• F2F7

F2F7

The 7th f2f was held at IBM Watson Research Center, Hawthorne, NY on Sept. 27-28. Our address is: 19 Skyline Dr. Hawthorne, NY 10532.

Registration results.

Resolutions

• RESOLVED: for BLD WD2, the root element will not be dialect specific
• RESOLVED: root element is rif:Document
• RESOLVED: To identify rules and rulesets (and other syntactic objects not otherwise having identifiers) we'll use rdf:about or rif:identifier in the next draft. This is envisioned for metadata and should not affect the semantics
• RESOLVED: In WD2 there will be no indication of whether order has semantics in XML instance documents. The issue remains open for future drafts.
• RESOLVED: In the XML syntax, we'll use full IRIs (not qnames or curies) for Const types, etc. Of course, XML entities can be used.
• RESOLVED: dialect-of-authoring is identified by an IRI, which appears in the document as an attribute rif:dialect on the root element (for WD2, until we figure out extensibility)
• RESOLVED: We will use Presentation Syntax, with minor changes, with a mapping table to the XML syntax.
• RESOLVED: BLD WD2 will have structural model diagrams (which look like UML).
• RESOLVED: Remove ASN from BLD WD2.
• RESOLVED: For WD2, change structural model so that Forall, Implies, and Atomic are three parallel subclasses of RULE (as shown on Christian's diagram labeled "BLD Rule: alternative")
• RESOLVED: The OWL Compatibility text will proceed to Last Call in sync with BLD.

Objectives

The overall objective of F2F7 is to prepare the publication of the BLD WD as early as possible in October.

This requires that we reach an agreement on a number of matters, namely (at least) :

• Agree on the language we use for the abstract syntax;

• Agree on the abstract syntax for BLD;

• Agree on the text on RDF compatibility for this WD;

• Agree on the XML syntax for BLD.

This, in turn, requires that we resolve all the issues related to these decisions.

Agenda (draft)

See required reading list below.

Day 1: 27 September

IRC Log Minutes (Draft)

• 9:00-9:30: Intro etc

• 9:30-12:30: Syntax issues (in no particular order for now)

  • Abstract syntax: BNF or ASN07 (or else)? (presenter: Sandro)
  • How many syntaxes does RIF have? (Chris)
  • BLD abstract syntax (presenter: csma)
    • Keyword parameters (aka: slotted syntax)

    • Abstract syntax for rules in BLD (conclude on alternative proposed by csma)

  • XML syntax (presenter: Sandro)
• 12:30-14:00: Lunch

• 14:00-18:00: Semantics issues (in no particular order for now)

  • External data schemas (presenter: Dave)
  • Frames (including classification) (presenter: ChrisW)
  • RDF compatibility (embed or combine)

Day 2: 28 September

IRC Log Minutes (Draft)

• 9:00-15:00: more of the same
  • Syntax
    • issues that could not be resolved on day 1
  • Semantics
    • issues that could not be resolved on day 1
  • Lower priority items (if we get there)
    • Builtins
    • Metadata
    • Lists
    • Naming conventions (presenter: Sandro)
    • Plan for document split
• 15:00-16:00: debrief and planning towards BLD WD publication
• 16:00-16:30: break

• 16:30-18:00: Next F2Fs, future of the WG, AOB

Required reading

• Editors' Working Draft of "RIF Basic Logic Dialect", Sept 21, 2007, for F2F7

• The proposed alternative abstract syntax for Horn rules

• The wiki page on XML syntax issues

• The Positive Conditions DTD and the Horn Rule DTD that were initially included in the Core draft

• The wiki page on naming conventions

• The wiki page on data sets and external data models

• List_of_functions_and_operators to be considered for BLD

Organisation

• Lodging Info: http://www.watson.ibm.com/lodging.shtml

• Additional lodging info: Yahoo hotels near Hawthorne

  • The Comfort Inn is walking distance to our building and is used frequently by visitors. I don't know anything about the Wellesley Inn except it looks dumpy from the outside.
• Cost: No registration fee, two lunches, breaks, and one group dinner included.

• Transportation info: http://www.watson.ibm.com/transportation.shtml

• Train from NY: http://www.mta.info/mnr/index.html

Hawthorne is less than an hour drive north of New York City. Trains run to nearby stations (Hawthorne or White Plains) from NYCs Grand Central Station for less than $10, requiring a further $5 taxi ride to the lab. However, train access to/from the airports is not convenient and requires about three hours. Car service to the lab from JFK is typically $80, from LGA is about $60, if you use one of the vendors listed above. If you just take a taxi from the airport, it can be much more and they only take cash. Car rental is not a bad idea, and is often cheaper than cabfare if you are only staying two days; there is plenty of parking.

The area and north is well known for fall foliage and numerous apple orchards; the foliage will certainly be changing colors at this time of year, which is another good reason to rent a car and take a drive north on the Taconic. Other than that, Hawthorne and environs are not that interesting (unless you want to visit the gravesite of Babe Ruth). For the more adventurous, it is possible to book a hotel in Manhattan and "commute" to Hawthorne each day by train or taxi - this takes about an hour and you are going against the normal rush hour flow. It would be more expensive, but clearly a lot more interesting. For those interested in this option, there are a huge number of choices - I'd recommend the Roosevelt Hotel, it is not that expensive for Manhattan and is a two block walk from the train station, four blocks to Broadway and Times Square, and has a really nice bar...

For North Americans, the Westchester County Airport (HPN) is closer and far more convenient if you want to minimize travel time, however it is more difficult to find flights and generally only small planes fly there.

Dining: We have two basic options for the group dinner on thursday night, either eating at a local restaurant or traveling into Manhattan for a more interesting venue. Please express your preference on the registration page.

Social event: If you are staying Friday night and are interested in a group activity in New York City, two interesting (to me) possibilities are a Jazz pub crawl or Literary pub crawl. Most likely I will be the guide, so consider those web sites just descriptions of the general theme. Indicate your interest & preference on the registration page.