Version History
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MUST: This word means that the definition is an absolute requirement of the specification.
MUST NOT: This phrase means that the definition is an absolute prohibition of the specification.
SHOULD: This word means that there may exist valid reasons in particular circumstances to ignore a particular item, but the full implications MUST be understood and carefully weighed before choosing a different course.
SHOULD NOT: This phrase means that there may exist valid reasons in particular circumstances when the particular behavior is acceptable or even useful, but the full implications should be understood and the case carefully weighed before implementing any behavior described with this label.
MAY: This word means that an item is truly optional. One user may choose to include the item because a particular marketplace requires it or because the vendor feels that it enhances the product, while another vendor may omit the same item.
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MUST provide non-versioned ontology IRI (See: IRI Structure and Format V2.2 )
When released, MUST provide version IRI(
owl:VersionIRI
)(See: IRI Structure and Format V2.2 )MUST provide label
MUST provide title
MUST provide abstract
MUST provide copyright
MUST provide license
MUST provide maturity
MUST provide a versionInfo
MUST provide changeNotes for each release.
For all constructs:
MUST provide label
MUST provide natural language definition
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Examples:
product
:obo:Continuant(c) ∧ ¬(obo:SpecificallyDependentContinuant(c) ∨ Person(c) ∨ Organization(c)) ∧ ∃r (ProductRole(r) ∧ obo:hasRole(c, r))
semi-formal natural language definition –
iof-av:semiFormalNaturalLanguageDefinition
Definition: transitional definition expressing first-order logic definition using semantics understandable by ontologically knowledgable domain practitioner without predicate logic semantics
The semi-formal natural language definition MUST be provided if the term is not primitive (is primitive is
false
)The semi-formal natural language definition MUST only occur once
Variables SHOULD be removed if they do not need to be referenced later in the expression
Rules for writing necessary axioms, sufficient axioms, and necessary and sufficient axioms:
SHOULD use “every instance of {term} is defined as exactly an instance of {conditions}” for necessary and sufficient conditions
Agent(x) ↔ (Person(x) ∨ GroupOfAgents(x) ∨ EngineeredSystem(x)) ∧ ∃y (AgentRole(y) ∧ hasRole(x,y))
every instance of ‘agent’ is defined as exactly an instance of ‘person’, ‘group of agents’, or ‘engineered system’ that ‘has role’ some ‘agent role’
The following syntax MUST be used:
A construct label MUST be used and its exact syntax preserved for constructs in this or an imported ontology
Quotes (
'
) MUST surround all labelsThe words “is a” MUST NOT be used without a qualification
“is a subclass of” MUST be used to indicate a subclass relationship
“is an instance of” MUST be used to indicate an instance of a universal
Variables SHOULD be used where needed in formulating the definition
The rules for natural language definitions MUST be applied otherwise
Examples:
‘product’: every instance of ‘product' is defined as exactly an instance of (‘continuant’ and not ‘person’ and not ‘organization’ and not ‘specifically dependent continuant’) that ‘bears' some ‘product role’
‘agent’: every instance of ‘agent’ is defined as exactly an instance of ‘person’, ‘group of agents’, or ‘engineered system’ that ‘has role’ some ‘agent role’
first-order logic axiom -
iof-av:firstOrderLogicAxiom
Definition: axiom of construct using predicate logic semantics
First-order logic axiom MAY be provided if the construct is primitive or non-primitive.
With the implication arrow → the left is sufficient, and the right is necessary
A construct MAY have more than one first-order logic axiom annotation
A first-order logic axiom value MUST adhere to first-order logic definition syntax
If there is more than one axiom:
the axiom MUST be associated with the semi-formal natural axiom
The axiom MUST use a prefix consisting of a name and a colon.
The name MUST use
LA<n>:
where<n>
is a monotonically increasing number starting at1
.
