ISSUE-150: question on formal semantics of role in wasGeneratedBy relation

question on formal semantics of role in wasGeneratedBy relation

State:

CLOSED

Product:

prov-dm

Raised by:

Stephan Zednik

Opened on:

2011-11-14

Description:

I am slightly confused about the formal semantics of the role qualifier in a wasGeneratedBy relation.

from http://www.w3.org/TR/prov-dm/#prov-dm-overview

"Qualifiers can be associated to relations, namely use and wasGeneratedBy, in order to further characterize their nature. Role is a pre-defined qualifier."

and from http://www.w3.org/TR/prov-dm/#expression-qualifier

"The PROV data model introduces the qualifier role in the PROV-DM namespace to denote the function of a characterized thing with respect to an activity, in the context of a use/generation/control relation. The value associated with a role attribute must be conformant with Literal."

I have sensed confusion in the prov-o discussions as to whether the role in a generation is played by the process execution or the generated entity. Can a generated entity play a role in the activity that generates it? Can a process execution play a role, that is be the characterized thing that has a function in an activity? Does the definition of role need to be changed?

I know discussion of role has taken up a lot of time, this sure has turned out to be a tricky issue, but I think getting qualifiers right is worth it.

There is an example in the primer, http://dvcs.w3.org/hg/prov/raw-file/default/primer/Primer.html#roles-1, but I am not sure if it is representative of the intent for role on a generation relation.

ex1:aggregated
prov:hadQualifiedGeneration [ a prov:Generation ;
prov:hadQualifiedEntity ex1:aggregate1 ;
prov:hadRole ex1:aggregatedData
] .

--Stephan

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Related emails:

1. Re: PROV-ISSUE-150: question on formal semantics of role in wasGeneratedBy relation [Formal Semantics] (from zednis@rpi.edu on 2011-12-21)
2. Re: PROV-ISSUE-150: question on formal semantics of role in wasGeneratedBy relation [Formal Semantics] (from simon.miles@kcl.ac.uk on 2011-12-21)
3. Re: PROV-ISSUE-150: question on formal semantics of role in wasGeneratedBy relation [Formal Semantics] (from L.Moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk on 2011-12-21)
4. Re: PROV-ISSUE-150: question on formal semantics of role in wasGeneratedBy relation [Formal Semantics] (from lebot@rpi.edu on 2011-11-22)
5. PROV-ISSUE-150: question on formal semantics of role in wasGeneratedBy relation [Formal Semantics] (from sysbot+tracker@w3.org on 2011-11-14)

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