Human Markup Language Requirements

Working Draft 01, 31 March 2002

Document identifier:
Working-Draft-HumanMarkupTC-HumanML-Requirements-01(HTML),

Location:
http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/humanmarkup/documents/HM.Requirements.html

Editor:
Rex Brooks rexb@starbourne.com>

Contributors:
Ranjeeth Kumar Thunga rkthunga@humanmarkup.org
Joseph W. Norris jwnorris@humamarkup.org
Rob Nixon rnixon@qdyn.com
Complete list available in Appendix A

Abstract:

This document specifies the formal Requirements for the Base Primary Human Markup Language Schema, the process for revising the Base Primary Schema and creating the currently planned and as yet unplanned Secondary Human Markup Schemata.

Status:

This is a Working Draft.
The design of HumanML covers a large scope of possible applications. This Requirements Document is designed in the expectation that this document, the Primary Base Human Markup Language Schema and Secondary Human Markup Language Schemata, will be modified as needed.

This document is normative as of the date it is adopted by the OASIS HumanMarkup Technical Committee.

If you have comments about this document, please send them to Ranjeeth Kumar Thunga rkthunga@humanmarkup.org

Copyright © 2002 The Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards [OASIS]

Table of Contents

1. Terminology
2. Classification
3. Existing Standards
4. Process Requirements
5. Compatibility
6. Extensibility
7. Modularity
8. Trust/Digital Signatures

Appendixes

A. OASIS HumanMarkup Technical Committee
B. Notices
   References

1. Terminology

For the purposes of clarity, we offer these definitions for terms we use in general and which may appear in this document but are not specific to this document:

Human Markup Language (compound term with separated words with Upper and Lower case characters as shown) = the XML-based, special-purpose computer networking language specification itself and all of its associated modules and sub-specifications.

HumanML(compound term with Upper and Lower case characters as shown) = the Human Markup Language Specification.

HumanMarkup (compound term with Upper and Lower Case characters as shown) = the collective effort to build the Human Markup Language, also used for similar purposes in the name of the OASIS HumanMarkup Technical Committee.

The rules below mark the end of the definitions of compound-word, abbreviated, general use HumanMarkup terms.

The following terminology is used specifically for and throughout this document, without any claims of applicability outside it.

When capitalized the key words must, must not, required, shall, shall not, should, should not, recommended, may, and optional in this document are to be interpreted as described in [RFC 2119].

HUMAN
When capitalized, as above, this term is defined as what the HumanMarkup Initiative aims to encapsulate into HumanML. Used thus, this term applies to humankind, i.e.HUMAN individuals, HUMAN thought, HUMAN activities.

"human"
When enclosed in double quote marks without capitalization, as above, this term is defined as an individual entity in a digital environment that may represent a [sometime-] living human being with the rights and privileges granted to a "human" or else to a software AGENT acting as a "human."

DEVELOPER(S)
When capitalized, as above, this term is defined as software developer(s), software engineer(s), or software programmer(s) who build an application that utilizes HumanML.

USER(S) When capitalized, as above, this term is defined as one or more consumer(s) of HumanML applications.

Note: Unless specifically stated otherwise (as in RDF Schema), the use of the word 'schema' in all of its variations refers to XML Schema because this intended as an XML extension.

2. Classification

Primary and Secondary Schemata

This document distinguishes the Basic HumanMarkup Schema as the Primary Base Human Markup Language XML Schema and subsequent modules as Secondary Human Markup Language XML Schemata. Primary Schema and Secondary Schemata represent categories for distinguishing between Schemata of the fundamental or extended domain, respectively. All Secondary Schemata are capable of engendering and containing further modules which can be classified as derivative or submodules as appropriate, but which may always be seen as existing in the Secondary grouping on an equal footing.

The Primary Base Human Markup Language XML Schema MUST contain the Elements and Attributes to describe a basic or fundamental set of characteristics of HUMAN entities and HUMAN activities as they occur in digital information systems. In keeping with the charter of the OASIS HumanMarkup Technical Committee, which states that the aim of HumanML is to "enhance the fidelity of human communication," this schema SHOULD specifically address the HUMAN activity of communication.

The Primary Base Human Markup Language XML Schema MUST contain the Elements and Attributes from which the Secondary Human Markup Language XML Schemata can be formulated as extensions. Secondary Schemata exist in the Secondary grouping on an equal footing.

