ISO/IEC 19763-3:2010

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 19763-3
Second edition
2010-08-15
Information technology — Metamodel
framework for interoperability (MFI) —
Part 3:
Metamodel for ontology registration
Technologies de l'information — Cadre du métamodèle pour
l'interopérabilité (MFI) —
Partie 3: Métamodèle pour l'enregistrement de l'ontologie

Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2010
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ii © ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction.vi
1 Scope.1
2 Normative references.2
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms.2
3.1 Terms and definitions .2
3.1.1 Terms on ontology .2
3.1.2 Other terms .3
3.2 Abbreviated terms .3
4 Conformance .4
4.1 General .4
4.2 Levels of conformance .4
4.2.1 General .4
4.2.2 Conformance level 1 .4
4.2.3 Conformance level 2 .4
4.3 Degree of conformance .4
4.3.1 General .4
4.3.2 Strictly conforming implementation.4
4.3.3 Conforming implementation.4
4.4 Implementation Conformance Statement (ICS).5
5 Structure of MFI Ontology registration .5
5.1 Overview of MFI Ontology registration .5
5.2 Overview of Basic_Model package.5
5.3 Overview of Evolution_Model package.7
5.4 Basic_Model package .8
5.4.1 Authoritative_Extent .8
5.4.2 Local_Item.8
5.4.3 Ontology_Language.9
5.4.4 Ontology_Whole .9
5.4.5 Registered_Ontology_Whole .9
5.4.6 Unregistered_Ontology_Whole.10
5.4.7 Reference_Registered_Ontology_Whole.10
5.4.8 Local_Registered_Ontology_Whole.10
5.4.9 Ontology_Component.11
5.4.10 Registered_Ontology_Component .11
5.4.11 Reference_Registered_Ontology_Component.12
5.4.12 Local_Registered_Ontology_Component.12
5.4.13 Ontology_Atomic_Construct.13
5.4.14 Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct.13
5.4.15 Unregistered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct .14
5.4.16 Reference_Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct .14
5.4.17 Local_Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct .14
5.5 Evolution_Model package .15
5.5.1 Item_Evolution.15
5.5.2 Registered_Ontology_Whole_Evolution.15
5.5.3 Registered_Ontology_Component_Evolution.15
5.5.4 Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct_Evolution .16
Annex A (informative) List of Ontology_Languages .17
© ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved iii

Annex B (informative) Example of Basic_Model.18
Annex C (informative) Example of Evolution_Model.26
Annex D (informative) Mapping from ISO/IEC 19763-3:2007 to ISO/IEC 19763-3:2010 .29
Bibliography .34

Figures
Figure 1 — Scope of MFI Ontology registration .1
Figure 2 — Package structure of MFI Ontology registration .5
Figure 3 — Metamodel in Basic_Model package.6
Figure 4 — Metamodel in Evolution_Model package.8
Figure B.1 — Three examples of the sentences in RO1 .18
Figure B.2 — Registration of RO1.19
Figure B.3 — Two examples of the sentences in RO2.20
Figure B.4 — Registration of RO2.21
Figure B.5 — Three examples of the sentences in LO1.22
Figure B.6 — Registration of LO1 .23
Figure B.7 — An example of the sentences in LO2.24
Figure B.8 — Registration of LO2 .24
Figure C.1 — Three examples of the sentences in LO3.26
Figure C.2 — Registration of LO3 .27
Figure C.3 — Registration of items evolution from LO1 to LO3 .28

Tables
Table A.1 — List of Ontology_Languages.17
Table D.1 — Mapping the metaclasses.29
Table D.2 — Mapping Ontology_Whole in ISO/IEC 19763-3:2007.31
Table D.3 — Mapping Reference_Ontology_Whole in ISO/IEC 19763-3:2007 .31
Table D.4 — Mapping Local_Ontology_Whole in ISO/IEC 19763-3:2007 .31
Table D.5 — Mapping Ontology_Language in ISO/IEC 19763-3:2007 .31
Table D.6 — Mapping Ontology_Component in ISO/IEC 19763-3:2007 .32
Table D.7 — Mapping Reference_Ontology_Component in ISO/IEC 19763-3:2007.32
Table D.8 — Mapping Local_Ontology_Component in ISO/IEC 19763-3:2007.32
Table D.9 — Mapping Ontology_Atomic_Construct in ISO/IEC 19763-3:2007 .33
Table D.10 — Mapping Reference_Ontology_Atomic_Construct in ISO/IEC 19763-3:2007.33
Table D.11 — Mapping Local_Ontology_Atomic_Construct in ISO/IEC 19763-3:2007.33

