1. At a super authority connected to a network environment, an assigned authenticating authority and one or more other authenticating authorities also being connected to the network environment, each authenticating authority configured to authenticate of subset of principals that access the network environment through different domains, a method of controlling authentication of a principal for access to network resources in the network environment, wherein the principal’s account identifier is configured for authentication at an authenticating authority from among the assigned authenticating authority and the one or more other authenticating authorities, the method comprising:
receiving at the super authority a request for an authenticating authority resolution from an authenticating authority that is not authorized to authenticate the principal, wherein the request comprises an account ID of the principal to be authenticated, the account ID including an individual identifier and a domain identifier;
accessing an assignment mapping that maps each account ID in a plurality of account IDs to a corresponding plurality of authenticating authorities that are authorized to authenticate the account ID, the account ID including an individual identifier and a domain identifier, the account ID being used to identify comprising the identity of the principal;
locating within the mapping an identity of an assigned authenticating authority from among the one or more authenticating authorities that corresponds to the individual identifier and domain identifier in the account ID of the principal to be authenticated;
causing an authentication request to be transmitted to the assigned authenticating authority located from among the one or more other authenticating authorities, the assigned authenticating authority having been located using the principal’s individual identifier and domain identifiers in the principal’s account ID, wherein the request asks the assigned authenticating authority to authenticate the principal;
altering the assignment mapping whereby an account ID previously mapped to a first authenticating authority is remapped to a second authenticating authority.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each account ID comprises a namespace identifier, and wherein the plurality of account IDs comprises at least two account IDs having a common namespace identifier, wherein the at least two account IDs are mapped to at least two different respective ones of the plurality of authenticating authorities via the assignment mapping.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each account ID comprises a namespace identifier, and wherein the plurality of account IDs comprises at least two account IDs having different namespace identifiers, wherein the at least two account IDs are mapped to the same one of the plurality of authenticating authorities via the assignment mapping.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assignment mapping is based at least in part on the organizational affiliation of principals within an entity.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assignment mapping is based at least in part on the geographical location of principals.
6. At a super authority connected to a network environment, an assigned authenticating authority and one or more other authenticating authorities also being connected to the network environment, each authenticating authority configured to authenticate of subset of principals that access the network environment through different domains, an apparatus for controlling authentication of a principal for access to network resources in the network environment, wherein the principal’s account identifier is configured for authentication at an authenticating authority from among the assigned authenticating authority and the one or more other authenticating authorities, the apparatus comprising:
means for receiving at the super authority a request for an authenticating authority resolution from an authenticating authority that is not authorized to authenticate the principal, wherein the request comprises an account ID of the principal to be authenticated, the account ID including an individual identifier and a domain identifier;
means for accessing an assignment mapping that maps each account ID in a plurality of account IDs to a corresponding plurality of authenticating authorities that are authorized to authenticate the account ID, the account ID including an individual identifier and a domain identifier, the account ID being used to identify comprising the identity of the principal;
means for locating within the mapping an identity of an assigned authenticating authority from among the one or more authenticating authorities that corresponds to the individual identifier and domain identifier in the account ID of the principal to be authenticated;
means for causing an authentication request to be transmitted to the assigned authenticating authority located from among the one or more other authenticating authorities, the assigned authenticating authority having been located using the principal’s individual identifier and domain identifiers in the principal’s account ID, wherein the request asks the assigned authenticating authority to authenticate the principal;
means for altering the assignment mapping whereby an account ID previously mapped to a first authenticating authority is remapped to a second authenticating authority.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each account ID comprises a namespace identifier, and wherein the plurality of account IDs comprises at least two account IDs having a common namespace identifier, wherein the at least two account IDs are mapped to at least two different respective ones of the plurality of authenticating authorities via the assignment mapping.
8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each account ID comprises a namespace identifier, and wherein the plurality of account IDs comprises at least two account IDs having different namespace identifiers, wherein the at least two account IDs are mapped to the same one of the plurality of authenticating authorities via the assignment mapping.
