unsubscription. The open with filter policy requires that a user satisfy a rule to subscribe, but does not require that the rule be satisfied to unsubscribe. The control through workflow policy requires a user to subscribe or unsubscribe through a workflow process. A close policy prohibits the subscription to or unsubscription from the group.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to technology for determining the members of groups. A group can have static members, dynamic members and/or nested members. An entity is a nested member of a first group if that entity is a member of a second group and the second group is a member of the first group. There can be multiple levels of nesting. For example, an entity can be a nested member of a first group if that entity is a member of a second group, which is a member of a third group, which is a member of a fourth group, . . . , which is a member of the first group. The present invention can determine the membership of a group, including the static members, dynamic members and/or nested members. Furthermore, the present invention can be used to expand one or more groups so that future requests to view the membership of a group can be performed in a more efficient manner.

Abstract: A policy, associated with a group, controls user subscription to and unsubscription from that group. In one embodiment, there are at least four policies for subscribing/unsubscribing: open, open with filter, control through workflow and closed. An open policy does not restrict subscription or unsubscription. The open with filter policy requires that a user satisfy a rule to subscribe, but does not require that the rule be satisfied to unsubscribe. The control through workflow policy requires a user to subscribe or unsubscribe through a workflow process. A close policy prohibits the subscription to or unsubscription from the group.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to technology for determining the members of groups. A group can have static members, dynamic members and/or nested members. An entity is a nested member of a first group if that entity is a member of a second group and the second group is a member of the first group. There can be multiple levels of nesting. For example, an entity can be a nested member of a first group if that entity is a member of a second group, which is a member of a third group, which is a member of a fourth group, . . . , which is a member of the first group. The present invention can determine the membership of a group, including the static members, dynamic members and/or nested members. Furthermore, the present invention can be used to expand one or more groups so that future requests to view the membership of a group can be performed in a more efficient manner.