ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002

Information technology — CDIF semantic metamodel — Part 2: Common

The CDIF family of 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 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. Figure 1 − CDIF family of standards The diagram in Figure 1 depicts the various standards that comprise the CDIF family of standards. The shaded box depicts this Standard and its position in the CDIF family of standards. This standard defines the Common Subject Area of the CDIF semantic metamodel. This subject area contains meta-objects that are used as the basis of the other subject area standards, and also meta-relationships and metaattributes that are applicable to all meta-objects. 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 standards. 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;  Multiple meta-layer modelling.

Technologies de l'information — Métamodèle sémantique CDIF — Partie 2: Commun

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 27-Oct-2002
• ICS: 35.080 - Software
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7 - Software and systems engineering
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7 - Software and systems engineering
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Completion Date: 11-Jun-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 15476-2
First edition
2002-11-01


Information technology — CDIF semantic
metamodel —
Part 2:
Common
Technologies de l'information — Métamodèle sémantique CDIF —
Partie 2: Commun




Reference number
ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2002

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ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002(E)
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©  ISO/IEC 2002
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
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ii © ISO/IEC 2002 — All rights reserved

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ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002(E)
Contents
1 Scope. 1
2 Conformance. 2
2.1 Input conformance. 2
2.2 Output conformance. 3
2.3 Round-trip conformance. 3
3 Normative references. 3
4 Terms and definitions. 4
4.1 From other standards . 4
4.1.1 ISO/IEC 15474-1. 4
4.1.2 ISO/IEC 13238-1. 4
4.1.3 For this standard . 4
5 Symbols (and abbreviated terms) . 5
5.1 Naming, diagramming and definition conventions . 5
5.2 Abbreviations. 5
6 Common subject area overview . 5
6.1 Introduction. 5
6.2 Diagram. 6
6.3 Classification. 6
6.4 Semantic information. 6
6.5 Presentation information. 7
6.6 Naming. 7
6.7 Audit data. 8
6.8 Constraints. 8
6.9 Derivation. 8
6.10 Abstraction levels. 8
6.11 General structuring mechanism . 9
6.11.1 Introduction. 9
6.11.2 Diagram. 9
6.11.3 Decomposition and structure definitions. 9
6.11.4 Accessing a specific component in a shared definition. 10
6.11.5 Identical instances in shared definitions. 10
6.11.6 Defining interfaces. 11
6.11.7 Model. 11
6.12 Computable languages. 11
7 Common subject area summary. 12
7.1 AttributableMetaObject classification hierarchy . 12
7.2 MetaEntity summary. 13
7.3 MetaRelationship summary. 16
8 Common subject area specification. 19
8.1 Introduction. 19
8.2 Subject area definition. 19
8.3 Meta-entity definitions. 20
8.3.1 AbstractionLevel. 20
8.3.2 AlternateName. 21
8.3.3 ComponentObject. 22
8.3.4 DefinitionObject. 23
8.3.5 Derivation. 25
8.3.6 EquivalenceSet. 27
8.3.7 Model. 27
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ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002(E)
8.3.8 PresentationInformationObject. 28
8.3.9 ReferencedElement. 29
8.3.10 RootEntity. 29
8.3.11 SemanticInformationObject. 30
8.3.12 TextualConstraint. 31
8.3.13 ToolUser. 33
8.4 Meta-relationship definitions. 34
8.4.1 ComponentObject.IsActualFor.ComponentObject. 34
8.4.2 ComponentObject.References.DefinitionObject. 34
8.4.3 DefinitionObject.Contains.ComponentObject. 35
8.4.4 DefinitionObject.ContainsAsFormal.ComponentObject.35
8.4.5 EquivalenceSet.HasMember.ComponentObject. 36
8.4.6 Model.HasRoot.DefinitionObject. 36
8.4.7 ReferencedElement.DefinesPath.ComponentObject. 37
8.4.8 RootEntity.CreatedBy.ToolUser. 37
8.4.9 RootEntity.Has.AlternateName. 38
8.4.10 RootEntity.LastUpdatedBy.ToolUser. 38
8.4.11 RootEntity.IsRelatedTo.RootEntity. 39
8.4.12 RootEntity.Uses.AlternateName. 39
8.4.13 SemanticInformationObject.IsCategorizedIn.AbstractionLevel.40
8.4.14 SemanticInformationObject.ProducedBy.Derivation. 40
8.4.15 SemanticInformationObject.UsedIn.Derivation. 41
8.4.16 TextualConstraint.IsConstraintOn.SemanticInformationObject.41

Table of Illustrations
Figure 1 − CDIF family of standards.1
Figure 2 − Common subject area .6
Figure 3 − AlternateName example.8
Figure 4 − General structuring mechanism .9
Figure 5 − Referring to a specific instance inside a shared definition.10
Table of Tables
Table 1 − Allowable values for computable languages and appropriate references 11

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ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002(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 3.
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 part of ISO/IEC 15476 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 15476-2 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 definition
 Part 4: Data models
 Part 5: Data flow models
 Part 6: State/event models
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ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002(E)
Introduction
This standard will assist the vendors and users of modelling tools and meta-data repositories in developing
mechanisms for interchanging information. This standard specifies an element of a family of related standards.
When used together, these standards specify a mechanism for transferring information between tools.
ISO/IEC 15474-1:2002, Information technology — CDIF framework — Part 1: Overview, and
ISO/IEC 15474-2:2002, 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 standard explains the Common subject area of the CDIF semantic metamodel, that defines information
common to all other objects in the semantic Meta-model. The CDIF semantic metamodel is used to ensure that the
information transferred by tools communicating using CDIF is expressed with an agreed meaning.
This 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:
 Clauses 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.

