Identity Agent

An Identity Agent is a software application for user-centric identity management. It

• Manages a consistent user experience for authentication (and in some cases other kinds of interactions) with a Service Provider (also known as a Relying Party)
• Provides a user interface called an "i-card selector" which displays a set of alternative i-card icons from which the users selects their preferred i-card when authentication is required by a local application or Service Provider (e.g. a web site's sign-in page)
• Provides a user interface to create new personal i-cards and/or manage them. This interface is sometimes called an "i-card manager"
• Provides a local Security Token Service that is used to provide the security tokens for personal (self-issued) i-cards
• Provides a user interface to import and export personal or managed i-card files in standard file formats
• Is invoked by a browser extension or by a local rich client application

An Identity Agent may also allow the user to manage (e.g. create, review, update and delete cards within) their portfolio of i-cards.