iv © ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved

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 19763-3 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 32, Data management and interchange.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/IEC 19763-3:2007), which has been technically
revised.
ISO/IEC 19763 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information technology — Metamodel
framework for interoperability (MFI):
⎯ Part 1: Reference model
⎯ Part 2: Core model
⎯ Part 3: Metamodel for ontology registration
⎯ Part 4: Metamodel for model mapping
The following part is under preparation:
⎯ Part 5: Metamodel for process model registration
Registration procedure, metamodel for service registration, metamodel for role and goal registration, and on
demand model selection will form the subjects of future parts.
© ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved v

Introduction
Interoperation among autonomous applications, such as Web services, is becoming important. To promote
interoperation among application systems, unambiguous and formal specifications of the systems, especially
of their inputs and outputs, are indispensable. Ontologies have a key role for that.
Several efforts to establish standards associated with ontologies have been made. But, most of them specify
languages or are based on some particular language. To promote ontology-based interoperation, in addition
to them, a generic framework for registering administrative and evolution information related to ontologies,
independent of languages, is necessary.
This part of ISO/IEC 19763 intends to provide a generic framework for registering administrative and evolution
information related to ontologies.

vi © ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 19763-3:2010(E)

Information technology — Metamodel framework for
interoperability (MFI) —
Part 3:
Metamodel for ontology registration
1 Scope
ISO/IEC 19763 specifies a metamodel framework for interoperability. This part of ISO/IEC 19763 specifies the
metamodel that provides a facility to register administrative and evolution information related to ontologies.
The metamodel specified in this part of ISO/IEC 19763 is intended to promote interoperation among
application systems, by providing administrative and evolution information related to ontologies, accompanied
with standardized ontology repositories that register ontologies themselves in specific languages.
This part of ISO/IEC 19763 does not specify the metamodels of ontologies expressed in specific languages
and the mappings among them. They are specified in other specifications such as the Ontology Definition
Metamodel from the Object Management Group (see bibliography item [1]).
Figure 1 shows the scope of this part of ISO/IEC 19763.
SSccooppee of of MMFFII OOnntotollooggyy r reeggiissttratirationon
MMFFI OI Onntoltolooggyy r reegigissttrraattiionon
...
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ininffoorrmmaattioionn o off oonnttoollooggyy AA
...
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OOOnnntttooolllooogggyyy B B B  for for for
rererepppooosssiiitttooorrryyy
apapapplplpliiicccatatatiiiooonnn s s syyyssstttememem  AAA rererepppooosssiiitttooorrryyy
apapapplplpliiicccatiatiatiooonnn s s syyyssstttememem B B B
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ssttaannddaardrdiizzeded o onnttoollooggyy reporepossiittoorriieses
...
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AApplppliicatcatiioo InInteropteropeeratiratioonn
AAApppppplllicaicaicatttioioionnn
AAppppllicicaattioionn
SySysstteemm A A
sysysystststeeemmm B B B
syssystteemm A A : s: s: spppecececiiifffiiieeesss
: i: innfoforrmmaattiioonn f fllooww

Figure 1 — Scope of MFI Ontology registration
© ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved 1

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/IEC 11179-3:2003, Information technology — Metadata registries (MDR) — Part 3: Registry metamodel
and basic attributes
ISO/IEC 11179-3:2003/Cor.1:2004, Information technology — Metadata registries (MDR) — Part 3: Registry
metamodel and basic attributes — Technical Corrigendum 1
ISO/IEC 19501:2005, Information technology — Open Distributed Processing — Unified Modeling Language
(UML) Version 1.4.2
ISO/IEC 19502:2005, Information technology — Meta Object Facility (MOF)
ISO/IEC 19763-1:2007, Information technology — Metamodel framework for interoperability (MFI) — Part 1:
Reference model
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 11179-3:2003,
ISO/IEC 11179-3:2003/Cor.1:2004, ISO/IEC 19501:2005, ISO/IEC 19502:2005, ISO/IEC 19763-1:2007 and
the following apply.
3.1.1 Terms on ontology
3.1.1.1
ontology
specification of concrete or abstract things, and the relationships among them, in a prescribed domain of
knowledge
NOTE The specification should be computer processable.
3.1.1.2
registered ontology
ontology that is registered in a registry that conforms to MFI Ontology registration
3.1.1.3
unregistered ontology
ontology that is not registered in a registry that conforms to MFI Ontology registration
3.1.1.4
reference registered ontology
registered ontology that is usable and sharable by a community of interest
3.1.1.5
local registered ontology
registered ontology that is specialized for defined applications
2 © ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved

