Re: PROV-ISSUE-223 (definition-of-entity): What is the definition of entity [prov-dm]

For what it's worth, this would align with the Basic Formal Ontology
definition of Entity:

Entity is a Continuent or Occurrent.

Continuent: An entity [bfo:Entity] that exists in full at any time in which
it exists at all, persists through time while maintaining its identity and
has no temporal parts.

Occurrent: An entity [bfo:Entity] that has temporal parts and that happens,
unfolds or develops through time. Sometimes also called perdurants.

Jim

On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 5:41 PM, Luc Moreau <L.Moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk> wrote:

> **
> All,
>
> We are now defining entity as follows:
>
> *An entity is a thing one wants to provide provenance for. For the
> purpose of this specification, things can be physical, digital, conceptual,
> or otherwise; things may be real or imaginary.*
>
> Unfortunately, we also provide provenance for activities, etc.
> Last week, we agreed we could query the provenance of anything that was
> identifiable.
>
> So, the definition of entity is too broad.
> How should it be revised?  Can reviewers think about it?
>
> Regards,
> Luc
>
>
> On 19/01/12 09:15, Provenance Working Group Issue Tracker wrote:
>
> PROV-ISSUE-223 (definition-of-entity): What is the definition of entity [prov-dm]
> http://www.w3.org/2011/prov/track/issues/223
>
> Raised by: Luc Moreau
> On product: prov-dm
>
> The prov-dm documents has some form of definition for entity [1] and entity record [2] (likewise, activity [5] and activity record [6]).
>
> Recent discussions indicate that the definitions are not rigorous enough, and subject to too much interpretation.
>
> Indications that an entity can potentially characterize multiple things [3], or that an entity is a class definition [4] are examples of the breadth of interpretation.
>
> The WG should aim to refine these definitions.
>
> [1]http://dvcs.w3.org/hg/prov/raw-file/default/model/ProvenanceModel.html#concept-entity
> [2] http://dvcs.w3.org/hg/prov/raw-file/default/model/ProvenanceModel.html#record-Entity
> [3] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-prov-wg/2012Jan/0213.html
> [4]http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-prov-wg/2012Jan/0219.html
> [5]http://dvcs.w3.org/hg/prov/raw-file/default/model/ProvenanceModel.html#concept-activity
> [6]http://dvcs.w3.org/hg/prov/raw-file/default/model/ProvenanceModel.html#record-Activity
>
>
>
>


-- 
Jim McCusker
Programmer Analyst
Krauthammer Lab, Pathology Informatics
Yale School of Medicine
james.mccusker@yale.edu | (203) 785-6330
http://krauthammerlab.med.yale.edu

PhD Student
Tetherless World Constellation
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
mccusj@cs.rpi.edu
http://tw.rpi.edu