Virtual content repository application program interface

A system comprising:

• means for providing a first group of services relating to integrating content repositories into a virtual content repository (VCR);
• means for providing a second group of services related to manipulating information in the VCR;
• means for providing a third group of services related to searching the VCR;
• and
• means for providing a forth group of services related to configuring the VCR.

A software architecture for a distributed computing system, comprising:

• a first application configured to handle requests provided to it by a second application over a network;
• an application program interface (API) to provide functions used by the first application to access a virtual content repository (VCR);
• and
• wherein the VCR integrates a plurality of content repositories.

A method for providing a virtual content repository (VCR) representing at least one content repository, comprising:

• providing an application program interface (API);
• providing a service provider interface (SPI) to be implemented by the at least one content repository;
• and
• wherein the API and the SPI are compatible and share a common content model and a common namespace.

A machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor cause a system to:

• provide an application program interface (API);
• provide a service provider interface (SPI) to be implemented by the at least one content repository;
• and
• wherein the API and the SPI are compatible and share a common content model and a common namespace.

A computer data signal embodied in a transmission medium, comprising:

• a code segment including instructions to provide an application program interface (API);
• a code segment including instructions to provide a service provider interface (SP1) to be implemented by the at least one content repository;
• and
• wherein the API and the SPI are compatible and share a common content model and a common namespace.