3.1.2 Other terms
3.1.2.1
sentence
statement that has a truth value
3.1.2.2
symbol
most primitive lexical construct that is a part of a sentence
3.1.2.3
logical symbol
symbol whose meaning is defined by its language
EXAMPLE In KIF, “not” and “or” are logical symbols.
3.1.2.4
non-logical symbol
symbol that is not a logical symbol
3.1.2.5
authoritative extent
extent that indicates authoritativeness
NOTE 1 An authoritative extent is used to determine whether a thing may use another thing. A thing may use another
thing if and only if the authoritative extent of the former is less than or equal to the authoritative extent of the
latter because the usage of the latter by the former does not affect the authoritative extent of the former since
the authoritative level of the latter is greater than or equal to the one of the former.
EXAMPLE A product with some authoritative extent can only use as its component a part with an authoritative extent
which is greater than or equal to the one of it, to keep its authoritative extent.
NOTE 2 In this part of ISO/IEC 19763, an authoritative extent is used to determine whether a Local_Item can consist of
or use another Local_Item. See 5.4.2 Local_Item.
3.2 Abbreviated terms
IRI
Internationalized Resource Identifier (see bibliography item [2])
KIF
Knowledge Interchange Format (see bibliography item [3])
MDR
Metadata Registry
[ISO/IEC 11179-3:2003, 3.4.5]
MFI
Metamodel framework for interoperability
[ISO/IEC 19763-1:2007, 4.2]
MFI Ontology registration
ISO/IEC 19763-3, Information technology — Metamodel framework for interoperability (MFI) — Part 3:
Metamodel for ontology registration
ODM
Ontology Definition Metamodel (see bibliography item [1])
© ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved 3

OWL
Web Ontology Language (see bibliography item [4])
UML
Unified Modeling Language (see ISO/IEC 19501:2005)
4 Conformance
4.1 General
An implementation claiming conformance to this part of ISO/IEC 19763 shall support one or both of the
metamodels specified in this part of ISO/IEC 19763 and may or shall not support any extensions, depending
on which level of conformance and which degree of conformance it claims.
4.2 Levels of conformance
4.2.1 General
An implementation may conform to either of the two levels of conformance to this part of ISO/IEC 19763,
depending on what packages it supports.
4.2.2 Conformance level 1
The metamodel specified in 5.4 Basic_Model package is supported.
4.2.3 Conformance level 2
The metamodels specified in 5.4 Basic_Model package and 5.5 Evolution_Model package are supported.
4.3 Degree of conformance
4.3.1 General
In each conformance level, the distinction between “strictly conforming” and “conforming” implementations is
necessary to address the simultaneous needs for interoperability and extensions. This part of ISO/IEC 19763
describes specifications that promote interoperability. Extensions are motivated by needs of users, vendors,
institutions, and industries, but are not specified by this part of ISO/IEC 19763.
A strictly conforming implementation may be limited in usefulness but is maximally interoperable with respect
to this part of ISO/IEC 19763. A conforming implementation may be more useful, but may be less
interoperable with respect to this part of ISO/IEC 19763.
4.3.2 Strictly conforming implementation
A strictly conforming implementation for some conformance level:
a) shall support the metamodels required in the conformance level;
b) shall not support any extensions to the metamodels required in the conformance level.
4.3.3 Conforming implementation
A conforming implementation:
a) shall support the metamodels required in the conformance level;
4 © ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved

b) may support extensions to the metamodels required in the conformance level, and the extensions shall
be consistent with the metamodels required in the conformance level.
4.4 Implementation Conformance Statement (ICS)
An implementation claiming conformance to this part of ISO/IEC 19763 shall include an Implementation
Conformance Statement stating:
a) which conformance level it claims(4.2);
b) whether it is a strictly conforming implementation or a conforming implementation (4.3);
c) what extensions are supported if it is a conforming implementation.
5 Structure of MFI Ontology registration
5.1 Overview of MFI Ontology registration
MFI Ontology registration consists of two packages: Basic_Model package and Evolution_Model package.
Figure 2 shows the package structure of MFI Ontology registration.
Basic_Model package is used to register administrative information related to ontologies, independently of
the languages that are used to express them. The basic idea is that almost any ontology consists of several
sentences and that each sentence uses several non-logical symbols. The metaclasses in Basic_Model
package include Ontology_Whole, Ontology_Component and Ontology_Atomic_Construct, which have
administrative information of ontologies, sentences and non-logical symbols respectively. Since an ontology
evolves, Basic_Model package can register as many versions of an ontology as necessary. But, in
Basic_Model package, each version of an ontology is treated as a different ontology.
Evolution_Model package is used to register information on how an ontology evolves from one version to
another. Evolution_Model package basically consists of three metaclasses, Registered_Ontology_Whole_
Evolution, Registered_Ontology_Component_Evolution and Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct_
Evolution, which have evolution information on Registered_Ontology_Whole, Registered_Ontology_
Component and Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct respectively.
Figure 2 — Package structure of MFI Ontology registration
5.2 Overview of Basic_Model package
Figure 3 shows the metamodel in Basic_Model package.
Ontology_Whole is an abstract metaclass that represents an ontology and contains the associated
administrative information. Ontology_Language is used as the reference "modelType" of Ontology_Whole
to indicate a language that is used to express an ontology that is represented by Ontology_Whole.
© ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved 5

Ontology_Component is an abstract metaclass that represents a sentence contained in ontologies and
contains the associated administrative information. The granularity of a sentence is not specified but is a
user’s choice. Ontology_Atomic_Construct is an abstract metaclass that represents a non-logical symbol
that is used in sentences and contains the associated administrative information.
Ontology_Whole has two direct subclasses, Registered_Ontology_Whole and Unregistered_Ontology_
Whole. Registered_Ontology_Whole is an abstract metaclass that represents an ontology that is registered
in a registry that conforms to MFI Ontology registration and is therefore also a subclass of Administered Item
of MDR. Unregistered_Ontology_Whole is a metaclass that represents an ontology that is not registered but
imported by an ontology that is registered in a registry that conforms to MFI Ontology registration.
Ontology_Component has only one direct subclass Registered_Ontology_Component. Registered_
Ontology_Component is an abstract metaclass that represents an ontology that is registered in a registry
that conforms to MFI Ontology registration and is therefore also a subclass of Administered Item of MDR.
Any instance of Ontology_Component is a Registered_Ontology_Component since a sentence that is not
registered in a registry that conforms to MFI Ontology registration is out of scope.
Similar to Ontology_Whole, Ontology_Atomic_Construct has two direct subclasses, Registered_
Ontology_Atomic_Construct and Unregistered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct. Registered_Ontology_
Atomic_Construct is an abstract metaclass that represents a non-logical symbol that is registered in a
registry that conforms to MFI Ontology registration. Unregistered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct is a
metaclass that represents a non-logical symbol that is not registered but used by a sentence that is registered
in a registry that conforms to MFI Ontology registration.
Registered_Ontology_Whole has two direct subclasses, Reference_Registered_Ontology_Whole and
Local_Registered_Ontology_Whole. Reference_Registered_Ontology_Whole represents a reference
registered ontology and Local_Registered_Ontology_Whole represents a local registered ontology.

NOTE Metaclasses whose names are italicized are abstract metaclasses.
Figure 3 — Metamodel in Basic_Model package
6 © ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved

