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Difference between revisions of "Entity"

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== Introduction ==
 
== Introduction ==
This page defines a Higgins [[Entity]].
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It is similar to the [http://wiki.idcommons.net/index.php/Digital_Subject Identity Gang Lexicon's definition of Digital Subject] but must not be confused with the Gang's definition of Entity.
  
== Definition ==
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An [[Entity]] is a representation of an person, group, thing or concept ''within a given context.'' In Higgins the same person, group, etc. is often represented by multiple [[Entity | Entities]] in different [[Context]]s.
Higgins uses the following [http://wiki.idcommons.net/index.php/Entity Identity Gang definition of Entity], with the addition of the term "concept":
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;[[Entity]]: Person, thing, juridical entity, concept, animal or anything with separate existence.
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== Definition ==
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* A digital representation of a person, group, thing or concept within a given context. [[Entity Class]] objects and [[Attribute Definition]]s are also represented as [[Entity | Entities]].
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* Almost all [[Entity | Entities]] have a single [[EntityId]] that uniquely identifies the [[Entity]] within its containing [[Context]].
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* An [[Entity]] has one or more [[Attribute]]s.
  
This in turn is based on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entity Wikipedia definition of "Entity"].
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== Details ==
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* Some of the [[Attribute]]s of an [[Entity]] may be references to other [[Entity | Entities]] in the same or different [[Context]]s. These are called [[Entity Relation]]s. For example, an [[Entity]] representing Bob may have a "knows" [[Entity Relation]] [[Attribute]] pointing to an [[Entity]] representing Bob's friend Alice.
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* A single person (thing or concept) may be represented as one (or more) [[Entity | Entities]] in one [[Context]] and one or more other [[Entity | Entities]] in other [[Context]]s. By linking or "federating" these disparate [[Entity | Entities]] one can gain a more unified view of a given person. [[Context]]s representing different systems, organizations and entire enterprises with widely varying storage and trust models are handled using this [[Entity]] linking approach. For example the person Bob Smith could be represented as two [[Entity | Entities]] in the same or in different [[Context]]s interconnected by a [[Entity Correlation]] [[Attribute]]
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* [[Context]]s can be nested (e.g. enterprises have sub-organizations, and there are systems within an enterprise/org, etc.) or related through other means (employment/HR system vs. customer system where same person is a customer and an employee). Thus linking the [[Entity | Entities]] relevant to those contexts provides an a broader view of a [[Entity]].
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* The information contained in one [[Entity]] is not necessarily a pure subset of the union of all of the information contained in all of the linked [[Entity | Entities]] representing a person taken together. There is no consistency constraint imposed between the [[Entity | Entities]] of an person. For example, a person could be represented such that their name was Joe in one [[Entity]] in one [[Context]] and JoAnn in another [[Entity]] in another [[Context]].
  
== Notes ==
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== Entity Classes ==
* Although other Higgins [[Concepts]] (specifically, [[Node Correlation]]) refer to the concept of [[Entity]], [[Entity]] is an abstract part of the [[Higgins Data Model]] and is not modeled directly.
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Each [[Context]] has an associated ontology/schema. This schema must import and build on the terms in [[higgins.owl 1.1]]. Within this ontology the [[Context]] can define its own Entity Classes and Attribute Classes. When defining an Entity class, the class definition can place restrictions on the cardinality of [[Attribute]] types also defined in the ontology. A given Entity subclass:
* Potentially many distinct, contextualized digital representations of an [[Entity]] exist simultaneously. Each of these representations is called a [[I-Node]]; each [[Node]] exists within a specific [[Context]].
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* MAY define the minimum cardinality of an [[Attribute]] type, that is, the minimum number of values allowed (e.g. >=3 values)
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* MAY define the maximum cardinality of an [[Attribute]] type, that is, the maximum number of values allowed (e.g. <=100 values)
  
[[Category:Higgins Global Graph 1.l]]
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[[Category:Context Data Model 1.1]]

Latest revision as of 19:04, 26 March 2011

{{#eclipseproject:technology.higgins|eclipse_custom_style.css}}

Higgins logo 76Wx100H.jpg


Introduction

It is similar to the Identity Gang Lexicon's definition of Digital Subject but must not be confused with the Gang's definition of Entity.

An Entity is a representation of an person, group, thing or concept within a given context. In Higgins the same person, group, etc. is often represented by multiple Entities in different Contexts.

Definition

  • A digital representation of a person, group, thing or concept within a given context. Entity Class objects and Attribute Definitions are also represented as Entities.
  • Almost all Entities have a single EntityId that uniquely identifies the Entity within its containing Context.
  • An Entity has one or more Attributes.

Details

  • Some of the Attributes of an Entity may be references to other Entities in the same or different Contexts. These are called Entity Relations. For example, an Entity representing Bob may have a "knows" Entity Relation Attribute pointing to an Entity representing Bob's friend Alice.
  • A single person (thing or concept) may be represented as one (or more) Entities in one Context and one or more other Entities in other Contexts. By linking or "federating" these disparate Entities one can gain a more unified view of a given person. Contexts representing different systems, organizations and entire enterprises with widely varying storage and trust models are handled using this Entity linking approach. For example the person Bob Smith could be represented as two Entities in the same or in different Contexts interconnected by a Entity Correlation Attribute
  • Contexts can be nested (e.g. enterprises have sub-organizations, and there are systems within an enterprise/org, etc.) or related through other means (employment/HR system vs. customer system where same person is a customer and an employee). Thus linking the Entities relevant to those contexts provides an a broader view of a Entity.
  • The information contained in one Entity is not necessarily a pure subset of the union of all of the information contained in all of the linked Entities representing a person taken together. There is no consistency constraint imposed between the Entities of an person. For example, a person could be represented such that their name was Joe in one Entity in one Context and JoAnn in another Entity in another Context.

Entity Classes

Each Context has an associated ontology/schema. This schema must import and build on the terms in higgins.owl 1.1. Within this ontology the Context can define its own Entity Classes and Attribute Classes. When defining an Entity class, the class definition can place restrictions on the cardinality of Attribute types also defined in the ontology. A given Entity subclass:

  • MAY define the minimum cardinality of an Attribute type, that is, the minimum number of values allowed (e.g. >=3 values)
  • MAY define the maximum cardinality of an Attribute type, that is, the maximum number of values allowed (e.g. <=100 values)

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