IMS Resource List Interoperability Conformance Requirements Version 1.0 Final Specification

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Document Name: IMS Resource List Interoperability Conformance Requirements
Revision: 8 July 2004

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

This section is not normative.

1.1 RLI Specification Components

This document is the IMS Resource List Interoperability (RLI) Specification version 1.0. As such, it forms one of the set that comprises the specification, each with distinct scope.

1.1.1 Information Model

Describes the core aspects of the specification and contains parts that are normative for any binding claiming to use this Information Model. It contains details of: semantics, structure, data types, value spaces, multiplicity, and obligation (i.e., whatever mandatory or optional).

1.1.2 XML/WSDL Binding

Describes a binding of the Information Model to XML version 1.0, as well as binding of the abstract service interface to web services expressed as WSDL. These bindings are normative for any XML instance that claims to use these bindings, whether by reference to the specification or by declaration of the namespace reserved by the specification. In cases of error or omission, the Information Model takes precedence. The IMS RLI Binding is released with a control document using W3C XML Schema 1.0 that should be used in implementation.

1.1.3 Best Practice and Implementation Guide

Provides non-normative guidance on application of the Information Model and Binding. This includes reference to existing practice in handling information that this specification seeks to support and guidance on practices that will promote interoperability and durability. It also includes examples to illustrate how the conceptual framework maps to practical uses, and to identify the relationship between this specification and related IMS specifications. Implementers are encouraged, but not required, to follow guidance in this part of the specification.

1.1.4 Conformance Requirements (this document)

Provides a set of testable statements that may be used in relation to applications of the Information Model and Binding. These statements may form a basis of formal conformance testing and certification or informal assertions. This document makes no statement about the formal processes or methods of certification, it only deals with criteria.

1.2 Nomenclature

The terms defined in the RFC 2119 (IETF RFC 2119 - Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels) are used with the meaning there defined in any section of this document stated to be "normative".

1.3 References

1.4 Localization

Whereas the Information Model used plain formatted English terms for element names, since the language of the specification is English, the Binding uses tokens for elements names. These are derived from the Information Model element names. Translators of the Information Model may change the names used in that document but they must map to XML Binding element names exactly as presented in the specification; translation of XML element names is not permitted. This restriction will ensure machine-level interoperability of data.

Annotations and comment strings in the official IMS RLI XSD files appear in at least US English. Annotations and comments in other languages may be added as deemed necessary by IMS stakeholders and such a revision must only be published by IMS. Since interoperability depends on trustworthy binding instances, only exact copies of the official IMS binding instance should be publicly circulated. Any entity other than IMS that needs localized annotations or comments should create a separate document with such annotations and comments, and reference the official IMS binding instance rather than circulating a binding instance that is different to, but could be believed to be identical to, the official IMS version.

The Binding document may be translated except for the representations of:

• binding structure names
• binding structure value spaces
• file naming syntax and examples
• binding namespace URI
• binding file path representation

The essence of this section is that XML instance expressing the same information should not differ if created by readers of different localized versions of this specification.

Localization of this document shall not cause any change in specification version numbering or binding revision instance numbering.

2. Conformance Statements

This section is normative.

Conformance statements are divided into sections for the Information Model and for the Binding. It is conceptually cleaner to identify statements that are binding independent. Statements are broken out into those that apply to the Information Model and those that apply to the Binding.

Conformances statements are made at a syntactic level only - i.e., no statement attempts to provide criteria for the data being meaningful.

2.1 Information Model

2.1.1 Data

1. Data types must conform to the specifications of the Information Model.
2. Value spaces must conform to the specifications of the Information Model. This includes but is not necessarily limited to the requirements that:
   • Character strings must conform to the requirements of ISO /IEC 10646-1:2000.
   • Characters strings that are restricted to the specifications of RFC2396 conform to the requirements of that RFC (as amended by RFC 2732).
3. Extensions to the Information Model may be used provided that in all other respects the requirements of this document are met.
4. Langstring-containing elements must not contain more than one langstring where the same language is identified (including the case of no language being identified).
5. The language property of a langstring must conform to the requirements of RFC1766.

2.1.2 Processors - Receivers of Data

1. Processors must handle data that is valid in respect to the mandatory requirements of sub-section 2.1.1 of this document.
2. Processors must handle at least the number of characters in elements as defined in the OCL within the Information Model [RLI, 04a] (see sub-section 4.8).
3. Processors should not require the presence of extensions.
4. A processor may reject data where an optional element has not been used only if the data-exchanging parties both agree to an additional set of restrictions (an "application profile").
5. Arbitrary content of the <metadata> element must be accepted (i.e., must not cause errors or process abortion).
6. Contents of the meta-data element may be ignored.

