ECIMF meeting, Paris Overview of some international projects related to ECIMF Andrzej Bialecki

Why these projects? All try to refine business knowledge into abstract models and libraries of reusable components All mention interoperability as one of their goals This overview attempts to present the need for harmonization and coordination of models and components, as well as coordination of the harmonization efforts themselves…

UN/CEFACT ebXML, components and processes Core components library Abstract components Assembly rules Context drivers Catalogue of business processes BP collaboration patterns BP catalogue, aligned across several standards (EDIFACT, X12, OAGIS) Currently under heavy revisions by UN/CEFACT ebTWG

ISO TC-154/WG1 – Basic Semantic Register Based on linguistic relationships between core components from several standards (a la WordNet synsets) Is it the same as semantic relationships? Unclear role of context in the definition of BSUs Contains harmonized catalogues from most major standards, constantly updated Very useful online tool Even though the search algorithms are non-public… HOWEVER: Unclear methodology for identifying relationships Lack of qualifiers for relationships

OASIS UBL – Universal Business Language, CC library Relatively new effort Builds on xCBL, adding input from ebXML-CC Initial catalogue available Uses similar structure to the ebXML-CC calatogue Initial mapping established to ebXML-CC and xCBL

UDEF – Universal Data Element Framework for Enterprise Integration By ? (Ron Schuldt, CALS) Attempts to map current data standards into unified abstract framework EIA-836, STEP, X12, EDIFACT … Supports ISO naming conventions and ebXML representation words Well-designed and comprehensive upper-level classification

UDEF structure Data Element Name Data Element Name Object Class Term 0...n qualifiers + 1 or more required Object Class Object Class Term 0...n qualifiers + 1 or more required Object Class + Example UDEF Data Element Names Document Abstract Text Enterprise Name Product Price Amount Product Scheduled Delivery Date Mechanical Design Engineering Process Cost Amount Object Class List Entity Document Enterprise Place Program Product Process Person Asset Law/Rule Environment Condition Property List Amount Code Date Date Time Graphic Identifier Indicator Measure Name Percent Picture Quantity Rate Text Time Value Property Term 0..n qualifiers + 1 required Property Property Term 0..n qualifiers + 1 required Property Contains

OAGIS – Open Applications Group Integration Specification Current version: 8.0 ( ) Comprehensive and flexible XSD model Simple clear architecture: Abstracts: BODs, Nouns, Verbs Resources: components, fields, enumerations Endorsed by UN/CEFACT A good general ontology? Originally meant just for EAI

CEN/ISSS PBDH – Product and Business Data Harmonization Finished in January 1999 PBDH repository containing harmonized elements from: EDIFACT D97B PRODAT STEP (ISO 10303) BSR components used as taxonomy Largely incomplete Analyzed 151 out of 737 identified entities BSR meta-model has been found lacking as compared with STEP Subject Areas: Activity Application Approval Contract Date and Time Person/Organisation Price/Currency Product (definition) Functionality Classification/grouping Product structure

UN/TDED – UN Trade Data Elements Directory (ISO 7372) Meant as superset of elements used in UN/EDIFACT Currently consists of 1044 elements and ~13000 codes in code lists Unfortunately, a flat model with only vague taxonomy and limited semantics Probably THE most comprehensive catalog of data entities needed to conduct business electronically A better model superimposed on the existing catalog could greatly enhance the semantic content A machine-readable version is greatly needed! - an XML representation of the directory seems most appropriate now, because of lack of free EDI parsers…

Others RosettaNet RNIF Technical Dictionary - only two levels: Category -> Product CommerceOne xCBL UN/SPSC (around product classifications in 21 segments) Other regional product classification systems

Conclusions Clear need for a SINGLE abstract and generic structure (ontology ) for unified identification of e-business fenomena Clear need for harmonization of the catalogues against that ontology Clear lack of modern and easy to process representations of legacy standards Some early prototypes of mapping methodologies and tools exist ECIMF-ST tool can be used for this purpose

More information ECIMF project CEN/ISSS WS-EC WebGiro AB Author: Andrzej Bialecki