ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008
(Main)Information technology — Learning, education and training — Collaborative technology — Collaborative workplace — Part 1: Collaborative workplace data model
Information technology — Learning, education and training — Collaborative technology — Collaborative workplace — Part 1: Collaborative workplace data model
ISO/IEC 19778 is applicable to collaborative technologies used to support communication among learners, instructors and other participants. The implementation and communicative use of these technologies entails the creation of information related to participant groups, and to the collaborative environments, functions and tools that are set up for, and used by, these groups. ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008 - together with its subsequent parts - defines data models that enable the portability and reuse of this data in integrated form, and allow Data Model instantiations to be interchanged, stored, retrieved, reused or analysed by a variety of systems. ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008 specifies a table-based approach for defining Data Models. This Data Model specification is used for specifying the collaborative workplace Data Model. The same Data Model specification is also used in ISO/IEC 19778-2 and ISO/IEC 19778-3 to define the related components of the collaborative environment (ISO/IEC 19778-2) and the collaborative group (ISO/IEC 19778-3) in separate Data Models.
Technologies de l'information — Apprentissage, éducation et formation — Technologies collaboratives — Lieu de travail collaboratif — Partie 1: Modèle de données du lieu de travail collaboratif
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Standards Content (Sample)
INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 19778-1
First edition
2008-05-01
Information technology — Learning,
education and training — Collaborative
technology — Collaborative workplace —
Part 1:
Collaborative workplace data model
Technologies de l'information — Apprentissage, éducation et
formation — Technologies collaboratives — Lieu de travail
collaboratif —
Partie 1: Modèle de données du lieu de travail collaboratif
Reference number
ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2008
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ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008(E)
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ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope .1
1.1 Statement of scope.1
1.1.1 ISO/IEC 19778.1
1.1.2 This part of ISO/IEC 19778 .1
1.2 Subjects and aspects not currently addressed in ISO/IEC 19778 .2
1.3 Excluded subjects and aspects in ISO/IEC 19778.2
1.4 Subjects and aspects addressed in related standards .2
2 Normative references .3
3 Terms and definitions .3
3.1 Terms and definitions used to specify a representation of a Data Model .3
3.2 Terms and definitions for the Data Model Elements of this and related standards .6
4 Abbreviations and acronyms .8
5 Collaborative workplace Data Model .8
5.1 Data Model representation.8
5.2 Collaborative workplace Data Model diagram .12
5.3 Collaborative workplace Data Model specification.12
5.4 Supplementing information for DMEs of the CW DM.17
5.4.1 AE CW_General.17
5.4.2 DE CW_Name .17
5.4.3 DE CW_Description .17
5.4.4 AE CW_ID .17
5.4.5 DE CW_ID_source.17
5.4.6 DE CW_ID_value .18
5.4.7 DE CW_Life-span.18
5.4.8 AE CW_Components.18
5.4.9 AE CE_ID-Ref .18
5.4.10 DE CE_ID-Ref_source .18
5.4.11 DE CE_ID-Ref_value .18
5.4.12 AE CG_ID-Ref.18
5.4.13 DE CG_ID-Ref_source .18
5.4.14 DE CG_ID-Ref_value.19
6 Conformance.19
Annex A (informative) Alphabetical list of terms .21
Annex B (informative) A minimalistic use case .22
Annex C (informative) A rich use case.28
Bibliography .35
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ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008(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 19778-1 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 36, Information technology for learning, education and training.
ISO/IEC 19778 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information technology — Learning,
education and training — Collaborative technology — Collaborative workplace:
⎯ Part 1: Collaborative workplace data model
⎯ Part 2: Collaborative environment data model
⎯ Part 3: Collaborative group data model
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ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008(E)
Introduction
Many activities in the field of learning, education and training are collaborative in nature, involving turn-taking,
statement-and-response or multi-thread discussions which, in turn, take place among participants over
periods of time ranging from seconds to entire human generations. For example, a question posed via text
messaging or email might receive a response in a matter of seconds, minutes or hours; commentary on a
historically-significant text might take place months, years or even generations after it has been written.
A typical collaborative event is initiated by one participant, is usually received by several other participants,
refers to a previous collaborative event, and provides a response to it. Collaborative activities can be
established in the widest imaginable range of circumstances, involving many different communicative forms
and contents.