Examples:
Code Block iof-av:firstOrderLogicAxiom: "LA1: BusinessFunction(x) → Function(x) ∧ ∃o,∃i(Organization(o) ∧ ObjectiveSpecification(i) ∧ functionOf(x,o) ∧ genericallyDependsOnAtSomeTime(i,o) ∧ prescribedBy(x,i)) ∧ ∀y(hasRealization(x,y) → BusinessProcess(y))" iof-av:firstOrderLogicAxiom: "LA2: Function(x) ∧ ∃o,∃i,∃p(Organization(o) ∧ ObjectiveSpecification(i) ∧ BusinessProcess(p) ∧ functionOf(x,o) ∧ genericallyDependsOnAtSomeTime(i,o) ∧ prescribedBy(x,i)) ∧ hasRealization(x,p)) → BusinessFunction(x)"
semi-formal natural language axiom -
iof-av:semiFormalNaturalLanguageAxiom
Definition: transitional definition expressing first-order logic axiom using semantics understandable by ontologically knowledgable domain practitioner without predicate logic semantics
Semi-formal natural language axioms MAY be provided if the term is primitive (is primitive is
true
)A construct MAY include more than one semi-formal natural language axiom annotation
The definition MUST adhere to semi-formal natural language definition syntax
If there is more than one axiom:
The axiom MUST be associated with the first-order logic axiom
The axiom MUST use a prefix consisting of a name and a colon.
The name MUST use
LA<n>:
where<n>
is a monotonically increasing number starting at1
.
Example:
Code Block iof-av:semiFormalNaturalLanguageAxiom: "LA1: if x is a 'business function' then x is a 'function' that is 'function of' some 'organization' and that is 'prescribed by' some 'objective specification' and whenever x 'has realization' y that y must be a 'business process'" iof-av:semiFormalNaturalLanguageAxiom: "LA2: if x is a 'function' that is 'function of' some 'organization' and that is 'prescribed by' some 'objective specification' and that 'has realization' some 'business process' then x is a 'business function'"
All variables refer to instances
Rules for writing a necessary or sufficient axiom:
SHOULD use if and then to indicate the implication/conditional pattern for necessary or sufficient axiom: if antecedent, then consequent
AgentRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃m ∃n ((MaterialEntity(m) ∧ ¬FiatObjectPart(x)) ∧ (Person(n) ∨ GroupOfAgents(n) ∨ EngineeredSystem(n)) ∧ actsOnBehalfOfAtSomeTime(m, n) ∧ roleOf(x,m))
'agent role': if x is an instance of 'agent role', then x is an instance of 'role' that is the 'role of' some ('material entity' and not 'fiat object part') that 'acts on behalf of at some time' some other 'person', 'group of agents', or 'engineered system'
SHOULD use some type of for a universal pattern
InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃c, ∃r ( continuant(c) ∧ RequirementSpecification(r) ∧ satisfies(x,r) ∧ prescribes(x,c)) ∧ ∀c'(prescribes(x,c') → Continuant(c')) → DesignSpecification(x)
if d is a ‘design specification’, then d is an ‘information content entity’ that ‘prescribes' some type of 'continuant'
SHOULD use whenever when representing a multi-place temporal expression
∀ p,q,t (hasContinuantPart(p, q, t) ∧ instanceOf(p, MaterialEntity, t) → instanceOf(q, site, t) ∨ instanceOf(q, ContinuantFiatBoundary, t) ∨ instanceOf(q, MaterialEntity, t)
whenever a ‘material entity’ ‘has part’ y then y must be a ‘site’ or a ‘material entity’ or a ‘continuant fiat boundary’
Complete Example with more than one axiom:
Code Block iof-av:firstOrderLogicAxiom "LA1: Assembly(x) → MaterialArtifact(x) ∧ ∃c,∃c'(MaterialComponent(c) ∧ MaterialComponent(c') componentPartOfAtAllTimes(c,x) ∧ componentPartOfAtAllTimes(c',x) ∧ ¬(c=c'∨ (componentPartOfAtAllTimes(c,c') ∨ componentPartOfAtAllTimes(c',c))))" iof-av:semiFormalNaturalLanguageAxiom "LA1: if x is an 'assembly' then x is a 'material artifact' and there are at least two distinct 'material component' that are 'component part of at all times' x" iof-av:firstOrderLogicAxiom "LA2: MaterialArtifact(x) ∧ ∃p(AssemblyProcess(p) ∧ isSpecifiedOutputOf(x,p)) → Assembly(x)" iof-av:semiFormalNaturalLanguageAxiom "LA2: Material Artifact x that 'is specified output of' some Assembly Process p implies x is an Assembly"
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direct source –
iof-av:directSource
Definition: definitive source of the subject resource
adapted from –
iof-av:adaptedFrom
Definition: source for the resource that was modified to create the subject resource
Deprecation
In cases where a term is removed from the ontology or is moved to another ontology, it MUST also be marked as owl:deprecated
. The following annotations MUST be used in the following cases:
The following MUST be provided when retired/removed or moved in the source ontology annotations:
All construct annotations MUST be removed.
