ISO/IEC 18975:2024
(Main)Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Encoding and resolving identifiers over HTTP
Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Encoding and resolving identifiers over HTTP
This document specifies the different approaches for using HTTP URIs to encode globally unique identifiers. It specifies a dual use data structure. It is both an HTTP URI and a composition of structured item identification properties and optionally descriptive attributes. These can be decomposed and interpreted on their own and/or be used as a pointer to additional information. Methods are described to enable identification uniqueness in the context of AIDC. These rely on either: a) identifiers, such as described in the ISO/IEC 15459 series[7], in the path or query string independent of the internet domain name; or, b) the internet domain name. The document further defines a basic common API for querying online services for information about identified items.
Technologies de l'information — Techniques automatiques d’identification et de saisie de données — Encodage et résolution des identifiants via HTTP
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
International
Standard
ISO/IEC 18975
First edition
Information technology —
2024-11
Automatic identification and data
capture techniques — Encoding and
resolving identifiers over HTTP
Technologies de l'information — Techniques automatiques
d’identification et de saisie de données — Encodage et résolution
des identifiants via HTTP
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2024
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© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 1
3.1 Terms and definitions .1
3.2 Abbreviated terms .2
4 URI structures . 2
4.1 Framework .2
4.2 Structured path approach .2
4.3 Query string approach .4
4.4 Semantic differences .4
4.5 Canonicalization .4
5 Resolution . 5
5.1 Linkset .5
5.2 LinkType parameter .5
6 Online considerations . 5
Annex A (informative) Examples . 7
Annex B (informative) Code size optimization. 8
Annex C (informative) Background information . 9
Annex D (informative) Querying an identified item .11
Bibliography . 14
© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
iii
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,
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The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/
IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
ISO and IEC draw attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the
use of (a) patent(s). ISO and IEC take no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any
claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO and IEC had not
received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers
are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
database available at www.iso.org/patents and https://patents.iec.ch. ISO and IEC shall not be held
responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology, SC 31,
Automatic identification and data capture techniques.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and
www.iec.ch/national-committees.
© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
iv
Introduction
There are many identifier systems in use today, some of which enjoy widespread usage and long histories.
Examples include the International Air Travel Association (IATA) airport codes and identifiers such as digital
[5] [7]
object identifiers (DOIs) (see ISO 26324 ), and country and currency codes. The ISO/IEC 15459 series provides
the basis for all identifier issuing agencies in the field of Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC).
[7]
The ISO/IEC 15459 series defines methods for ensuring that identifiers are globally unique in the world
of AIDC without any reliance on, for example, the internet’s domain name system or any given data service.
This is critical for use cases where internet connectivity and the availability of online services cannot be
allowed to affect whether a process can be completed, such as the purchase of an item.
However, existing identifiers can be usefully encoded in Hypertext Transfer Protocol Uniform Resource
Identifiers (HTTP URIs) following Linked Data principles so that when connectivity is available, they can be
used in multiple methods of online lookup, data query and data integration.
It is important to note that identity on the internet is defined by the domain name system. The Internet
[2]
Engineering Task Force (IETF)’s Best Current Practice makes it clear that each domain is sovereign over
[8]
the URIs under that domain. This document brings the internet, Linked Data and AIDC together to allow
the discovery of online data related to physical objects in a way that recognizes and respects both approaches
to globally unique identity. It further defines a common approach to how those URIs can be associated with
links to multiple sources of data in addition to the one encoded directly in the HTTP URI.
This document focuses primarily on environments in which the URI is parsed offline to extract identifiers
that are globally unique in their own right, irrespective of the internet domain name used. This applies
[7]
especially, but not only, to identifiers that conform to the ISO/IEC 15459 series . For use cases and
environments where it is appropriate to rely on the internet domain name to confer global uniqueness
[17[18]
on some or all aspects of identification, the IEC 61406 series is likely to be relevant, especially for
technical/engineering industries.
© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
v
International Standard ISO/IEC 18975:2024(en)
Information technology — Automatic identification and data
capture techniques — Encoding and resolving identifiers
over HTTP
1 Scope
This document specifies the different approaches for using HTTP URIs to encode globally unique identifiers.
It specifies a dual use data structure. It is both an HTTP URI and a composition of structured item
identification properties and optionally descriptive attributes. These can be decomposed and interpreted on
their own and/or be used as a pointer to additional information.
Methods are described to enable identification uniqueness in the context of AIDC. These rely on either:
[7]
a) identifiers, such as described in the ISO/IEC 15459 series , in the path or query string independent of
the internet domain name; or,
b) the internet domain name.
The document further defines a basic common API for querying online services for information about
identified items.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 19762, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques —
Harmonized vocabulary
RFC 3986, Uniform Resource Identifier (URI): Generic Syntax. T Berners-Lee, R Fielding, L Masinter. IETF 2005
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 19762 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www. iso. org/o bp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www.electropedia . org/
3.1.1
dereference
look something up on the internet
Note 1 to entry: For a full definition, see RFC 3986.
© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
3.2 Abbreviated terms
[14]
AI Application Identifier, as defined in ISO/IEC 15418
AIDC Automatic Identification and Data Capture (barcodes, RFID tags, etc.)
API Application Programming Interface
CURIE Compact URI (defined in Reference [4])
[14]
DI Data Identifier, as defined in ISO/IEC 15418
GTIN Global Trade Item Number
HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol (the underlying internet communication protocol for the World
Wide Web)
HTTP URI equivalent to the better-known term “URL” (Uniform Resource Location) but in this context,
the term URI is more appropriate.
IANA Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
JSON JavaScript Notation Language – a data structure commonly used in online data exchange
[15]
(defined in ISO/IEC 21778 )
URI Uniform Resource Identifier (defined in RFC 3986)
4 URI structures
4.1 Framework
Subclauses 4.2 and 4.3 define two frameworks on top of which more precise definitions may be added
to create rules for encoding specific types of identifier in an HTTP URI. This document does not define a
complete system that can be implemented directly without the additional detail provided in other standards
and guidelines.
4.2 Structured path approach
The structured path approach makes a clear distinction between strings of characters that are identifiers
and those that are descriptive attributes. Identifiers, such as the item’s class identifier and serial number,
are encoded in an ordered sequence in the path. Descript
...
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