Patent ID: 7433892

Claim:
A system for imposing policy modification constraints, comprising: a computer having: a meta data generation system for generating meta data specifying at least one modification constraint the at least one modification constraint limiting modification of at least one of a set of attributes present in a policy, the set of attributes defining requirements in the policy for operation of a computer infrastructure; an association system for associating the meta data with the policy so that the at least one modification constraint of the meta data is adhered to when the policy is to be modified, and a system for prohibiting a modification of the at least one of the set of attributes of the policy that is not in compliance with the modification constraint; wherein the meta data is embodied as a meta policy generated by the meta data generation system, and wherein the association system associates the meta policy with the policy; and wherein the set of attributes comprises the attributes of scope, precondition, decision and business value.