If the Primary Base Human Markup Language XML Schema does not contain the Elements and Attributes from which a specific Secondary Human Markup Language XML Schema can be written, those elements and attributes necessary to produce the specific Secondary HumanML XML Schema MUST be added to the Primary Base HumanML XML Schema.

Therefore, a mechanism, method or means to add Elements and Attributes to the Primary Base HumanML XML Schema MUST be constructed and approved.

When this mechanism, method or means is approved, it should added here:

(Mechansim, Method or Means of Adding Elements and Attributes to the Primary Base HumanML XML Schema)

The specific Secondary Human Markup Language Schemata that are currently planned or anticipated are:

  • Cultural Schemata;
  • Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence Schemata;
  • Human Physical Characteristics Description Markup Language Schema;
  • Conflict Resolution and Diplomatic Communications Schemata;
  • Various Schemata related to Human Profiling in terms of preferences and behavior tracking
  • Various Schemata related to Human Psychology.


It is noted that this is a partial list only.

3. Existing Standards

The Primary Base Human Markup Language Schema will be based on:
XML 1.0, http://www.w3c.org/TR/2000/REC-xml-20001006
XML Namespaces, http://www.w3c.org/TR/1999/REC-xml-names-19990114/and
XML Schema http://www.w3.org/TR/xmlschema-1/ http://www.w3.org/TR/xmlschema-2/

The OASIS HumanMarkup Technical Committee SHALL also provide for an RDF Schema to represent the same elements and attributes of the Primary Base HumanML and Secondary HumanML XML Schemata but in RDF terms.

4. Process Requirements

The Primary Base HumanML and Secondary HumanML Schemata SHALL be produced in accordance with OASIS principles and policies with regard to open, public standards processes and IPR.

For TC process requirements refer to http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/process.shtml

For IPR policy refer to http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/

The OASIS HumanMarkup Technical Committee reserves the right to require further restrictions upon the use of its recommended specifications for the purpose of proprietary licensing of applications including such specifications if said use in any way constrains further use of Human Markup Language Specifications. Specifically, we wish to make it clear that an application which uses a Human Markup Language Specification for any application with a modification that renders that or any unmodified specification obsolete or unusable in whole or in part SHOULD NOT be allowed.

When and where possible, feedback from DEVELOPERS and USERS SHOULD be sought to improve the usability of all HumanML specifications.

5. Compatibility

HumanML MUST conform to XML syntax and rules.

Terseness SHOULD be sought. This is to be considered a guiding principle. By adopting this principle as a requirement at this level of commitment, the OASIS HumanMarkup Technical Committee aims to ensure greater compatibility through a lack of unnecessary complexity.

6. Extensibility

The Primary Base HumanML and Secondary HumanML Schemata MUST be extensible.

7. Modularity

HumanML SHALL be organized into a Primary Base HumanML Schema and Secondary HumanML Schemata. All Schemata SHALL be considered modules. All HumanML modules MUST be interoperable with each other, as well as with such standards as SHALL be so designated.

The Primary Base HumanML Schema MUST be designed to include a HumanIdentifier Element that is compatible with and interoperable with the U.S. Federal Government standards, standards accepted by a majority of Public Safety Institutions, Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement practices, HR-XML specifications, American Medical Association standards and any standards so designated by the OASIS HumanMarkup Technical Committee. Thus, all HumanML modules SHOULD be compatible with and interoperable with these standards and recommended practices.

8. Trust/Digital Signatures

All HumanML Schemata, including RDF Schemata, SHALL recognize XML Digital Signatures and SHALL be constructed to comply with such Trust and Security specifications as shall be deemed necessary by the OASIS HumanMarkup Technical Committee.

Appendix A. OASIS HumanMarkup Technical Committee

The following individuals helped in the formulation of this document:

Appendix B. Notices

Copyright © The Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards [OASIS] 2001, 2002. All Rights Reserved.

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References

Normative

[RFC 2119] IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). RFC 2119: Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels.S. Bradner. 1997.

[XSLT] James Clark, editor. XSL Transformations (XSLT) Version 1.0. World Wide Web Consortium, 1999.

[XSL] Sharon Adler, Anders Berglund, Jeff Caruso, et. al., editors. Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) Version 1.0.World Wide Web Consortium, 2001.

Non-Normative

[PDF] Adobe Systems, Incorporated, editor. PDF Reference, Third Edition, Version 1.4. Addison Wesley. 0-201-75839-3. 2001.