Architecture

OCP can be implemented by one provider or composed across services, but the same trust boundaries and evidence obligations apply.


Actors

OCP trust and authority boundariesSource evidence can be interpreted into candidate context and reviewed into accepted context. Authorization is a separate control plane. No context record grants external action authority.CONTEXT AND EVIDENCE PLANESource evidenceImported bytes, messages,documents, and provenanceCandidate contextProvider interpretation,never silently acceptedAccepted contextExplicit review decisionfor a bounded scopeSEPARATE AUTHORIZATION PLANEIdentity · consent · credentials · policy · client instance · recipient bindingExternal action authority: none
OCP preserves the separation between evidence, interpretation, accepted state, and authorization.
Subject
The person or entity the portable records describe.
Authorizer
The actor with authority to approve access for a defined scope.
Context provider
The system that stores or constructs OCP records and packages.
Client
The recipient application requesting and consuming a package.
Processing recipient
A model provider or other named service that receives data during processing.

Protocol boundary

OCP defines portable data objects, lifecycle semantics, profiles, discovery, HTTP operations, offline packages, and conformance assertions. Authentication, authorization protocols, identity proofing, key custody, policy engines, model behavior, and external actions remain outside the protocol boundary.

Deployment models

ModelShapeKey concern
Provider-nativeOne service provides storage, authorization integration, and packagingDo not collapse authorization into package issuance
Independent vaultA dedicated continuity provider serves multiple clientsRecipient and processing-recipient bindings
Local-firstRecords and decisions stay primarily on-devicePortable audit, revocation reach, and secure key handling
FederatedMultiple providers contribute scoped recordsConflicts, source authority, status freshness, and partial failure

Core and profiles

Core objects establish the common envelope, request/grant/package lifecycle, accepted-context rules, and safety properties. Profiles add domain-specific semantics without weakening the core. Version 0.4 publishes Conversation, Artifact, and Provider Adapter profiles.

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