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Overview of some international projects related to ECIMF

Overview of some international projects related to ECIMF. Andrzej Bialecki <abial@webgiro.com>. 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

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Overview of some international projects related to ECIMF

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  1. Overview of some international projects related to ECIMF Andrzej Bialecki <abial@webgiro.com>

  2. 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…

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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 11179 naming conventions and ebXML representation words • Well-designed and comprehensive upper-level classification

  7. UDEF structure Data Element Name 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 Contains Object Class Term 0...n qualifiers + 1 or more required Object Class Property Term 0..n qualifiers + 1 required Property + Example UDEF Data Element Names Document Abstract Text EnterpriseName Product Price Amount Product Scheduled Delivery Date Mechanical Design Engineering Process Cost Amount

  8. OAGIS – Open Applications Group Integration Specification • Current version: 8.0 (04.2002) • 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

  9. 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

  10. 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…

  11. Others • RosettaNet • RNIF Technical Dictionary - only two levels: Category -> Product • CommerceOne xCBL • UN/SPSC (around 12000 product classifications in 21 segments) • Other regional product classification systems

  12. 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

  13. More information • ECIMF project • http://www.ecimf.org • CEN/ISSS WS-EC • http://www.cenorm.be/isss • WebGiro AB • http://www.webgiro.com • Author: • Andrzej Bialecki <abial@webgiro.com>

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