Re: Media Type Sub-Sub-types?

On Apr 5, 2010, at 1:17 AM, Nathan wrote:

> Hi All,
> 
> I've hit upon something which may be a future issue (unsure).
> 
> As the read/write web of data is realised (and assuming that RDF remains
> the primary datatype for linked data), then machines will become reliant
> on specific ontologies in some use-cases.
> 
> With XML we have things like Atom - application/atom+xml. However if
> Atom were in RDF instead, and any serialization could be used
> (n3/rdf/xml etc), then how would one create a media type for it?
> 
> Major / commonly used ontologies will arise; just as with the many
> registered ****+xml media types, there may be a need for ****+rdf but
> without the limitation of a specific serialization, or with the addition
> of multiple serializations.
> 
> Examples: Machines / Agents may wish to indicate they "Accept:" a
> specific ontology "i understand x ontology / type of data in y&z
> serializations" - perhaps foaf-onto+rdf on the client side or
> diff-onto+rdf on the server side (accept-patch).
> 
> Perhaps a non-issue, but worth mentioning I hope,

I usually address the subclassing issue (which is primarily an issue
of expressing a client side capability of expectation, IMHO) with
a profile parameter on the media type(s) in the Accept header:

Accept: application/rdf+xml;profile=http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/

The server can respond with just Content-Type: application/rdf+xml or,
if desired, with a 406 Not Acceptable if the profile 'request' cannot
be satisfied.

Jan


> 
> Many Regards,
> 
> Nathan
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

-----------------------------------
 Jan Algermissen, Consultant
 NORD Software Consulting

 Mail: algermissen@acm.org
 Blog: http://www.nordsc.com/blog/
 Work: http://www.nordsc.com/
-----------------------------------

Received on Sunday, 4 April 2010 23:28:17 UTC