Patent ID: 8060632

Claim:
A method for managing user attribute information within a data processing system, the method comprising: at a service provider, receiving from a user a request for a resource; determining, by the service provider, a set of one or more attribute information providers that are associated with the user, wherein an attribute information provider is distinct from the service provider and comprises an attribute management machine and an associated database that maintains user attribute information for the user; sending a request message from the service provider to a first attribute information provider in the set of one or more attribute information providers determined to be associated with the user in order to retrieve user attribute information to attempt to complete a transaction for the user; receiving a response message from the first attribute information provider; and determining that the response message comprises a control flag from the first attribute information provider, wherein the control flag indicates a retrieval condition on subsequent requests from the service provider to attribute information providers while retrieving user attribute information for the user.