9. At a super authority connected to a network environment, an assigned authenticating authority and one or more other authenticating authorities also being connected to the network environment, each authenticating authority configured to authenticate of subset of principals that access the network environment through different domains, computer executable instructions stored in a volatile or non-volatile computer readable medium to execute a method of controlling authentication of a principal for access to network resources in the network environment, wherein the principal’s account identifier is configured for authentication at an authenticating authority from among the assigned authenticating authority and the one or more other authenticating authorities, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving at the super authority a request for an authenticating authority resolution from an authenticating authority that is not authorized to authenticate the principal, wherein the request comprises an account ID of the principal to be authenticated, the account ID including an individual identifier and a domain identifier;
accessing an assignment mapping that maps each account ID in a plurality of account IDs to a corresponding plurality of authenticating authorities that are authorized to authenticate the account ID, the account ID including an individual identifier and a domain identifier, the account ID being used to identify comprising the identity of the principal;
locating within the mapping an identity of an assigned authenticating authority from among the one or more authenticating authorities that corresponds to the individual identifier and domain identifier in the account ID of the principal to be authenticated;
causing an authentication request to be transmitted to the assigned authenticating authority located from among the one or more other authenticating authorities, the assigned authenticating authority having been located using the principal’s individual identifier and domain identifiers in the principal’s account ID, wherein the request asks the assigned authenticating authority to authenticate the principal;
altering the assignment mapping whereby an account ID previously mapped to a first authenticating authority is remapped to a second authenticating authority.
10. The computer executable instructions according to claim 9, wherein each account ID comprises a namespace identifier, and wherein the plurality of account IDs comprises at least two account IDs having a common namespace identifier, wherein the at least two account IDs are mapped to at least two different respective ones of the plurality of authenticating authorities via the assignment mapping.
11. The computer executable instructions according to claim 9, wherein each account ID comprises a namespace identifier, and wherein the plurality of account IDs comprises at least two account IDs having different namespace identifiers, wherein the at least two account IDs are mapped to the same one of the plurality of authenticating authorities via the assignment mapping.
12. The computer executable instructions according to claim 9, wherein the assignment mapping is based at least in part on the organizational affiliation of principals within an entity.
13. The computer executable instructions according to claim 9, wherein the assignment mapping is based at least in part on the geographical location of principals.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A modular floor tile, comprising:
a top surface;
a plurality of edge surfaces;
an interlocking mechanism for attachment to adjacent tiles;
a support system comprising multiple levels of support, wherein at least one of the multiple levels of support comprises a first resilient level, and another of the multiple levels of support comprises a first rigid level.
2. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein the first resilient level comprises a plurality of inserts disposed under the top surface.
3. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein the first resilient level comprises a plurality of interconnected elastomeric removable inserts nested under the top surface.
4. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein the first resilient level comprises a plurality of inserts disposed under the top surface, wherein each of the plurality of inserts comprises a length equal to or greater than a height of the plurality of edge surfaces.
5. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein the first resilient level comprises a plurality of inserts disposed under the top surface, wherein the plurality of inserts each comprise a generally cylindrical post.
6. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein the top surface comprises a solid surface.
7. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein the at least one insert comprises a base and a post extending from the base.
8. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein the first rigid level of the multiple levels of support comprises a first set of support legs having a first length extending from the top surface; and wherein the multiple levels of support comprise a second rigid level comprising a second set of support legs having a second length, the second length being shorter than the first length.
9. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein:
the first rigid level comprises a first set of support legs having a first length extending from the top surface;
the multiple levels of support comprise a second rigid level comprising a second set of support legs having a second length, the second length being shorter than the first length;
the first and second sets of support legs are arranged in an alternating pattern comprising:
a first leg of the first length;
a group of three to four legs of the second length;
the resilient level comprises a plurality of inserts nested in the group of three to four legs.
10. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein:
the first rigid level comprises a first set of support legs having a first length extending from the top surface;
the multiple levels of support comprise a second rigid level comprising a second set of support legs having a second length, the second length being shorter than the first length;
the first and second sets of support legs are arranged in an alternating pattern comprising:
a first leg of the first length;
a group of three to four legs of the second length;
the resilient level comprises a plurality of inserts nested in the group of three to four legs, the resilient level extending in length beyond the first and second rigid levels.
11. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein the first resilient level comprises a plate of multiple inserts interconnected by a webbing, the plate shaped substantially the same as the top surface.
12. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein:
the top surface comprises an open surface, the open surface comprising a pattern of gaps;
the first resilient level comprises a plurality of elastomeric inserts with a length greater than a height of the edge surfaces, each of the plurality of inserts comprising a base and a post extending from the base;
the post is sized small enough to pass through one of the gaps, and the base is sized large enough to resist passage through one of the gaps.
13. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein:
the top surface comprises an open surface, the open surface comprising a pattern of gaps;
the first resilient level comprises a plurality of elastomeric inserts with a length greater than a height of the edge surfaces;
each of the plurality of elastomeric inserts comprises a post straddling the open surface at the gaps.
14. A modular floor tile according to claim 1 wherein the interlocking mechanism comprises:
a plurality of lipped loops disposed in at least one of the plurality of edge surfaces;
a plurality of locking tab assemblies disposed in at least one of the plurality of edge surfaces;
wherein each of the plurality of locking tab assemblies comprises a center post and flanking hooks.
15. An apparatus, comprising:
a modular floor, the modular floor comprising:
a plurality of interlocking tiles connected to one another, each of the plurality of interlocking tiles comprising:
a top surface;
a plurality of support levels under the top surface, the plurality of support levels comprising at least one rigid level and at least one flexible level extending beyond the at least one rigid level.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein:
the at least one flexible level comprises a plurality of elastomeric inserts;
each of the plurality of interlocking tiles comprises a bottom, the bottom including a plurality of receivers sized to hold one of the plurality of elastomeric inserts.
17. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein:
the top surface comprises a solid top surface with an underside,
the at least one flexible level comprises a plurality of elastomeric inserts;
each of the plurality of elastomeric inserts abuts the underside of the top surface.
18. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein:
the top surface comprises a plurality of open holes;
the at least one flexible level comprises a plurality of elastomeric inserts;
each elastomeric insert comprises a resilient member disposed through one of the plurality of open holes and held in place by an interference fit with a holder in one of the plurality of interlocking tiles.
19. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein:
the at least one flexible level comprises a plurality of elastomeric inserts;
the plurality of elastomeric inserts each comprises an uncompressed length equal to or greater than a thickness of the interlocking tiles.
20. A method of making a modular floor, comprising:
providing an interlocking modular tile having a top surface and a bottom plane parallel to and spaced from the top surface;
inserting a plurality of resilient inserts into associated nests opposite of the top surface;
protruding the plurality of resilient inserts beyond the bottom plane.
21. A method of making a modular floor according to claim 20 wherein the top surface comprises a solid top surface, and the inserting further comprises contacting an underside of the top surface with the plurality of resilient inserts.
22. A method of making a modular floor according to claim 20 wherein the inserting comprises inserting the resilient inserts as a single, interconnected unit of inserts.
23. A method of making a modular floor according to claim 20 wherein the inserting further comprises fitting the plurality of resilient inserts into a nest by an interference fit.
24. A method of making a modular floor according to claim 20 wherein the top surface comprises an open surface, and the inserting comprises pressing the plurality of resilient inserts through associated gaps in the first open surface in a first direction.
25. A method of making a modular floor according to claim 20 wherein the plurality of resilient inserts comprise a first support level, and further comprising:
providing a second, rigid support level flush with the bottom plane;
providing a third, rigid support level between the bottom plane and the top surface.
26. A method of making a modular tile, comprising:
forming a tile body having a solid top surface;
providing a plurality of elastomeric inserts having a length at least as great as a height of the tile body;
pressing the plurality of elastomeric inserts into nests under the solid top surface.
27. A method of making a modular tile according to claim 26 wherein the providing a plurality of elastomeric inserts comprises providing an interconnected webbing of the elastomeric inserts.