UKOLN - Projects - IEMSR - Model for LOM Application Profile (LOMAP)

1. Introduction

A LOM Application Profile (LOMAP) is a specification of how the information model described by the IEEE LOM standard is adopted to the requirements of a particular metadata application. It specifies which LOM data elements are used, provides information on how they are interpreted in the context of the application, and describes constraints on their occurrence. A LOMAP may specify the use of vocabularies to provide values for LOM data elements where the dataype in the LOM standard permits it, and it may specify taxonomies and classification schemes for use for specified "purposes" with the LOM Classification data element.

A LOMAP may use both LOM data elements defined by the LOM standard and extended data elements.

2. Definitions

a LOM data element is a data element defined in the IEEE LOM standard
an aggregate LOM data element is a LOM data element that contains one or more other LOM data elements. (A LOM category is a type of LOM aggregate data element).
a simple LOM data element is a LOM data element that does not contain other LOM data elements.
Aggregate LOM data elements do not have individual values; only simple data LOM data elements have individual values.
A simple LOM data element is associated with a LOM datatype. A LOM datatype is a property of distinct values, indicating features of those values and operations on those values
A simple LOM data element may be associated with a value space. A value space is a set of values for a given datatype. A value space specified by the LOM standard is either
- a reference to another standard
- a LOM vocabulary
a LOM vocabulary is a list of vocabulary values specified by the LOM standard
a LOM simple data element may be mapped to an RDF property [Note: I don't think this is sufficient: a LOM instance describes multiple resources, and a single RDF property may be used in the description of several resources. I think any mapping has to take this into account. The only way I can see this working is to do something like the SHAME editor does and to specify the form of the RDF graph by a query and to map between the relevant LOM tree components to the relevant parts of the graph.]

Figure 1: LOM Conceptual Model

3. LOM Application Profiles and LOM Data Element Usages

A LOMAP is a set of data element usages.

A data element usage

must use one data element. That data element may be
- a LOM data element; or
- an extended data element (a data element not defined in the IEEE LOM standard)
may provide additional documentation on how the data element is interpreted in the context of this application;
may specify obligation for the data element (whether it is mandatory, optional, conditional)
may specify permitted number of occurrences for the data element

An XML LOMAP is a simple XML document representing a LOMAP as a hierarchical structure.

Figure 2: LOM Application Profile

In addition to the occurrence/obligation constraints and the documentation described above, a data element usage that references a LOM simple data element

must not change the datatype of the LOM simple data element

A data element usage that references a LOM data element assocaited with the Vocabulary datatype

may extend the value space of the LOM simple data element, by allowing values from one or more non-LOM vocabularies. Where such non-LOM vocabularies are used, they must be used in addition to the LOM vocabulary specified in the LOM standard. Values in a non-LOM vocabulary must not duplicate values in that LOM vocabulary.

A data element usage that references the LOM Classification data element

must specify a purpose for the classification (from the LOM standard vocabulary)
may specify the use of one or more taxonomies for that specified purpose of classification

Entity-Relation model for LOM element usage

Figure 3: LOM Element Usage

Extended data elements are defined outside the LOM standard. Extended data elements may be aggregate data elements or simple data elements.

In addition to the occurrence/obligation constraints and the documentation described above, a data element usage that references an extended simple data element

must specify a datatype for the extended simple data element [Note: I'm not sure whether this has to be a datatype from the LOM standard, and if it isn't how/where those datatypes are defined]
may specify a value space for the extended simple data element, by
- a reference to another standard
- a non-LOM vocabulary

Entity-Relation model for LOM extended element usage

Figure 4: Extended Element Usage

4. LOM Application Profiles and Bindings

A LOMAP may be associated with one or more binding schemas that describe the structure of a metadata record conforming to the LOMAP.

5. Entities and their attributes/relationships

Note: the tables include suggestions for Classes and Properties to be used in an RDF representation of the model. The names of Classes and Properties are recorded as QNames. The prefixes are assumed to be associated with Namespace Names as follows:

dc: http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
dcterms: http://purl.org/dc/terms/
dcmitype: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/
rdf: http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#
rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#
xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#
iemsr: to be confirmed http://example.org/iemsr/terms/?

