Dynamic group generation and management

A computer-implemented method of managing a group of members, the method comprising;

• (a) accessing a dynamic group data structure in a database, the dynamic group data structure including a group membership criterion and a set of member identifiers, each member identifier identifying a user from a plurality of users that meets the group membership criterion;
• and
• (b) dynamically updating the dynamic group data structure by updating the set of member identifiers to include those of the plurality of users that currently meet the group membership criterion as of the dynamic update;
• wherein the method is configured to initially generate the dynamic group data structure by associating the group membership criterion with the dynamic group data structure, and by determining those of the plurality of users that meet the group membership criterion to initially associate the set of member identifiers with the group data structures;
• wherein the method is further configured to generate the dynamic group data structure without user enumerations of any users to be associated with the dynamic group data structure.

A computer implemented method of creating a group of member users among a plurality of users, the method comprising:

• (a) associating with a dynamic group data structure a group membership criterion;
• (b) determining those of the plurality of users that meets the group membership criterion;
• (and) (c) associating with the dynamic group data structure a set of member identifiers that identify those users that meet the group membership criterion;
• and
• (d) dynamically updating the dynamic group data structure by updating the set of member identifiers to include those of the plurality of users that currently meet the group membership criterion as of the dynamic update:
• wherein the method is configured to initially generate the dynamic group data structure by associating the group membership criterion with the dynamic group data structure, and by determining those of the plurality of users that meet the group membership criterion to initially associate the set of member identifiers with the group data structures;
• wherein the method is further configured to generate the dynamic group data structure without user enumerations of any users to be associated with the dynamic group data structure.

A program product, comprising:

• (a) a program configured to dynamically update the dynamic group data structure, which includes a group membership criterion and a set of member identifiers, each of which identifying a user from a plurality of users that meets the group membership criterion, the program configured to dynamically update the dynamic group data structure by updating the set of member identifiers to include those of the plurality of users that currently meet the group membership criterion as of the dynamic update;
• wherein the program is configured to initially generate the dynamic group data structure by associating the group membership criterion with the dynamic group data structure, and by determining those of the plurality of users that meet the group membership criterion to initially associate the set of member identifiers with the group data structures;
• wherein the program is further configured to generate the dynamic group data structure without user enumerations of any users to be associated with the dynamic group data structure;
• and
• (b) a signal bearing medium bearing the program.

A data processing system, comprising:

• (a) a hub computer;
• (b) a plurality of target computer environments networked to the hub computer;
• (c) a database resident on the hub computer, the database including a dynamic group data structure, the dynamic group data structure including a group membership criterion and a set of member identifiers, each member identifier identifying a user from a plurality of users that meets the group membership criterion;
• and
• (d) a program, coupled to the database, the program configured to generate a mirrored group data structure including at least a subset of member identifiers from the set of member identifiers associated with the dynamic group data structure, and to distribute the mirrored group data structure to a target computer environment from the plurality of target computer environments;
• wherein the program is configured to initially generate the dynamic group data structure by associating the group membership criterion with the dynamic group data structure, and by determining those of the plurality of users that meet the group membership criterion to initially associate the set of member identifiers with the group data structures;
• wherein the program is further configured to generate the dynamic group data structure without user enumerations of any users to be associated with the dynamic group data structure.