Extensible content object metadata

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor causes a set of acts for managing content object metadata, the set of acts comprising:

• associating each object of a plurality of objects stored on a system with a global metadata schema and one or more respective portions of a set of extensible metadata, wherein the global metadata schema is applied to the each object to associate global metadata with the each object;
• associating a plurality of metadata templates with an object of the plurality of metadata templates, wherein
• each of the plurality of metadata templates corresponds to a respective portion in a set of extensible metadata,
• the plurality of metadata templates comprising a first metadata template for the object that is collaborated upon by first multiple users in a first workflow and a second metadata template for the object that is collaborated upon by second multiple users in a second workflow,
• the first metadata template is specific to a first pair comprising the object and the first workflow and is distinct from the second metadata template that is specific to a second pair comprising the object and the second workflow, and
• the first metadata template and the second metadata template are selected based at least in part upon a first operation in the first workflow and a second operation in the second workflow so as to be distinct from one another;
• determining whether a request to operate on the object is to operate on the object in the first workflow or in the second workflow;
• in response to a first determination result that the request is to operate on the specific object in the first workflow, attaching a first respective portion of the set of extensible metadata to the object by using at least the first metadata template, rather than updating the global metadata schema to accommodate the first operation in the first workflow;
• and
• in response to a second determination result that the request is to operate on the object in the second workflow on the object, attaching a second respective portion of the set of extensible metadata to the object using at least the second metadata template, rather than updating the global metadata schema to accommodate the second operation in the second workflow, wherein
• at least a portion of the request constitutes a workflow that comprises conditional logic based at least in part on a second set of one or more second attributes corresponding to the second metadata template and attached to the object in response to the request to operate on the object in the second workflow, and
• a first attribute value for a first set of one or more first attributes corresponding to the first metadata template and attached to the object in response to the request to operate on the object in the first workflow or a second attribute value for the second set is stored in a schema-less store.

A system for managing content object metadata, the system comprising:

• a non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions;
• and
• a processor that executes the sequence of instructions to cause a set of acts comprising,
• associating each object of a plurality of objects stored on a system with a global metadata schema and one or more respective portions of a set of extensible metadata, wherein the global metadata schema is applied to the each object to associate global metadata with the each object;
• associating a plurality of metadata templates with an object of the plurality of metadata templates, wherein
• each of the plurality of metadata templates corresponds to a respective portion in a set of extensible metadata,
• the plurality of metadata templates comprising a first metadata template for the object that is collaborated upon by first multiple users in a first workflow and a second metadata template for the object that is collaborated upon by second multiple users in a second workflow,
• the first metadata template is specific to a first pair comprising the object and the first workflow and is distinct from the second metadata template that is specific to a second pair comprising the object and the second workflow, and
• the first metadata template and the second metadata template are selected based at least in part upon a first operation in the first workflow and a second operation in the second workflow so as to be distinct from one another;
• determining whether a request to operate on the object is to operate on the object in the first workflow or in the second workflow;
• in response to a first determination result that the request is to operate on the object in the first workflow, attaching a first respective portion of the set of extensible metadata to the object by using at least the first metadata template, rather than updating the global metadata schema to accommodate the first operation in the first workflow;
• and
• in response to a second determination result that the request is to operate on the object in the second workflow on the object, attaching a second respective portion of the set of extensible metadata to the object using at least the second metadata template, rather than updating the global metadata schema to accommodate the second operation in the second workflow, wherein
• at least a portion of the request constitutes a workflow that comprises conditional logic based at least in part on a second set of one or more second attributes corresponding to the second metadata template and attached to the object in response to the request to operate on the object in the second workflow, and
• a first attribute value for a first set of one or more first attributes corresponding to the first metadata template and attached to the object in response to the request to operate on the object in the first workflow or a second attribute value for the second set is stored in a schema-less store.

A method for managing content object metadata, the method comprising:

• associating each object of a plurality of objects stored on a system with a global metadata schema and one or more respective portions of a set of extensible metadata, wherein the global metadata schema is applied to the each object to associate global metadata with the each object;
• associating a plurality of metadata templates with an object of the plurality of metadata templates, wherein
• each of the plurality of metadata templates corresponds to a respective portion in a set of extensible metadata,
• the plurality of metadata templates comprising a first metadata template for the object that is collaborated upon by first multiple users in a first workflow and a second metadata template for the object that is collaborated upon by second multiple users in a second workflow,
• the first metadata template is specific to a first pair comprising the object and the first workflow and corresponds to a first set of one or more first attributes and is distinct from the second metadata template that is specific to a second pair comprising the object and the second workflow and corresponds to a second set of one or more second attributes, and
• the first metadata template and the second metadata template are respectively selected based at least in part upon a first operation in the first workflow and a second operation in the second workflow so as to be distinct from one another;
• determining whether a request to operate on the object is to operate on the object in the first workflow or in the second workflow;
• in response to a first determination result that the request is to operate on the object in the first workflow, attaching a first respective portion of the set of extensible metadata to the object by using at least the first metadata template, rather than updating the global metadata schema, to accommodate the first operation in the first workflow;
• and
• in response to a second determination result that the request is to operate on the object in the second workflow, attaching a second respective portion of the set of extensible metadata to the object using at least the second metadata template, rather than updating the global metadata schema, to accommodate the second operation in the second workflow;
• and
• in response to the request, facilitating execution of the first workflow by using at least the first set of the one or more first attributes that has been attached to the object and execution of the second workflow using at least the second set of the one or more second attributes, which is also attached to the object, wherein
• at least one attribute of the first set of one or more first attributes or the second set of one or more second attributes is organized in accordance with a metadata data model, the at least one attribute comprises an operation-specific and object-specific attribute, and a first attribute value for the first set or a second attribute value for the second set is stored in a schema-less store.