5.1 Schema Document

An Schema Document is a document containing a machine-readable description of the LOM Data Element Set, a LOM Application Profile, a non-LOM Vocabulary or an Extended Data Element Set.

The text content of each Schema Document is in exactly one language; to provide descriptions of a LOMAP in multiple languages, separate Schema Documents are required.

Class: iemsr:SchemaDocument

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
Identifier	A URI Reference which identifies the schema document		1	1	URI Reference
Title	A title for the schema document	dc:title	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Description	A description of the schema document	dc:description	0	1	Literal, xsd:string
Language	The language of the text content of the schema document	dc:language	1	1	dcterms:RFC3066
Date modified	The date on which this schema document was last modified	dcterms:modified	1	1	dcterms:W3CDTF
Publisher	An agency that publishes this schema document	dc:publisher	1	unbounded	iemsr:Agency

5.2 Agency

An Agency is an entity responsible for managing one or more LOM Application Profiles, non-LOM Vocabularies or Taxonomies.

Class: iemsr:Agency

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
Identifier	A URI Reference which identifies the agency		1	1	URI Reference
Name	The name of the agency	iemsr:label	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Description	A description of the agency	iemsr:comment	0	1	Literal, xsd:string
Home Page	A human-readable document that provides more information about the agency	iemsr:seeAlso	0	1	iemsr:Text Document

5.3 LOM Data Element

A LOM data element is a data element defined in the IEEE LOM standard.

Class: iemsr:LOMDataElement

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
Identifier	A URI Reference which identifies the LOM Data Element		1	1	URI Reference
Number	A number by which LOM data element is referenced (specified by the LOM standard)	iemsr:refNumber	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Name	A name by which LOM data element is referenced (specified by the LOM standard)	rdfs:label	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Description	The definition of the LOM data element	rdfs:comment	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Size	The number of values of the LOM data element allowed	iemsr:size	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Order	Whether the order of values of the LOM data element is significant	iemsr:order	1	1	Literal, xsd:boolean
Is Child Of	The aggregate LOM data element of which this LOM data element a child	iemsr:isChildOf	1	1	*iemsr:LOMDataElement*

5.3.1 Simple LOM Data Element

A Simple LOM data element is a LOM data element that does not contain other LOM data elements.

Class: iemsr:SimpleLOMDataElement

In addition to the attributes of a LOM data element:

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
Value Space	A set of allowed values for the LOM data element	iemsr:valueSpace	1	1	*iemsr:LOMValueSpace*
Datatype	The datatype for the LOM data element	iemsr:datatype	1	1	*iemsr:LOMDatatype*
Example	An example of the use of the LOM data element	iemsr:example	0	1	Literal, xsd:string
Maps to Property	An indication of how the LOM data element maps to an RDF graph using the LOM RDF binding	iemsr:mapsTo	0	1	*rdf:Property*

5.4 LOM Value Space

Class: iemsr:LOMValueSpace

5.4.1 Standard Value Space

Class: iemsr:StandardValueSpace

URI ref	Label	Value Name	Description
http://example.org/iemsr/terms/StandardValueSpace/ISO10646-1	ISO10646-1	ISO10646-1	Repertoire of ISO/IEC 10646-1:2000.
http://example.org/iemsr/terms/StandardValueSpace/LanguageID	LanguageID	LanguageID	LanguageID
http://example.org/iemsr/terms/StandardValueSpace/MIME	MIME Types	MIME	MIME Types
http://example.org/iemsr/terms/StandardValueSpace/vCard	vCard	vCard	vCard

5.4.2 Vocabulary

Class: iemsr:Vocabulary

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
Identifier	A URI Reference which identifies the LOM Vocabulary		1	1	URI Reference
Name	A name by which Vocabulary is referenced	iemsr:name	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Description	A description of the Vocabulary	rdfs:comment	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
VDEX	A VDEX document that describes the Vocabulary	iemsr:hasVDEX	0	1	iemsr:VDEX Document
Is Described In	A schema document that describes this Vocabulary	rdfs:isDefinedBy	1	unbounded	iemsr:Schema Document

5.4.2.1 LOM Vocabulary

A LOM Vocabulary is a Vocabulary defined by the LOM standard as constraining the value space for a LOM Data Element.

