¹School of Computing and Mathematics, University of Western Sydney, Australia
²Department of Computing, Macquarie University, Australia

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Abstract—In this paper, we discuss a general methodology for analysis and modeling of trust relationships in distributed computing. We discuss the classification of trust relationships, categorize trust relationships into two layers and provide a hierarchy of trust relationships based on a formal definition of trust relationship. We provide guidelines for the analysis and modeling of trust relationships. We review operations on trust relationships and relative types of trust relationships in our previous work. We provide a set of definitions for the properties of direction and symmetry of trust relationships. In order to analyze and model the scope and diversity of trust relationship, we define trust scope label. We provide some example scenarios to illustrate the proposed definitions about properties of trust relationship. All the definitions about the properties of trust relationships are elements of the taxonomy framework of trust relationships. We discuss the lifecycle of trust relationships that includes the analysis and modeling of trust relationships, trust relationships at runtime, and change management of trust relationships. We propose a trust management architecture at high level to place the analysis and modeling of trust relationships under the background of trust management.

Index Terms—trust relationship, properties of trust relationship, life cycle of trust relationship, trust management, distributed information system

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Cite: Weiliang Zhao, Vijay Varadharajan, George Bryan, "General Methodology for Analysis and Modeling of Trust Relationships in Distributed Computing," Journal of Computers vol. 1, no.2, pp. 42-53, 2006.