ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006

Information technology — CDIF semantic metamodel — Part 3: Data definitions

ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006 explains the Data definitions subject area of the CDIF semantic metamodel, that defines the primitive data types and the objects which are used for structured data. The CDIF semantic metamodel is used to ensure that the information transferred by tools communicating using CDIF is expressed with an agreed meaning. This subject area contains meta-objects that are used as the basis of the data components of other subject area standards, and also meta-relationships and meta-attributes that are applicable to all data-related meta-objects. ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006 is intended to be used by anyone wishing to understand and/or use CDIF. It provides a definition of a single subject area of the CDIF semantic metamodel. It is suitable for: Those evaluating CDIF; Those who wish to understand the principles and concepts of a CDIF transfer; and Those developing importers and exporters.

Technologies de l'information — Métamodèle sémantique CDIF — Partie 3: Definitions de données

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 08-Jan-2006
• ICS: 35.080 - Software
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7 - Software and systems engineering
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7/WG 19 - Techniques for Specifying IT Systems
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Completion Date: 03-Jan-2019

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 15476-3
First edition
2006-01-01


Information technology — CDIF semantic
metamodel —
Part 3:
Data definitions
Technologies de l'information — Métamodèle sémantique CDIF —
Partie 3: Definition de données




Reference number
ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2006

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ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006(E)
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©  ISO/IEC 2006
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ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006(E)
Contents
1 Scope.1
2 Conformance.2
2.1 General.2
2.2 Input conformance.2
2.3 Output conformance.2
2.4 Round-trip conformance.3
3 Normative references.3
4 Terms and definitions.4
4.1 From other International Standards .4
4.1.1 ISO/IEC 15474-1.4
4.1.2 ISO/IEC 13238-1.4
4.1.3 For this International Standard .4
5 Symbols (and abbreviated terms).5
5.1 Naming, diagramming and definition conventions .5
5.2 Abbreviations.5
6 Data definition subject area overview .5
6.1 Introduction.5
6.2 Data Typing.5
6.3 The General Structuring Mechanism.5
6.3.1 Introduction.5
6.3.2 Meta-entities and Meta-relationships .5
6.3.3 DefinitionObject and ComponentObject .7
6.4 Alternate Decompositions.8
6.5 Pointers and Arrays.10
6.6 Data Types.10
6.7 Constraining Data Type and Attribute Values .11
6.8 Units for Numeric DataTypes.12
6.9 Void and Unknown Data Types.13
6.10 Computable Languages.13
6.11 Formats for Computable Values .13
6.12 Diagrams.16
7 Data definitions subject area summary.21
7.1 AttributableMetaObject classification hierarchy .21
7.2 MetaEntity summary.23
7.3 MetaRelationship summary.37
8 Data definitions subject area specification.39
8.1 Introduction.39
8.1.1 Subject area definition.39
8.2 Meta-entity definitions.39
8.2.1 AggregateDataType.39
8.2.2 ApproximateNumericType.40
8.2.3 ArrayQualifier.41
8.2.4 Attribute.42
8.2.5 BasicDataType.42
8.2.6 BinaryCodedDecimalType.43
8.2.7 BinaryType.43
8.2.8 BooleanType.44
8.2.9 BoundedArrayQualifier.44
8.2.10 CartesianComplexType.45
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ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006(E)
8.2.11 ComplexType.46
8.2.12 DataType.47
8.2.13 DateType.48
8.2.14 DayTimeIntervalType.49
8.2.15 DefinitionObject.49
8.2.16 EnumerationType.49
8.2.17 ExactNumericType.50
8.2.18 FixedDecimalType.51
8.2.19 FixedLengthBinaryType.52
8.2.20 FixedLengthStringType.54
8.2.21 IntegerType.55
8.2.22 MagnitudeType.55
8.2.23 MoneyType.56
8.2.24 NLFixedLengthStringType.57
8.2.25 NLVariableLengthStringType.58
8.2.26 NumericType.59
8.2.27 PackedDecimalType.59
8.2.28 PointerQualifier.60
8.2.29 PolarComplexType.60
8.2.30 QualifiedDataType.62
8.2.31 Qualifier.62
8.2.32 RefinedDataType.63
8.2.33 SerialType.63
8.2.34 StringType.65
8.2.35 TemporalType.66
8.2.36 TimeIntervalType.66
8.2.37 TimeStampType.67
8.2.38 TimeType.68
8.2.39 UnboundedArrayQualifier.69
8.2.40 Unit.70
8.2.41 ValueDomain.74
8.2.42 ValueDomainEnumeration.75
8.2.43 ValueDomainGroup.76
8.4.44 ValueDomainProcedure.77
8.2.45 ValueDomainRange.78
8.2.46 ValueDomainRule.80
8.2.47 VariableLengthBinaryType.81
8.2.48 VariableLengthStringType.82
8.2.49 VoidType.84
8.2.50 YearMonthIntervalType.84
8.3 Meta-relationship definitions.85
7.3.1 ArrayQualifier.HasType.DataType.85
7.3.2 DataType.TakesValueFrom.ValueDomain.85
7.3.3 NumericType.IsMeasuredIn.Unit.86
8.3.1 RootEntity.IsRelatedTo. RootEntity.86
8.3.2 QualifiedDataType.IsQualificationOf.DataType .86
8.3.3 QualifiedDataType.IsQualifiedBy.Qualifier.87
8.3.4 RefinedDataType.IsRefinementOf.DataType.87
8.3.5 ValueDomainGroup.Contains.ValueDomain.88

