Discussion-Paper: A Logical Interpretation of RDF

In order to capture the precise meaning of RDF we tried to express
the concepts and constraints of the RDF model in first-order logic (FOL).

The discussion paper: "A Logical Interpretation of RDF" Wolfram Conen
and Reinhold Klapsing can be accessed at:

http://nestroy.wi-inf.uni-essen.de/rdf/logical_interpretation.ps
(Postscript-Format)
http://nestroy.wi-inf.uni-essen.de/rdf/logical_interpretation.pdf
(PDF-Format)
http://nestroy.wi-inf.uni-essen.de/rdf/logical_interpretation/index.html
(HTML-Format)

and contains the facts and rules we found. A SiLRI-conform datalog
formulation of the rules and facts is also contained. 

Our approach tries to separate clearly between the level of
representation (triples) and the level of knowledge (instanceOf,
Resource, statements, predicates to express constraint violations
etc.), avoids asserting negated facts, and discusses a way to utilize
the rules in applications. 

A summary of motivation and key aspects is included on the title
page of the paper. We really invite interested readers to have a look
at it and to send us their comments.

With the hope for lively discussions, 

Reinhold and Wolfram


Abstract:

The Resource Description Framework (RDF) is intended to be used to
capture and express the conceptual structure of information offered in
the Web. Interoperability is considered to be an important enabler of
future web applications. While XML supports syntactic interoperability, 
RDF is aimed at semantic interoperability. Interoperability is only 
given if different users/agents interpret an RDF data model in the same
way. Important aspects of the RDF model are, however, expressed in prose
which may lead to misunderstandings. To avoid this, capturing the intended
semantics of RDF in first-order logic might be a valuable contribution and
may provide RDF with a formalization allowing its full exploitation as a
key ingredient of the evolving semantic Web. This paper tries to express
the concepts and constraints of the RDF model in first-order logic.

Received on Saturday, 26 August 2000 06:28:07 UTC