Similarly, Registered_Ontology_Component has two direct subclasses, Reference_Registered_
Ontology_Component and Local_Registered_Ontology_Component. Reference_Registered_Ontology_
Component represents a sentence contained in ontologies that are represented by Reference_Registered_
Ontology_Whole. Local_Registered_Ontology_Component represents a sentence contained in ontologies
that are represented by Local_Registered_Ontology_Whole. A sentence that is represented by Reference_
Registered_Ontology_Component may also be contained in ontologies that are represented by Local_
Registered_Ontology_Whole, but a sentence that is represented by Local_Registered_Ontology_
Component cannot be contained in ontologies that are represented by Reference_Registered_Ontology_
Whole.
Similarly again, Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct also has two direct subclasses, Reference_
Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct and Local_Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct.
Reference_Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct represents a non-logical symbol that is used in
sentences that are represented by Reference_Registered_Ontology_Component. Local_Registered_
Ontology_Atomic_Construct represents a non-logical symbol that is used in sentences that are represented
by Local_Registered_Ontology_Component. A non-logical symbol that is represented by Reference_
Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct may also be used in sentences that are represented by Local_
Registered_Ontology_Component, but a non-logical symbol that is represented by Local_Registered_
Ontology_Atomic_Construct cannot be used in sentences that are represented by Reference_Registered_
Ontology_Component.
Local_Item is an abstract metaclass that is a collectively exhaustive SuperClass of Local_Registered_
Ontology_Whole, Local_Registered_Ontology_Component and Local_Registered_Ontology_Atomic_
Construct. Authoritative_Extent is used as the reference "authoritativeLevel" of Local_Item to indicate
whether a Local_Item can consist of or use another Local_Item. A sentence that is represented by Local_
Registered_Ontology_Component may also be contained in ontologies that are represented by Local_
Registered_Ontology_Whole whose value of "authoritativeLevel" is less than or equal to the value of
"authoritativeLevel" of this Local_Registered_Ontology_Component. A non-logical symbol that is
represented by Local_Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct may also be used in sentences that are
represented by Local_Registered_Ontology_Component whose value of "authoritativeLevel" is less than or
equal to the value of "authoritativeLevel" of this Local_Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct.
The exact specification of each metaclass in Basic_Model package is given in 5.4.
5.3 Overview of Evolution_Model package
Figure 4 shows the metamodel in Evolution_Model package.
Item_Evolution is an abstract metaclass that is a collectively exhaustive SuperClass of Registered_
Ontology_Whole_Evolution, Registered_Ontology_Component_Evolution and Registered_Ontology_
Atomic_Construct_Evolution. Registered_Ontology_Whole_Evolution is a metaclass that indicates what
a Registered_Ontology_Whole evolves to and is possibly composed of Registered_Ontology_
Component_Evolution. Registered_Ontology_Component_Evolution is a metaclass that indicates what a
Registered_Ontology_Component evolves to and is possibly composed of Registered_Ontology_
Atomic_Construct_Evolution. Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct_Evolution is a metaclass that
indicates what a Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct evolves to. Evolution information on
Unregistered_Ontology_Whole and Unregistered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct is out of scope since they
are not registered.
The exact specification of each metaclass in Evolution_Model package is given in 5.5.
© ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved 7

NOTE Metaclasses whose names are italicized are abstract metaclasses.
Figure 4 — Metamodel in Evolution_Model package
5.4 Basic_Model package
5.4.1 Authoritative_Extent
Authoritative_Extent is a metaclass whose instances indicate authoritative extent and compose a partially
ordered set in terms of the reference "lessThanOrEqualTo".
Attribute DataType Multiplicity Description
authoritativeExtent String 1.1 String representing the authoritative extent of this
Authoritative_Extent
Reference Class Multiplicity Description
lessThanOrEqualTo Authoritative_Extent 0.* Authoritative_Extents that this Authoritative_Extent
is less than or equal to
Constraints
The value of the attribute “authoritativeExtent” has to be unique in this metaclass.
NOTE Authoritative_Extent is used by Local_Item. See NOTE at 5.4.2.
5.4.2 Local_Item
Local_Item is an abstract metaclass that is a collectively exhaustive SuperClass of Local_Registered_
Ontology_Whole, Local_Registered_Ontology_Component and Local_Registered_Ontology_Atomic_
Construct.
Reference Class Multiplicity Description
authoritativeLevel Authoritative_Extent 1.1 Authoritative extent of this Local_Item
NOTE Local_Item X can consist of or use Local_Item Y if and only if the authoritativeLevel of X is less than or equal to
the authoritativeLevel of Y. For more details, see Constraints, 5.4.8 Local_Registered_Ontology_Whole and
5.4.12 Local_Registered_Ontology_Component.
8 © ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved

5.4.3 Ontology_Language
Ontology_Language is a metaclass that represents an ontology expression language.
Attribute DataType Multiplicity Description
name String 1.1 Name of the ontology expression language.
Constraints
The value of the attribute “name” has to be unique in this metaclass.
NOTE Annex A suggests a means of deciding the value of the attribute.
5.4.4 Ontology_Whole
Ontology_Whole is an abstract metaclass that is a collectively exhaustive SuperClass of Registered_
Ontology_Whole and Unregistered_Ontology_Whole.
Attribute DataType Multiplicity Description
IRI String 1.1 IRI that identifies the corresponding ontology
ontologyName String 1.1 Name of the corresponding ontology
Reference Class Multiplicity Description
modelType Ontology_Language 1.1 Ontology_Language that is used to express the
corresponding ontology
Constraints
The value of the attribute “IRI” has to be unique in this metaclass.
5.4.5 Registered_Ontology_Whole
Registered_Ontology_Whole is an abstract metaclass that is a collectively exhaustive SuperClass of
Reference_Registered_Ontology_Whole and Local_Registered_Ontology_Whole.
SuperClass
Administered Item (from MDR), Ontology_Whole
Reference Class MultiplicityDescription
imports Unregistered_ 0.* Unregistered_Ontology_Wholes representing an
Ontology_Whole unregistered ontology that is imported by the
corresponding ontology
Constraints
Exists exactly one Registered_Ontology_Whole_Evolution whose “newVersion” is this Registered_
Ontology_Whole.
© ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved 9

5.4.6 Unregistered_Ontology_Whole
Unregistered_Ontology_Whole is a metaclass representing an unregistered ontology.
SuperClass
Ontology_Whole
Constraints
Exists at least one Registered_Ontology_Whole whose “imports” is this Unregistered_Ontology_Whole.
5.4.7 Reference_Registered_Ontology_Whole
Reference_Registered_Ontology_Whole is a metaclass representing a reference registered ontology.
SuperClass
Registered_Ontology_Whole
Reference Class MultiplicityDescription
consistsOfReference Reference_ 1.* Reference_Registered_Ontology_Components
Registered_ representing the sentence contained in the ontology
Ontology_ represented by this Reference_Registered_
Component Ontology_Whole
5.4.8 Local_Registered_Ontology_Whole
Local_Registered_Ontology_Whole is a metaclass representing a local registered ontology.
SuperClass
Registered_Ontology_Whole, Local_Item
Reference Class MultiplicityDescription
consistsOfReference Reference_ 0.* Reference_Registered_Ontology_Components
Registered_ representing the sentence contained in the ontology
Ontology_ represented by this Local_Registered_Ontology_
Component Whole
consistsOfLocal Local_ 1.* Local_Registered_Ontology_Components
Registered_ representing the sentence contained in the ontology
Ontology_ represented by this Local_Registered_Ontology_
Component Whole
Constraints
The value of the attribute "authoritativeLevel" (inherited from Local_Item) of this Local_Registered_Ontology_
Whole has to be "lessThanOrEqualTo" the value of the attribute "authoritativeLevel" (inherited from
Local_Item) of the Local_Registered_Ontology_Component that is the value of the reference
“consistsOfLocal” of this Local_Registered_Ontology_Whole.
NOTE It is good practice that a Local_Registered_Ontology_Whole consists of some Reference_Registered_
Ontology_Components as it evolves.
10 © ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved

5.4.9 Ontology_Component
Ontology_Component is an abstract metaclass that is a collectively exhaustive SuperClass of Registered_
Ontology_Component.
Attribute DataType Multiplicity Description
namespace String 1.1 IRI where the value of the sentenceIdentifier is
uniquely identified
sentenceIdentifier String 1.1 Identifier of the corresponding sentence within the
namespace
Constraints
a) The value of the attribute “sentenceIdentifier” prefixed by the value of the attribute “namespace” has to be
unique in this metaclass.
b) The value of the attribute “sentenceIdentifier” prefixed by the value of the attribute “namespace” has to
identify the corresponding sentence.
5.4.10 Registered_Ontology_Component
Registered_Ontology_Component is an abstract metaclass representing a sentence contained in a registered
ontology that is represented by Registered_Ontology_Whole. Granularity of a sentence is not specified in this
part of the standard.
SuperClass
Administered Item (from MDR), Ontology_Component
Reference Class Multiplicity Description
sameAs Registered_ 0.* Registered_Ontology_Components representing
Ontology_ the sentence that is interpreted exactly the same
Component as the sentence represented by this Registered_
Ontology_Component
Constraints
Exists exactly one Registered_Ontology_Component_Evolution whose “newVersion” is this Registered_
Ontology_Component.
© ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved 11

