RE: [saml-dev] Does an Authentication Context URN actually reference an XML file?

["Costello, Roger L." <costello@mitre.org>]

>> then
>> there must be a URL to an XML file that I (the Relying Party) can
read
>> to get details on the context for authentication.  Yes?  

> In theory, but what do you expect you'll do with it? Build some kind
of
> XPath rules engine that runs every time somebody logs in?

If no one reads or uses the Authentication Context Declaration XML
instance documents (or, as Eric says, they don't really buy you
anything) then what's the purpose of having them?  In fact, what's the
purpose of having a schema if there are no useful conforming instances?
Why not simply use a label whose semantics is clearly defined in
English?  /Roger

P.S. Sorry to be such a pest.  Hopefully this discussion is helpful to
others.