suggested resolution ISSUE-504 (collection/bundle)

Dear Robert

Thank you for your comment. Below is the suggested resolution. Please
let us know if you are fine with it. You can find any suggested
changes in the latest editor's draft at
http://dvcs.w3.org/hg/prov/raw-file/default/model/prov-dm.html

Thanks,
Paul

ISSUE-504 (collection/bundle)

"A bundle (2.2.2) is a set of provenance descriptions, and a set is a
type of collection (2.2.3). Therefore, it follows that a bundle is a
specific type of collection (where the members of the collection are
called "descriptions", as in section 5.4). This should be stated
explicitly. Furthermore, since a bundle is a specialized collection,
the spec would read better if their order in the document was
reversed."

Original email:
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-prov-wg/2012Sep/0094.html

Tracker: http://www.w3.org/2011/prov/track/issues/504

Group Response
- It is correct that: A bundle is a named set of provenance
descriptions (2.2.2). It is also correct that section 2.2.3 indicates
that many types of collections exist, including sets. However, section
2.2.3 states: A collection is an entity that provides a structure to
some constituents, which are themselves entities.

- In PROV, provenance descriptions are not given identifiers and are
not regarded as entities. Identifiers occurring in provenance
descriptions denote "things in the world" (resources).

- To be able to talk about the provenance of PROV descriptions, the
bundle construct allows a set of descriptions to be named, and become
a "thing in the world". Such a bundle is an entity whose provenance
can then be described.

- In conclusion, a PROV bundle is not a PROV collection.

References:
- Issues on identifiers: http://www.w3.org/2011/prov/track/issues/183
         http://www.w3.org/2011/prov/track/issues/215

Suggested change: update the definition of collection as follows: A
collection is an entity that provides a structure to some constituents
that MUST themselves be entities.

Received on Thursday, 27 September 2012 19:38:41 UTC