skos:changeNote
: Rational for the deprecation–keeps the history of the rational in the header.Rationale: Change note associated with the deprecated element because protege can associate with the destination term.
Example content of the
skos:changeNote
from FIBO: (Need to use IOF ref)Code Block language xml <skos:changeNote>The https://spec.pistoiaalliance.org/idmp/ontology/ISO/20230601/ISO11615-MedicinalProducts.rdf version of this ontology was modified to (1) make indication texts as nodes instead of literals (IDMP-591), (2) add the concept of shelf life / storage per Figure 11 in the ISO 11615 specification (IDMP-371), (3) add undesirable effect per Figure 14 in the ISO 11615 specification (IDMP-591), (4) rename 'has medical condition' to use a more aligned label with ISO 11615 (IDMP-591), (5) add the concept of route of administration (IDMP-614), and (6) integrate the refined pattern for controlled vocabularies (IDMP-533).</skos:changeNote>
The user MUST have the ability to choose if the constructs are equivalent to the previous terms:
The user MAY add the
owl:equivalentClass
orowl:equivalentProperty
: IRI of the destination construct for the moved term.OWL
owl:sameAs
as MAY be used for nominals as appropriate.
The user SHOULD change their ontology to use the new constructs.
To be considered for future releases: Deprecated constructs MUST be moved into a separate ontology file with the deprecated terms after a specified waiting period.
Notes
comment–rdfs:commentcomment MUST NOT be used. Use one of the following instead:
iof-av:explanatoryNote
iof-av:usageNote
skos:scopeNote
explanatory note –
iof-av:explanatoryNote
Definition: supplemental information used to clarify or describe the construct
explanatory note MAY be used to supplement the natural language definition of the construct
Example: “Item is another term semantically close to Product. But it is more general because the Item may not sellable. It is an overloaded term used by information systems to capture catalog information about real and sort of unreal (e.g., product family or option class which is a group of similar products) materials the enterprise concerns with.”
usage note –
iof-av:usageNote
Definition: describes how to use the term in particular situations
usage note MAY be used to describe how the term is used in particular situations through an example instantiation.
Example: “This is how the Supplying Relation class may be used to convey who supplies what to who. SupplierRole(sr1) and BuyerRole(br1) and Product(p1) and SupplyingRelation(s1) and specificallyDependsOn(s1, sr1) and specificallyDependsOn(br1, s1) and specificallyDependsOn(p1,s1)”
scope note –
skos:scopeNote
If required, scope note MUST be used to provide additional domain contextualization on the use of the term
From skos:
A note that helps to clarify the meaning and/or the use of a concept
Example:
change note -
skos:changeNote
: The note MUST have the following information:Reference to the Jira issue related to the change
Brief description of the change
Synonyms and Abbreviations
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ISO 704
ISO 10241
ISO/IEC 21383-2:2020 (EN) Information Technology – Top-Level Ontology – Basic Formal Ontology
Link w/o paywall?
6.2.3.2 Upper case characters, mathematical symbols, typographical signs and syntactic signs (e.g. punctuation marks, hyphens, parentheses, square brackets and other connectors or delimiters) as well as their character styles (i.e. fonts and bold, italic, bold italic, or other style conventions) shall be used in a term only if they constitute part of the normal written form of the term as conventionally used in running text. Syntactic signs shall not be used to show alternative terms. For complex terms (e.g. compounds and multiword terms), the natural word order shall be retained.
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