Study Group on the Revision of
the Reference Model of Open Distributed Processing
ITU-T Rec X.901-904 | ISO/IEC 10746
ISO/IEC JTC1/SC7 has established a Study Group to consider requirements for
revision of the Reference Model of Open Distributed Processing (ITU-T Rec
X.901-904 | ISO/IEC 10746). This Study Group is inviting experts to submit
proposals on requirements for revision.
The objective of ODP standardization is the development of standards that
allow the benefits of distributing information processing services to be
realized in an environment of heterogeneous IT resources and multiple
organizational domains. These standards address constraints on system
specification and the provision of a system infrastructure that accommodate
difficulties inherent in the design and programming of distributed systems.
Distributed systems are important because there is a growing need to
interconnect information processing systems. This need arises because of
organizational trends such as downsizing, which demand the exchange of
information both between groups within an organization and between cooperating
organizations. Advances in technology are making it possible to respond to these
trends by giving increasing importance to information service networks and
personal workstations, and by permitting the construction of applications
distributed across large configurations of interconnected systems.
ODP standardization has four fundamental elements:
- an object modelling approach to system specification;
- the specification of a system in terms of separate but interrelated
viewpoint specifications;
- the definition of a system infrastructure providing distribution
transparencies for system applications;
- a framework for assessing system conformance.
Scope
The Study Group is concerned with requirements for revision of the Reference
Model of Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP), which provides a framework for
ODP Standardization. The RM-ODP is the mature result of a large amount of
technical effort. The Study Group is not expected to propose major restructuring
or change, but to correct errors and take account of recent developments in the
industry, so as to maintain its broad scope. However, if it becomes apparent
during the study that there is merit in considering the standardization of
alternative frameworks based on different structuring principles, the Study
Group may recommend the establishment of new projects to that effect. In
proposing any update to the RM-ODP, the group will take into account the need to
remain consistent with existing standards based on it, such as the Enterprise
Language, the ODP Trader, the Naming Framework and the standard for Interface
References and Binding.
The objective of the study group is the elicitation and analysis of
requirements for the revision of the RM-ODP, and the preparation of a set of
recommendations to SC7 about the actions, if any, that are required.
Deliverables - RM-ODP Revision Requirements Report
The Study Group will prepare a report to present to the SC7 Plenary in May
2005. The report will document requirements submitted and the actions proposed
on them. Recommendations on actions may include:
- Proposing technical corrigenda to the existing standard;
- Proposing one (or more) new projects for the revision of the current
standard;
- Proposing one (or more) projects for the standardization, or mapping, of
alternative frameworks.
Approach
The approach of the Study Group can be summarized as follows:
- A dissemination activity, where the existence and mandate of this Study
Group will be publicized to as wide as possible an audience;
- A contribution activity, where submissions clearly identifying the
requirements, the rationale, and the proposed revisions are made;
- A collection activity, where requirements will be elicited, generated and
collected.
- An analysis activity, where requirements will be analyzed, classified and
prioritized
- A planning activity, where the rationale for action is established and
concrete steps proposed.
Submissions should be made by making an entry in the Project Folder for
P-10746-Revision of ODP Ref Model on the WG19 Website at: http://www.scc.ca/forums/int/dispatch.cgi/JTC1_SC7_WG19.
Submitters without access to the website are be invited to make submissions
by email through the convenor of
the Study Group.
Submissions should clearly identify the requirements, the rationale, and the
proposed revisions.
SC7 References
The RM ODP consists of these documents:
- ITU-T Rec. X.901 | ISO/IEC 10746-1: Overview
contains a motivational overview of ODP giving scoping, justification and
explanation of key concepts, and an outline of the ODP architecture. It
contains explanatory material on how this Reference Model is to be
interpreted and applied by its users, who may include standards writers and
architects of ODP systems. It also contains a categorization of required
areas of standardization expressed in terms of the reference points for
conformance identified in ITU-T Recommendation X.903 | ISO/IEC 10746-3. This
part is not normative.
- ITU-T Rec. X.902 | ISO/IEC 10746-2: Foundations
contains the definition of the concepts and analytical framework for
normalized description of (arbitrary) distributed processing systems. This
is only to a level of detail sufficient to support ITU-T Rec. X.903 | ISO/IEC
10746-3 and to establish requirements for new specification techniques. This
part is normative.
- ITU-T Rec. X.903 | ISO/IEC 10746-3: Architecture
contains the specification of the required characteristics that qualify
distributed processing as open. These are the constraints to which ODP
standards must conform. It uses the descriptive techniques from ITU-T Rec.
X.902 | ISO/IEC 10746-2. This part is normative.
- ITU-T Rec. X.904 | ISO 10746-4: Architectural semantics
contains a normalization of the ODP modeling concepts defined in ITU-T Rec.
X.902 | ISO/IEC 10746-2 Clauses 8 and 9. The normalization is achieved by
interpreting each concept in terms of the constructs of the different
standardized formal description
The following documents are based on the RM ODP:
- X.910 Information technology - Open Distributed Processing - Naming
framework
- X.911 Information technology - Open Distributed Processing - Enterprise
language
- X.912 Information technology - Open Distributed Processing - Use of
specification techniques
- X.920 Information technology - Open Distributed Processing - Interface
Definition Language
- X.930 Information technology - Open Distributed Processing - Interface
references and binding
- X.931 Information technology - Open Distributed Processing - Protocol
support for computational interactions
- X.950 Information technology - Open Distributed Processing - Trading
Function: Specification
- X.951 Information technology - Open Distributed Processing - Trading
Function: ICS and test cases
- X.952 Information technology - Open Distributed Processing - Trading
Function: Provision of trading function using OSI Directory service
- X.960 Information technology - Open Distributed Processing - Type
repository function
OMG References
- MDA Guide Version 1.0.1. (omg/2003-06-01)