Generic terms

Jabber
See XMPP.
JID
Jabber identifier. Also called "XMPP address". Example: foo@server.com.
XMPP
Stands for eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol. Basically synonymous to 'Jabber' (ouch, Peter, don't hit me!). More information can be found on xmpp.org and jabber.org. XMPP is the communication protocol that is used in DIAS between the Client and the Agent for the ticket request/answer.

DIAS-specific terms

All these terms are detailed in the DIAS paper.

Agent
A program running somewhere on the internet, whose aim is to guarantee the identity of an entity (called Client) to another (called Server). An Agent has the following characteristics:
  • It can communicate with the Client through the XMPP network (learn how).
  • It can communicate with the Server (learn how).
Client
An entity willing to prove its identity in real-time to another entity (learn how). For example, a person visiting a web forum and willing to log in before posting on it.
Server
An entity that wants to check the identity of another one.
Ticket
A one-time, short-life password that is generated by the Agent and given to the Client that requested it. The ticket is intended to serve as a certification of the Client's identity, materialized by its JID: if you have the ticket, then it means that you own the JID behind it.