ISO/IEC JTC1 / SC32 / WG2-EM0112-017

2001-12-29

Replaces: WG2-VIC-026R3

Title:  Revised text for Clause 1 Scope of 11179-3

Summary of changes in this revision

1.       Incorporates comments on the first paragraph.

2.       Includes additions to sub-clause 1.3 - Exclusions

1         Scope

Sub-clauses 1.1 and 1.2 outline the major topics within the scope of this part of ISO/IEC 11179.   Sub-clause 1.3 identifies aspects not currently addressed.  Sub-clause 1.4 provides examples of activities where this part of ISO/IEC 11179 may be applied.The scope of this standard is outlined in sub-clauses 1.1 and 1.2.  Sub-clause 1.3 identifies aspects currently excluded from this Standard.  Sub-clause 1.4 provides examples of activities where the standard may be applied

1.1  Scope – Structure of a metadata registry

The primary purpose of this Part of this International Standard is to specify the structure of a metadata registry.  A comprehensive metadata registry management function requires a set of rules and procedures. These rules and procedures are set out in the following Clauses and Annexes and are complemented elsewhere in this Standard as follows:

a)       the definitions of metadata objects are in Clause 3.3 of this Part of the standard;

b)       the structure of  the registry in the form of a conceptual data model is in Clause 4 of this Part of the standard;

Aspects of the registry are expanded on in other parts of this standard, as follows:

a)       rules and guidelines for classifying metadata are in Part 2;

b)       rules and guidelines for the formulation of definitions are in Part 4;

c)       naming and identifying principles for metadata are in Part 5;

d)       rules and guidelines for registering metadata are in Part 6 of the International Standard.

While the model diagrams are presented in UML format, this standard does not assume nor endorse any specific system environment, database management system, database design paradigm, system development methodology, data definition language, command language, system interface, user interface, computing platform, or any technology required for implementation. The standard does not directly apply to the actual use of data in communications and information processing systems.

1.2  Scope – Basic attributes of metadata items

This Part of this International Standard also specifies basic attributes which are required to describe metadata items, and which may be used in situations where a complete metadata registry is not appropriate (e.g. in the specification of other International Standards).  These basic attributes are described in clause 5.

1.3  Scope – Exclusions

This Part of this international standard does not currently support the following requirements.

a)       Complex data structures, encapsulation, stereotyping and inheritance;

b)       Ability to enforce uniqueness of names within a Context;

c)       Specification of Naming Conventions for a Context;

d)       Prescribed conceptual domains and value domains for the attributes in the metamodel;

e)       XML documents;

f)         Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and associated bindings to access a registry.

It is anticipated that some of these requirements will be addressed in future editions of this Standard, or in companion standards or technical reports.

1.4  Areas of Applicability

This Part of this International Standard applies to activities including:

a)       the definition, specification and contents of metadata registries, including interchanging or referencing among various collections of data elements;

b)       the design and specification of application-oriented data models, databases and message types for data interchange;

c)       the actual use of data in communications and information processing systems;

d)       interchange or reference among various collections of metadata.