2.1.3 Processors - Transmitters of Data

If data is relayed without change of content then the processor may be described as a transmitter of data. The content is not dependent upon the binding.

2.2 XML Bindings

2.2.1 General

1. A conformant XML 1.0 RLI instance or processor must conform to the requirements of sub-section 2.1.1 of this document.
2. WSDL behavior references will evolve as more implementations of the RLI specification arise.

2.2.2 Instances

1. A conformant RLI XML instance must conform to the W3C XML 1.0 Specification (http://www.w3.org/TR/1998/REC-xml-19980210).
2. A conformant RLI XML instance must declare the namespace "http://www.imsglobal.org/xsd/imsrli_v1p0".
3. A conformant RLI XML instance should associate the namespace with a control document such that it can be validated.
   • By referencing a control document located on the IMS website under http://www.imsglobal.org/xsd/.
   • Or by referencing a local copy of this control document.
4. A conformant RLI XML instance must be valid according to the XSD and WSDL control documents located on the IMS website at http://www.imsglobal.org/.
5. A conformant RLI XML instance should be encoded using UTF-8.
6. Any extensions are expressed as described in IMS RLI XML/WSDL Binding v1.0.
7. If meta-data is present then it must be included as described in IMS RLI XML/WSDL Binding v1.0.

2.2.3 Processors - Receivers of Data

1. Processors must handle data that is valid according to the mandatory requirements of sub-section 2.1.1 and sub-section 2.1.2 of this document.
2. Processors may reject data that does not conform to the mandatory requirements of sub-section 2.1.1 and sub-section 2.1.2 of this document and should emit a warning if invalid data is processed.
3. Processors must handle UTF-8 encoded data.
4. Processors may handle data encoded in schemes other than UTF-8.

2.2.4 Processors - Creators of Data

1. Processors must create data that is valid according to the mandatory requirements of sub-section 2.1.1 and sub-section 2.1.2 of this document.

2.2.5 Processors - Transmitters of Data

1. The transmitted XML instance should be lexically identical.
2. The transmitted XML instance may be lexically different but must be equivalent as an XML Information Set (http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-xml-infoset-20011024).

2.3 Making Conformance Claims

This section is not normative and should not be interpreted to guide any formal certification or testing process; it provides some outline recommendations for making unverified assertions.

Claims of conformance should provide a statement, detailing the level of conformance, substantially similar to the information outlined below.

Conformance would typically be presented in two parts:

• Conformance summary - this is a summary that shows, in colloquial terms, the capabilities of a particular implementation with respect to the IMS RLI Specification;
• Interoperability statement - this is a detailed technical checklist that identifies all of the feature capabilities of the implementation in terms of the IMS RLI Conformance Requirements Specification (this document).

The "conformance summary" should include clear indications of the classes of vocabulary that are supported and include comment on semantic issues (i.e., meaningfulness of data).

The form of an interoperability statement will probably vary but should at least attempt to identify all of the conformance statements in this document and for identifying:

• Statements using "must" or "shall" where the clause is not implemented or incompletely implemented;
• Statements using "should" or "should not" where an alternative to the clause is implemented (the justification for the deviation may be helpful);
• Statements using "must not" or "shall not" where the clause is implemented;
• Statements of option that an implementation requires (for example elements that are optional in RLI being required);
• Where extensions have a functional role and what that role is.

Specific applications are expected to define more detailed application profiles, especially in relation to use of meta-data.

About This Document

List of Contributors

The following individuals contributed to the development of this document:

Revision History

Index

B
Behavior 1
Binding 1, 2, 3

C
Conformance 1, 2

I
IEEE 1
IMS Specifications
     Learner Information Package 1
     Resource List Interoperability 1, 2, 3, 4
     Resources List Interoperability 1
Interoperability 1, 2, 3
ISO 1

L
LOM 1

M
Meta-data 1, 2, 3

N
Namespace 1, 2, 3
Normative 1, 2, 3

P
Profile 1

R
Resource list 1, 2
Resources list 1
RFC 1, 2, 3

S
Services 1
Structure 1, 2

U
URI 1

V
Vocabulary 1

W
W3C 1, 2, 3

X
XML 1, 2, 3, 4
     XSD 1