5.4.11 Reference_Registered_Ontology_Component
Reference_Registered_Ontology_Component is a metaclass representing a sentence contained in a
reference registered ontology that is represented by Reference_Registered_Ontology_Whole.
SuperClass
Registered_Ontology_Component
Reference Class Multiplicity Description
usesUnregistered Unregistered_ 0.* Unregistered_Ontology_Atomic_Constructs
Ontology_ representing the non-logical symbol that is used in
Atomic_Construct the sentence represented by this Reference_
Registered_Ontology_Component
usesReference Reference_ 0.* Reference_Registered_Ontology_Atomic_
Registered_ Constructs representing the non-logical symbol that
Ontology_ is used in the sentence represented by this
Atomic_Construct Reference_Registered_Ontology_Component
Constraints
a) Exists at least one Reference_Registered_Ontology_Whole whose “consistsOfReference” is this
Reference_Registered_Ontology_Component.
b) The range of the attribute "sameAs" (inherited from Registered_Ontology_Component) has to be within
Reference_Registered_Ontology_Component.

5.4.12 Local_Registered_Ontology_Component
Local_Registered_Ontology_Component is a metaclass representing a sentence contained in a local
registered ontology that is represented by Local_Registered_Ontology_Whole.
SuperClass
Registered_Ontology_Component, Local_Item
Reference Class Multiplicity Description
usesUnregistered Unregistered_ 0.* Unregistered_Ontology_Atomic_Constructs
Ontology_ representing the non-logical symbol that is used in
Atomic_Construct the sentence represented by this Local_
Registered_Ontology_Component
usesReference Reference_ 0.* Reference_Registered_Ontology_Atomic_
Registered_ Constructs representing the non-logical symbol that
Ontology_ is used in the sentence represented by this Local_
Atomic_Construct Registered_Ontology_Component
usesLocal Local_ 0.* Local_Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Constructs
Registered_ representing the non-logical symbol that is used in
Ontology_ the sentence represented by this Local_
Atomic_Construct Registered_Ontology_Component

12 © ISO/IEC 2010 – All rights reserved

Constraints
a) Exists at least one Local_Registered_Ontology_Whole whose “authoritativeLevel” (inherited from
Local_Item) is the same as the one of this Local_Registered_Ontology_Component and whose
“consistsOfLocal” is this Local_Registered_Ontology_Component.
b) The value of the attribute "authoritativeLevel" (inherited from Local_Item) of this Local_Registered_
Ontology_Component has to be "lessThanOrEqualTo" the value of the attribute "authoritativeLevel"
(inherited from Local_Item) of the Local_Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct that is the value of the
reference “usesLocal” of this Local_Registered_Ontology_Component.
c) If a value of the attribute "sameAs" (inherited from Registered_Ontology_Component) of this Local_
Registered_Ontology_Component is an instance of Local_Registered_Ontology_Component, the value of
the attribute "authoritativeLevel" (inherited from Local_Item) of this Local_Registered_Ontology_
Component has to be "lessThanOrEqualTo" the value of the attribute "authoritativeLevel" (inherited from
Local_Item) of the instance of Local_Registered_Ontology_Component.
NOTE It is good practice that a Local_Registered_Ontology_Component uses some Reference_Registered_
Ontology_Atomic_Constructs as it evolves
5.4.13 Ontology_Atomic_Construct
Ontology_Atomic_Construct is an abstract metaclass that is a collectively exhaustive SuperClass of
Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct and Unregistered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct.
Attribute DataType Multiplicity Description
namespace String 1.1 IRI where the corresponding non-logical symbol is
uniquely identified
nonLogicalSymbol String 1.1 The corresponding non-logical symbol
Constraints
The value of the attribute “nonLogicalSymbol” prefixed by the value of the attribute “namespace” has to be
unique in this metaclass.
5.4.14 Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct
Registered_Ontology_Atomic_Construct is an abs
...