The International Standards on collaborative technology for learning, education and training focus on a
particular subset of these collaborative activities. (Note that all terms specifically defined in these International
Standards are italicized throughout all parts of ISO/IEC 19778.) This subset of activities is characterized by:
• information exchange in small or medium-sized collaborative groups of participants (typically above two
and below a few dozen) who collaborate over relatively short periods of time (typically several days to
several months);
• information exchange taking place through the use of communication technology, using either a single,
well-defined collaborative tool supporting collaborative functions, or a set of collaborative tools, organized
in a collaborative environment;
• short intervals in establishing feedback on messages or expressions (generally seconds to hours);
• the exchange of relatively small information chunks (generally comparable to a range between a single
word and a small number of paragraphs);
• a relatively high level of responsiveness among active collaborative group members;
• information exchanged among participants (due to a number of the factors listed above) tends to be
highly context-dependent or -sensitive;
• further, important contextual information is presented by the relationship between these collaborative
group members and the collaborative environment (and its subcomponents), which all together form a
collaborative workplace.
ISO/IEC 19778 consists of three parts:
Part 1: Collaborative workplace data model provides a representation format for Data Model specification, and
specifies the Data Model structure and the Data Model Elements for the collaborative workplace in general.
Part 2: Collaborative environment data model specifies the Data Model structure and the Data Model
Elements for the technical infrastucture of a collaborative workplace.
Part 3: Collaborative group data model specifies the Data Model structure and the Data Model Elements
specifying and providing information for the membership of a collaborative workplace.
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ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008(E)
Figure 1 — Entities defined in ISO/IEC 19778
Figure 1 illustrates the relationships among the three physical entities involved. Any collaborative workplace
represents the combination of a particular collaborative environment and a particular collaborative group.
While the physical entity collaborative workplace contains its collaborative environment and its collaborative
group, the Data Model instantiations for these physical entities (and the Data Models from which these
instantiations are derived) are separate data entities.
The Data Models specified by ISO/IEC 19778 provide the structure and the concepts for information which
• supports the understanding of the application intentions of collaborative workplaces and their
components;
• is qualified for supporting the set-up and managing of collaborative workplaces;
• enables the specification of relationships among Data Model instantiations derived from
ISO/IEC 19778 or among their Data Model Element instantiations;
• enables the specification of relationships among anticipated, further Data Models or their Data Model
Elements (or their instantiations), and the Data Models or their Data Model Elements of ISO/IEC 19778
(or their instantiations).
The interrelationship among a collaborative workplace and its collaborative environment and collaborative
group, their associated Data Model instantiations, and the corresponding Data Models specified in
ISO/IEC 19778 is illustrated in Figure 2.
Figure 2 — The interrelationship among a collaborative workplace and its collaborative environment
and collaborative group, their associated Data Model instantiations,
and the Data Models specified in ISO/IEC 19778
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ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008(E)
This part of ISO/IEC 19778 specifies a Data Model that provides general information on a collaborative
workplace (in Figure 2, the outer frame to the left). A collaborative workplace comprises a technical
infrastructure (Part 2, collaborative environment) and means of defining its membership (Part 3, collaborative
group).
As illustrated in Figure 2, it is important to distinguish among (from left to right)
• the physical entities of a collaborative workplace, comprising its technical infrastructure and its
members;
• the Data Model instantiations that are associated with these physical entities, and that are derived from
their respective Data Models using any conforming binding;
• the Data Models provided by ISO/IEC 19778 and specifying the (binding-independent) rules for
creating Data Model instantiations.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008(E)
Information technology — Learning, education and training —
Collaborative technology — Collaborative workplace —
Part 1:
Collaborative workplace data model
1 Scope
1.1 Statement of scope
1.1.1 ISO/IEC 19778
ISO/IEC 19778 is applicable to collaborative technologies used to support communication among learners,
instructors and other participants. The implementation and communicative use of these technologies entails
the creation of information related to participant groups, and to the collaborative environments, functions and
tools that are set up for, and used by, these groups. This part of ISO/IEC 19778 – together with its subsequent
parts – defines Data Models that enable the portability and reuse of this data in integrated form, and allow
Data Model instantiations to be interchanged, stored, retrieved, reused or analysed by a variety of systems.
NOTE 1 A typical case of reusing a particular collaborative workplace Data Model instantiation (and its interlinked
collaborative environment and collaborative group Data Model instantiations) is the automated set-up of new collaborative
workplaces by using the specifications in the Data Model instantiations as templates.
NOTE 2 The reason for providing the specification for a collaborative workplace using several Data Models and their
instantiations is to provide flexibility in the further development of these standards in future editions. By providing optional
references to potential further specifications or standards, this approach goes far beyond the parts of ISO/IEC 19778 and
the limited number of information elements provided by them.
1.1.2 This part of ISO/IEC 19778
This part of ISO/IEC 19778 specifies a table-based approach for defining Data Models. This Data Model
specification is used for specifying the collaborative workplace Data Model. The same Data Model
specification is also used in ISO/IEC 19778-2 and ISO/IEC 19778-3 to define the related components of the
collaborative environment (ISO/IEC 19778-2) and the collaborative group (ISO/IEC 19778-3) in separate Data
Models.
