Overview
ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006 - "Information technology - CDIF semantic metamodel - Part 3: Data definitions" defines the data definitions subject area of the CDIF (CASE Data Interchange Format) semantic metamodel. It documents the primitive data types, structured-data objects, meta-objects, meta-attributes and meta-relationships used to express data with an agreed meaning when tools exchange information using CDIF. The standard supports consistent interpretation of transferred data and serves as a foundation for data components in other CDIF subject-area standards.
Key Topics
- Primitive and complex DataTypes: definitions for basic, exact/approximate numeric, string, binary, temporal, complex and void/unknown types.
- Structured data objects: meta-entities for aggregates, arrays, pointers, qualifiers and refined/qualified data types.
- Value domains and constraints: ValueDomain, ValueDomainRange, ValueDomainEnumeration, ValueDomainRule and ValueDomainGroup to constrain permissible values.
- Units and measurement: Units associated with numeric types to support semantic clarity of measured quantities.
- Computable values and formats: specification of computable languages and formats for representing computable values (e.g., functions or expressions used in constraints).
- General structuring mechanism: DefinitionObject / ComponentObject patterns, meta-relationships and attribution models to reuse and share data definitions.
- Conformance rules: input, output and round‑trip conformance types to guide implementers and ensure interoperable exchanges.
- Documentation artifacts: meta-entity and meta-relationship definitions, diagrams and tables to aid implementers.
Applications and Who Uses It
ISO/IEC 15476-3:2006 is intended for:
- Tool vendors and integrators developing CDIF importers/exporters to ensure semantic interoperability.
- System architects and data modelers who need well-defined primitive types and structured-data building blocks for tool-to-tool exchanges.
- Evaluators and standards adopters assessing CDIF suitability for enterprise or engineering toolchains.
- Software engineers implementing data conversion, model transformation and round-trip synchronization between CASE tools.
Practical uses include exchanging model and metadata between CASE tools, defining portable data schemas, validating transferred values against value domains, and ensuring units and numeric semantics are preserved.
Related Standards
- ISO/IEC 15476 (CDIF family) - other parts of the CDIF semantic metamodel
- Normative references cited in the standard include ISO/IEC 15474-1 and ISO/IEC 13238-1 (as referenced in the document)
Keywords: ISO/IEC 15476-3, CDIF semantic metamodel, data definitions, primitive data types, value domain, data typing, conformance, importers exporters, structured data, units.