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002(E)

Information technology — CDIF semantic metamodel —
Part 2:
Common
1 Scope
The CDIF family of 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 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
syntaxes and encodings
Part 2 : Common
Part 2 : Syntax SYNTAX.1
Part 3 : Data definitions
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 standards
The diagram in Figure 1 depicts the various standards that comprise the CDIF family of standards. The shaded box
depicts this Standard and its position in the CDIF family of standards.
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ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002(E)
This standard defines the Common Subject Area of the CDIF semantic metamodel. This subject area contains
meta-objects that are used as the basis of the other subject area standards, and also meta-relationships and meta-
attributes that are applicable to all meta-objects.
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 standards.
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;
 Multiple meta-layer modelling.
2 Conformance
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.
2.1 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.
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ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002(E)
2.2 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 product is output conformant if all of the meaning and structure for the specific CollectableMetaObject has
been represented as meta-data in the product and has been exported as one or more instances of that
CollectableMetaObject. If the CollectableMetaObject is a meta-attribute, the correct value of the meta-attribute
has been exported.
2 The product is output morphing conformant if each instance of meta-data in the product that has the same
meaning and structure as the CollectableMetaObject has been exported, but some instances have been
exported as a different CollectableMetaObject or some of the meaning and structure has been changed.
3 If the product does not represent the meaning and structure associated with the CollectableMetaObject, output
conformance for that CollectableMetaObject is not applicable to the product.
4 In all other cases, the product is not output conformant for that CollectableMetaObject.
2.3 Round-trip conformance
Round-trip conformance for a specific 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 is exported again. The following options exist for the relation between the
input meta-data and the output meta-data:
For a specific CollectableMetaObject:
1 The product is round-trip conformant if the meaning and structure of each instance of the CollectableMetaObject
is preserved without changes during the round-trip. For a vendor to claim round-trip conformance, it is also
necessary for the tool to be able to perform create, read, update, and delete operations on the imported
(product) meta-data corresponding to the instances of the CollectableMetaObject.
2 The product is round-trip morphing conformant if each instance of the input CollectableMetaObject is preserved,
but with some changes in meaning and/or structure. If the CollectableMetaObject is a meta-entity or meta-
relationship, some of its instances' structural relationships to other CollectableMetaObjects have changed, or
some instances have been transformed into other CollectableMetaObjects, or instances of other
CollectableMetaObjects have been transformed into instances of the CollectableMetaObject. If the
CollectableMetaObject is a meta-attribute, the values of some instances of the meta-attribute have changed or
the domain of the meta-attribute has changed.
3 In all other cases, the product is not round-trip conformant for that CollectableMetaObject.
3 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions, which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions
of this part of ISO/IEC 15476. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these
publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this part of ISO/IEC 15476 are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For
undated references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC
maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
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ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002(E)
1)
ISO/IEC 13238-1:— , Information technology — Data management export/import — Part 1: Standardization
framework
ISO/IEC 15474-1:2002, Information technology — CDIF framework — Part 1: Overview
ISO/IEC 15474-2:2002, Information technology — CDIF framework — Part 2: Modelling and extensibility
ISO/IEC 15476-1:2002, Information technology — CDIF semantic metamodel — Part 1: Foundation
4 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this part of ISO/IEC 15476, the following definitions apply. Unless otherwise noted, the
definitions are specific to this part of ISO/IEC 15476.
4.1 From other standards
4.1.1 ISO/IEC 15474-1
This part of ISO/IEC 15476 makes use of the following terms defined in ISO/IEC 15474-1:
CDIF
CDIF family of standards
CDIF semantic metamodel
CDIF meta-metamodel
CDIF transfer
Instance
Meta-attribute
Meta-entity
Metamodel
Meta-object
Meta-relationship
Model
Subject area
Transfer
Transfer format

4.1.2 ISO/IEC 13238-1
This part of ISO/IEC 15476 makes use of the following terms from ISO/IEC 13238-1:
Exporter
Importer

4.1.3 For this standard
For the purposes of this part of ISO/IEC 15476 new terms are defined when introduced. Double quotes are used to
introduce new terms (e.g., “model layer”)

1) To be published.
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ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002(E)
5 Symbols (and abbreviated terms)
5.1 Naming, diagramming and definition conventions
Conventions for naming, diagramming, describing and defining meta-objects can be found in Clause 7 of the
framework document (ISO/IEC 15474-2:2002, Information technology — CDIF framework — Part 2: Modelling and
extensibility).
5.2 Abbreviations
The following abbreviation is used in this international standard:
CDIF CASE Data Interchange Format (originally)
6 Common subject area overview
6.1 Introduction
The Common subject area is intended to cover concepts such as synonyms, decomposition, and audit data, that
are common or useful to all of the CDIF semantic metamodel. The Common subject area covers aspects required
for all objects described in a CDIF transfer. Concepts defined here include alternate names, details of the tool user
who created or updated any object, and constraints on objects.
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ISO/IEC 15476-2:2002(E)
6.2 Diagram



CreatedBy                             Has

0:N 1:N
RootEntity
LastUpdatedBy                         Uses
0:N 0:N

0:1 0:1 0:N 0:N

IsConstraintOn
Tool User Abstraction Textual Alternate

0:N
Level Constraint
...