NOTE 1 This Data Model specification is also used in ISO/IEC 19780.
The collaborative workplace Data Model specifies the Data Model Elements and their interrelationships that
enable the creation of collaborative workplace Data Model instantiations.
Any conforming collaborative workplace Data Model instantiation describes or specifies a particular
collaborative workplace with which it is associated.
NOTE 2 How the association of a particular collaborative workplace Data Model instantiation and a particular
collaborative workplace is implemented is outside the scope of this part of ISO/IEC 19778 (i.e. is dependent on the
implementation of the used collaboration system).
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ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008(E)
Any conforming collaborative workplace Data Model instantiation
• references Data Model instantiations for both a particular collaborative environment and a particular
collaborative group;
• provides its particular identifier that allows this Data Model instantiation to be referenced from other
Data Model instantiations;
NOTE 3 The ISO/IEC 19778 Data Models and Data Model or Data Model Element instantiations are
referenced by ISO/IEC 19780, which provides storage formats for captured communicative contributions, along
with contextual data (relationship to other contributions, time sent, authorship, etc.).
• provides the life-span dates-and-times for the associated collaborative workplace;
• may provide a name and a textual description for its associated collaborative workplace, particularly for
the purpose of full-text seach for collaborative workplace Data Model instantiations.
1.2 Subjects and aspects not currently addressed in ISO/IEC 19778
Further parts or future new editions of the existing parts of ISO/IEC 19778 are anticipated. They include the
following.
• Internationalization (e.g. national alternatives for the values of textual, descriptive Data Elements).
• Bindings for the Data Models of Parts 1, 2, and 3 will be provided by additional parts.
• Best practice guides for the use of Parts 1, 2, and 3 will be provided by additional parts.
• Enabling the concurrent use of several international languages in Parts 1, 2, and 3 will be reflected by
future editions.
• Any lessons learnt from practicing Parts 1, 2, and 3 will be reflected by future editions of these parts.
1.3 Excluded subjects and aspects in ISO/IEC 19778
Beyond the scope of ISO/IEC 19778, communities of practice or standardization bodies may provide further
specifications or standards which are not yet identified. These anticipated specifications or standards may
either make use of ISO/IEC 19778, or may – where this is prepared for – specify value domains for Data
Elements of the Data Models of ISO/IEC 19778, or may represent extensions of ISO/IEC 19778 by providing
and referencing Data Models with supplementing information.
Subjects and aspects not provided by ISO/IEC 19778, but anticipated to be provided by further specifications
or standards, include:
• the specification of roles that collaborative group members may play, including the obligations and
permissions associated with these roles;
• the specification of collaborative tools and their collaborative functions, including their technical
capabilities and constraints;
• the specification of models for collaborative applications, including the modelling of tasks, activities and
objectives of such activities.
1.4 Subjects and aspects addressed in related standards
ISO/IEC 19778 is closely related to ISO/IEC 19780-1. This related International Standard enables the
recording, portability and reuse of the communicative contents, the messages or expressions generated in the
course of collaborative activity. The way this communicative data is recorded and captured makes use of
collaborative workplace, collaborative group and collaborative environment Data Model Elements.
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ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008(E)
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 8601:2004, Data elements and interchange formats — Information interchange — Representation of
dates and times
ISO/IEC 10646:2003, Information technology — Universal Multiple-Octet Coded Character Set (UCS)
ISO/IEC 11404:2007, Information technology — General-Purpose Datatypes (GPD)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
NOTE 1 The terms defined here are closely interrelated. Terms defined in this clause are italicized elsewhere in this
part of ISO/IEC 19778 when used as defined. Where these terms are not italicized in the document, they are used with
their self-explanatory or common meanings. One exception to this rule is presented by the use of these defined terms in
clause and subclause titles, headings, or term listings, where italicization is dropped for purposes of formatting
consistency.
NOTE 2 An alphabetical list of all of the terms defined in 3.1 and 3.2 is provided in Annex A.
3.1 Terms and definitions used to specify a representation of a Data Model
NOTE This subclause defines terms used to specify the way the Data Model is represented in ISO/IEC 19778.
3.1.1
Aggregating Element
AE
DME which is neither a Root Element nor a leaf element in a Data Model tree structure, represented as a unit
of data for which an identifier, designation, definition, obligation status, and a multiplicity value are all specified
as DME attributes
NOTE AEs provide an important means of structuring the Data Model, and also provide important semantic
information.
3.1.2
Collaborative Technology standards
CT standards
International Standards family in the domain of “Information technology — Learning, education and training —
Collaborative technology”
NOTE Many of the standards in this domain are closely interrelated, implying the need for particular cross-standard
harmonization.