Class: iemsr:LOMVocabulary

5.4.2.2 Non-LOM Vocabulary/Taxonomy

A Non-LOM Vocabulary/Taxonomy is a Vocabulary defined externally to the LOM standard and used to extend the value space for a LOM Data Element.

Class: iemsr:NonLOMVocabulary

In addition to the attributes of a Vocabulary:

Version	An indicator of the version of the Non-LOM Vocabulary	iemsr:version	0	1	Literal, xsd:string
Status	An indicator of the status of the Non-LOM Vocabulary	iemsr:status	0	1	*iemsr:VocabStatus*
Specification/Guidelines	A human-readable document that provides more information about the Non-LOM Vocabulary	iemsr:seeAlso	0	unbounded	iemsr:Text Document
Administrator	An agency that manages and makes available the Non-LOM vocabulary	dc:publisher	1	unbounded	*iemsr:Agency*

5.5 Vocabulary Value

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
Identifier	A URI Reference which identifies the Vocabulary Value		1	1	URI Reference
Label	A human-readable label assigned to the vocabulary value	rdfs:label	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Status	An indicator of the status of the vocabulary value	iemsr:status	0	1	*iemsr:TermStatus*
Description	A description of the vocabulary value	rdfs:comment	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Specification/Guidelines	A human-readable document that provides more information about the vocabulary value	iemsr:seeAlso	0	unbounded	iemsr:Text Document
Is Value In	The vocabulary of which this value is a member term	rdf:type (if Vocabularies declared as Classes) or iemsr:isMemberOf?	1	1	iemsr: Vocabulary
Is Described In	A schema document that describes this LOM Vocabulary	rdfs:isDefinedBy	1	unbounded	iemsr:Schema Document

5.6 LOM Datatype

A LOM datatype is a datatype defined in the IEEE LOM standard:

CharacterString
LangString
DateTime
Duration
LangString
Vocabulary

Class: iemsr:LOMDatatype

URI ref	Label	Value Name	Description
http://example.org/iemsr/terms/LOMDatatype/CharacterString	Character String	CharacterString	A character string.
http://example.org/iemsr/terms/LOMDatatype/LangString	LangString	LangString	A language-qualified string.
http://example.org/iemsr/terms/LOMDatatype/DateTime	DateTime	DateTime	A date or a point in time.
http://example.org/iemsr/terms/LOMDatatype/Duration	Duration	Duration	A duration or a period of time.
http://example.org/iemsr/terms/LOMDatatype/Vocabulary	Vocabulary	Vocabulary	Vocabulary.

5.7 LOM Application Profile

A LOM Application Profile (LOMAP) is a specification of how the information model described by the IEEE LOM standard is adopted to the requirements of a particular metadata application. It specifies which LOM data elements are used, provides information on how they are interpreted in the context of the application, and describes constraints on their occurrence. A LOMAP may specify the use of vocabularies to provide values for LOM data elements where the dataype in the LOM standard permits it, and it may specify taxonomies and classification schemes for use for specified "purposes" with the LOM Classification data element. A LOMAP is a set of data element usages managed as a coherent unit by an agency.

In phase 1 of the IEMSR, data element usages must reference LOM Data Elements.

Class: iemsr:LOMAP

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
Identifier	A URI Reference which identifies the LOM application profile		1	1	URI Reference
Title	The name or title of the LOM application profile	dc:title	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Version	An indicator of the version of the LOM application profile	iemsr:version	0	1	Literal, xsd:string
Status	An indicator of the status of the LOM application profile	iemsr:status	0	1	*iemsr:VocabStatus*
Description	A summary of the scope and purpose of the LOM application profile	dc:description	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Specification/Guidelines	A human-readable document that provides more information about the LOM application profile	iemsr:seeAlso	0	unbounded	iemsr:Text Document
Administrator	An agency that manages and makes available the LOM application profile	dc:publisher	1	unbounded	*iemsr:Agency*
Is Expressed By	A binding schema used to structure metadata records conforming to this LOM application profile	iemsr: isExpressedBy	0	unbounded	*iemsr:BindingSchema*
Is Described In	A schema document that describes this LOM application profile	rdfs:isDefinedBy	1	unbounded	iemsr:Schema Document

5.8 LOM Data Element Usage

A Data Element Usage is a description of how a LOM data element is deployed in the context of a LOM application.