Table of Illustrations
Figure 1 − CDIF family of International Standards . 1
Figure 2 − Part of general Structuring Mechanism for data definitions subject area. 6
Figure 3 − Meta-model fragment for simple attribution with defined DataTypes. 6
Figure 4 − Instance Diagram showing simple attribution with defined DataTypes. 7
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ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006(E)

Figure 5 − Instance diagram of attributes sharing the same structured definition. 8
Figure 6 − Instance diagram of alternate Data Structures. 9
Figure 7 − Concepts of shared attribute values and definitions. 10
Figure 8 − Usage of ValueDomainGroup and ValueDomain. 12
Figure 9 − Data Definition Subject Area - Main Diagram. 16
Figure 10 . 17
Figure 11 − MagnitudeType Subtypes . 18
Figure 12 − NumericType Subtypes. 19
Figure 13 − Subtypes and meta-relationships for Qualifier. 20
Figure 14 − ValueDomainGroup and related meta-entities .20
Table of Tables
Table 1 − Formats for Computable Values. 13
Table 2 − Notation Used for Computable Values . 15
Table 3 − Function Values for Computable Values . 15
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ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees
established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC
technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information
technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as
an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 15476-3 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 7, Software and system engineering.
ISO/IEC 15476 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information technology — CDIF
semantic metamodel:
— Part 1: Foundation
— Part 2: Common
— Part 3: Data definitions
— Part 4: Data models
— Part 5: Data flow models
— Part 6: State/event models

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ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006(E)
Introduction
This International Standard will assist the vendors and users of modelling tools and meta-data repositories in
developing mechanisms for interchanging information. This International Standard specifies an element of a family
of related standards. When used together, these International Standards specify a mechanism for transferring
information between tools.
ISO/IEC 15474-1:2002, Information technology - CDIF framework - Part 1: Overview and ISO/IEC 15474-2,
Information technology - CDIF framework - Part 2: Modelling and extensibility should be read first when initially
exploring CDIF. The first explains the overall CDIF architecture and how the family of standards fits together. The
second explains the scope, and modelling approach in CDIF. The CDIF meta-metamodel and extensibility
mechanism are also defined in that document.
This International Standard explains the data definitions subject area of the CDIF semantic metamodel, which
defines the primitive data types and the objects which are used for structured data. The CDIF semantic metamodel
is used to ensure that the information transferred by tools communicating using CDIF is expressed with an agreed
meaning.
This International Standard has been developed with the wide support and participation of vendors, users,
academia and government involved in or familiar with the CASE industry, its products and the general requirements
associated with interchanging information between these products.
This document is organized into the following Clauses:
⎯ Clause 1 to 5 are prescribed ISO/IEC Clauses.
⎯ Clause 6: Subject area overview:
This Clause gives an overview of the coverage of this subject area.
⎯ Clause 7: Subject area summary:
This Clause gives an overview of the content of this subject area.
⎯ Clause 8: Subject area specification:
This Clause gives the formal specification of all the objects defined in the subject area, and the formal
reference to those used, but not defined in the subject area.
This document is intended to be used by anyone wishing to understand and/or use CDIF. This document provides
a definition of a single subject area of the CDIF semantic metamodel. It is suitable for:
⎯ Those evaluating CDIF;
⎯ Those who wish to understand the principles and concepts of a CDIF transfer; and
⎯ Those developing importers and exporters.
This document, ISO/IEC 15474-1:2002, Information technology - CDIF framework - Part 1: Overview, and the
framework document ISO/IEC 15474-2:2002, Information technology - CDIF framework - Part 2: Modelling and
extensibility, should be read first when initially exploring CDIF and before attempting to read other documents in the
CDIF family of International Standards.
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ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006(E)