3.1.3
conditionally mandatory
required under certain specified conditions
NOTE 1 This is one of four permissible DME obligation status values. See also conditionally optional, mandatory and
optional.
NOTE 2 Where this DME obligation status value is assigned, the specification of the “conditions” under which the
DME's provision is mandatory is required.
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ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008(E)
3.1.4
conditionally optional
permitted under certain specified conditions only, but not required
NOTE 1 This is one of four permissible DME obligation status values. See also conditionally mandatory, mandatory
and optional.
NOTE 2 Where this DME obligation status value is assigned, the specification of the “conditions” under which the
DME’s provision is optional is required.
NOTE 3 Adapted from ISO/IEC 11179-3:2003, definition 3.2.9.
3.1.5
Data Element
DE
DME which is a leaf element in a Data Model tree structure, represented as a unit of data for which an
identifier, designation, definition, obligation status, a DME multiplicity, the representation and permissible
values of the Data Element, and optionally value examples for the Data Element are all specified as DME
attributes
NOTE 1 In Data Model instantiations in any appropriate binding, the representation of a Data Element instantiation
requires (at least) the provision of its DME identifier and its value. The format used to achieve this is binding-specific.
NOTE 2 In CT standards, both the representation and permissible values of a Data Element are indicated through the
DE datatype. Additional constraints for the set of permissible values may be imposed by a referenced external
specification or standard.
NOTE 3 Adapted from ISO/IEC 11179-3:2003, definition 3.3.36.
3.1.6
Data Element datatype
DE datatype
specification of a set of distinct values for a DE, characterized by properties of those values and by possible
operations on those values
NOTE 1 The set of distinct values specified by the value of a DME datatype may be restricted to a subset, based on a
specification or standard which is external to the Data Model. The reference to this external specification or standard is
provided as the value of an appropriate Data Element in the Data Model. Which Data Element provides the reference to
this external specification or standard is indicated at the same place where the respective DE datatype is specified.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO/IEC 11404:2007, definition 3.12.
3.1.7
Data Model
DM
graphical and/or lexical representation of data, specifying their properties, structures and interrelationships
[ISO/IEC 11179-3:2003, definition 3.2.11]
3.1.8
Data Model Element
DME
Aggregating Element or Data Element
3.1.9
Data Model Element attribute
DME attribute
particular characteristic of a DME
NOTE Adapted from ISO/IEC 11179-3:2003, definition 3.1.3.
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3.1.10
Data Model Element definition
DME definition
representation of the concept of a DME through a descriptive statement which serves to differentiate it from
related concepts
NOTE Adapted from ISO 1087-1:2000, definition 3.3.1.
3.1.11
Data Model Element designation
DME designation
label for a DME, designating it in a manner which is unambiguous in the context of the Data Model
NOTE 1 DME designations are used in the wording of CT standards in order to refer to particular DMEs, as opposed to
the linguistically neutral DME identifiers, which serve a mnemonic function.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO 1087-1:2000, definition 3.4.1.
3.1.12
Data Model Element identifier
DME identifier
sequence of numerical branch indices, which specify the path from the general Root Element of the Data
Model to the specific DME, and thus identify it uniquely within the context of the Data Model
NOTE Adapted from ISO/IEC 11179-3:2003, definition 3.1.8.
3.1.13
Data Model Element instantiation
DME instantiation
data object in a Data Model instantiation, representing a Data Model Element
3.1.14
Data Model Element multiplicity
DME multiplicity
specification of the interval between the required minimum and the permitted maximum of DME instantiation
occurrences in a conforming Data Model instantiation
NOTE 1 Where a DME is not provided at all in a Data Model instantiation (as permitted by the value of the DME
obligation status), its DME multiplicity value does not apply.
NOTE 2 In cases where the two values (required minimum and permitted maximum occurrence) coincide, only a single
value is specified.
3.1.15
Data Model Element obligation status
DME obligation status
specification of whether, or under which condition(s), a DME is permitted or required in a conforming Data
Model instantiation
NOTE 1 The possible values for this attribute are mandatory, optional, conditionally mandatory and conditionally
optional.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO/IEC 11179-3:2003, definitions 3.2.9, 3.2.17, and 3.2.28.
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ISO/IEC 19778-1:2008(E)
3.1.16
Data Model instantiation
DM instantiation
data object derived from a Data Model, providing values for its Data Elements, and generally making use of a
particular binding specification (RDF, XML, etc.)
NOTE The precise forms of the DM instantiations are dependent on the specific binding used.
3.1.17
mandatory
always required
NOTE 1 One of four permissible DME obligation status values. See also conditionally optional, conditionally
mandatory, and optional.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO/IEC 11
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