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
URI Reference	A URI Reference which identifies the property usage		1	1	URI Reference
Uses LOM Data Element	A LOM data element which is used in this LOM Application Profile	iemsr:uses	1	1	*iemsr:LOMDataElement*
Status	An indicator of the status of the LOM Data Element usage.	iemsr:status	1	1	*iemsr:TermStatus*
Comment/Usage Note	Additional information about the LOM Data Element or its use specific to this LOM Application Profile	dc:description	0	1	Literal, xsd:string
Specification/Guidelines	A human-readable document that provides more information about the LOM Data Element usage	iemsr:seeAlso	0	unbounded	iemsr:Text Document
Obligation	An indication of whether this LOM data element is required to occur in a LOM instance conforming to this LOM Application Profile	iemsr:obligation	1	1	*iemsr:Obligation*
Condition	A description of the condition or conditions according to which this LOM data element should be present in a LOM instance conforming to this LOM Application Profile	iemsr:condition	0	1	Literal, xsd:string
Is Member Of	The LOM Application Profile of which this LOM Data Element usage is a member	iemsr:isMemberOf	1	1	*iemsr:DCAP*

5.8.1 Simple Vocabulary LOM Data Element Usage

A usage of a Simple LOM Data Element with Vocabulary datatype.

In addition to the attributes of a LOM data element usage:

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
Extends Value Space By	A vocabulary not defined in the LOM standard which provides values for the LOM data element to be used in addition to the LOM vocabulary	iemsr:extendsValueSpace	0	unbounded	iemsr: NonLOM Vocabulary

5.8.2 LOM Classification Data Element Usage

In addition to the attributes of a LOM data element usage:

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
Classification Purpose	The purpose for the classification, from the LOM classification-purpose vocabulary	iemsr: classPurpose	1	1	*LOM Classification-Purpose Vocabulary*
Taxonomy	The taxonomy to be used for the classification	iemsr: classTaxonomy	1	1	*Non-LOM Vocabulary/Taxonomy*

5.9 Extended Data Element

To be implemented in phase 2

5.10 Binding Schema

A Binding Schema is a document containing a machine-readable description of how to structure a metadata record conforming to a LOM Application Profile.

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
Identifier	A URI Reference which identifies the binding schema		1	1	URI Reference
Type	The type of the binding schema	dc:type	1	1	iemsr:Binding SchemaType
Title	A title for the binding schema	dc:title	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Version	An indicator of the version of the binding schema	iemsr:version	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Date modified	The date on which this binding schema was last modified	dcterms:modified	1	1	dcterms:W3CDTF
Status	An indicator of the status of the binding schema	iemsr:status	0	1	iemsr:VocabStatus
Description	A description of the binding schema	dc:description	0	1	Literal, xsd:string
Specification/Guidelines	A human-readable document that provides more information about the binding schema	iemsr:seeAlso	0	unbounded	iemsr:Text Document
Publisher	An agency that manages and makes available this binding schema	dc:publisher	1	unbounded	*iemsr:Agency*

5.11 VDEX Document

A VDEX Document is a machine-readable description of a Non-LOM Vocabulary or Taxonomy, structured according to the IMS VDEX specification,

Class: iemsr:VDEXDocument

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
Identifier	A URI Reference which identifies the binding schema		1	1	URI Reference
Title	A title for the document	dc:title	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Description	A description of the content of the document	dc:description	0	1	Literal, xsd:string

5.12 TextDocument

A TextDocument is a document containing text intended for a human reader,

Class: iemsr:TextDocument

Attribute Name	Definition	Property Name	Min Occurs	Max Occurs	Value Space
Identifier	A URI Reference which identifies the binding schema		1	1	URI Reference
Title	A title for the document	dc:title	1	1	Literal, xsd:string
Description	A description of the content of the document	dc:description	0	1	Literal, xsd:string
Language	The language of the text content of the text document	dc:language	1	1	dcterms:RFC3066

6. Vocabularies (IEMSR)

6.5 Audience/purpose

[to be decided]

6.6 LOM Classification-Purpose Vocabulary

discipline
idea
prerequisite
educational objective
accessibility restrictions
educational level
skill level
security level
competency

7. Example

To be completed

JISC IE Metadata Schema Registry

Model for LOM Application Profile (LOMAP)