While there are no specific prerequisites for reading this document, it will be helpful for the reader to have familiarity
with the following:

⎯ Entity-Relationship-Attribute modelling;
⎯ Modelling (CASE) tools;
⎯ Information repositories;
⎯ Data dictionaries and;
⎯ Multiple meta-layer modelling.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006(E)

Information technology — CDIF semantic metamodel —

Part 3:
Data definitions
1 Scope
The CDIF family of International Standards is primarily designed to be used as a description of a mechanism for
transferring information between modelling tools. It facilitates a successful transfer when the authors of the
importing and exporting tools have nothing in common except an agreement to conform to CDIF. The language that
is defined for the transfer format also has applicability as a general language for import/export from repositories.
The CDIF semantic metamodel defined for CASE also has applicability as the basis of standard definitions for use
in repositories.
The International Standards which form the complete family of CDIF standards are documented in ISO/IEC 15474-
1:2002, Information technology — CDIF framework — Part 1: Overview. These standards cover the overall
framework, the transfer format and the CDIF semantic metamodel.



15474 CDIF framework

Part 1 : Overview Part 2 : Modelling and extensibility

15476 CDIF semantic metamodel 15475 CDIF transfer format

Part 1 : Foundation Part 1 : General rules for

Part 2 : Common

syntaxes and encodings

Part 3 : Data definitions

Part 2 : Syntax SYNTAX.1

Part 4 : Data models

Part 5 : Data flow models Part 3 : Encoding ENCODING.1

Part 6 : State/event models

Part n : .

Part n : .

Figure 1 − CDIF family of International Standards
The diagram in Figure 1 depicts the various International Standards that comprise the CDIF family of standards.
The shaded box depicts this International Standard and its position in the CDIF family of standards.
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ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006(E)
This International Standard defines the Data Definition Subject Area of the CDIF semantic metamodel. This subject
area contains meta-objects that are used as the basis of the data components of other subject area standards, and
also meta-relationships and meta-attributes that are applicable to all data-related meta-objects.
2 Conformance
2.1  General
A product is fully standards conformant to a CDIF subject area standard if and only if it is input-conformant, output-
conformant and round-trip conformant to each and every MetaEntity, MetaRelationship, MetaAttribute, and
AttributableMetaObject which is defined and/or used in that standard, and it is also CDIF architecture conformant. A
product may be partially input-conformant, and/or partially output-conformant, and/or partially round-trip conformant
to a CDIF subject area standard.
2.2  Input conformance
Input conformance for a specific MetaEntity, MetaRelationship, MetaAttribute, or AttributableMetaObject (short:
CollectableMetaObject) is determined by applying the following test:
A set of meta-data containing all meanings and structures standardized by a CDIF subject area is imported by the
product under test. Then the meta-data which has arrived in the product is examined. The following options exist
for the relation between the input (CDIF) meta-data and the imported (product) meta-data:
For a specific CollectableMetaObject:
1 The product is input conformant if each instance of the specific CollectableMetaObject has arrived in the product
without change of meaning or structure. If the CollectableMetaObject is a meta-entity or meta-relationship, its
structural relationships to other CollectableMetaObjects have been preserved. If the CollectableMetaObject is a
meta-attribute, the value of the meta-attribute has been preserved.
2 The product is input morphing conformant if each instance of the specific CollectableMetaObject has arrived in
the product, but with some changes in meaning or structure. If the CollectableMetaObject is a meta-attribute,
the value(s) for some instances of the meta-attribute have changed.
3 The product is not input conformant for that CollectableMetaObject if neither of the previous tests is satisfied.
2.3  Output conformance
Output conformance for a specific CollectableMetaObject is determined by applying the following test:
For the product being tested, a set of meta-data that includes all possible meanings and structures representable in
that product is exported. Then the meta-data that has been exported is examined. The following options exist for
the relation between the product's meta-data and the exported (CDIF) meta-data:
For a specific CollectableMetaObject:
1 The produc
...