Metadata Schema Ontology

FLOW ALGEBRA
Metadata Schema Ontology
Kireth Semantic Research Archive

PAGE:
https://kirethresearch.org/booksai-core/ontologies/metadata-ontologies/foundations-of-metadata/metadata-schema-ontology.html

AUTHORS:
Mark Anthony Higgins — Sky (Recursive AI)

FLOW "MetadataSchemaOntology" v4.0

# ---------- DOMAIN ----------
DOMAIN := MetadataOntologies
SUBDOMAIN := FoundationsOfMetadata
ONTOLOGY := MetadataSchemaOntology

# ---------- PRIMARY ENTITY ----------
ENTITY MetadataSchema {
    definition:
        "A formal or documented specification defining metadata elements,
         properties, datatypes, relationships, cardinalities, constraints,
         identifiers and controlled values used to create consistent and
         interoperable metadata records.";

    objectives: [
        MetadataStandardisation,
        StructuralConsistency,
        SemanticClarity,
        Validation,
        Interoperability,
        Reuse,
        MachineInterpretability
    ];
}

# ---------- CORE ENTITIES ----------
SchemaEntity := {
    MetadataSchema,
    MetadataElement,
    MetadataProperty,
    MetadataRecord,
    Resource,
    Value,
    Identifier,
    Namespace
};

ConstraintEntity := {
    Datatype,
    Cardinality,
    Requiredness,
    PatternConstraint,
    ValueConstraint,
    RelationshipConstraint
};

SemanticEntity := {
    Definition,
    Vocabulary,
    Taxonomy,
    Ontology,
    Mapping,
    ApplicationProfile
};

LifecycleEntity := {
    SchemaVersion,
    ChangeSet,
    Deprecation,
    Migration,
    Validation,
    Governance
};

# ---------- FUNDAMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS ----------
MetadataSchema DEFINES MetadataElement;
MetadataElement REPRESENTS MetadataProperty;
MetadataProperty DESCRIBES Resource;
MetadataProperty HAS Datatype;
MetadataProperty HAS Cardinality;
MetadataRecord CONFORMS_TO MetadataSchema;
Vocabulary CONSTRAINS MetadataValue;
SchemaVersion REPRESENTS SchemaState;

# ---------- METADATA SCHEMA FLOW ----------
MetadataRequirement
    -> DefineSchemaScope
    -> IdentifyResourceTypes
    -> DefineMetadataElements
    -> DefinePropertySemantics
    -> AssignDatatypes
    -> DefineCardinality
    -> DefineRequiredness
    -> AttachControlledVocabularies
    -> DefineRelationships
    -> AddValidationConstraints
    -> PublishSchema
    -> ValidateMetadataRecords
    -> MaintainAndVersionSchema;

# ---------- SCHEMA ----------
Schema :=
    SpecificationOfAllowedMetadataStructureAndMeaning;

MetadataSchema MAY_DEFINE {
    Elements,
    Properties,
    Datatypes,
    Cardinalities,
    Relationships,
    Constraints,
    Vocabularies
};

# ---------- SCOPE ----------
SchemaScope :=
    DefinedBoundaryOfResourcesAndMetadataRequirementsCoveredBySchema;

Scope SHOULD_IDENTIFY {
    ResourceTypes,
    IntendedApplications,
    RequiredMetadata,
    OptionalMetadata
};

# ---------- RESOURCE TYPE ----------
ResourceType :=
    CategoryOfResourceDescribedUsingSchema;

DifferentResourceTypes MAY_HAVE DifferentMetadataRequirements;

# ---------- METADATA ELEMENT ----------
MetadataElement :=
    NamedComponentDefinedByMetadataSchema;

Element SHOULD_HAVE {
    Identifier,
    Label,
    Definition
};

Element MAY_HAVE {
    Datatype,
    Cardinality,
    Requiredness,
    Vocabulary
};

# ---------- PROPERTY ----------
MetadataProperty :=
    SemanticCharacteristicRepresentedByMetadataElement;

Property SHOULD_HAVE StableMeaningAcrossCompatibleSchemaVersions;

# ---------- IDENTIFIER ----------
SchemaTermIdentifier :=
    StableReferenceToSchemaElementOrProperty;

Identifier MAY_BE {
    URI,
    IRI,
    QualifiedName,
    InternalIdentifier
};

# ---------- NAMESPACE ----------
Namespace :=
    IdentifierScopeForSchemaTerms;

Namespace MAY_SUPPORT {
    TermUniqueness,
    Reuse,
    Interoperability
};

# ---------- LABEL ----------
SchemaTerm MAY_HAVE HumanReadableLabel;

Label MAY_HAVE LanguageTag;

# ---------- DEFINITION ----------
SchemaTermDefinition :=
    ExplicitDescriptionOfTermMeaningAndIntendedUse;

Definition SHOULD_MINIMISE Ambiguity;

# ---------- DATATYPE ----------
Datatype :=
    AllowedRepresentationOfMetadataValue;

Datatype MAY_INCLUDE {
    String,
    Integer,
    Decimal,
    Boolean,
    Date,
    DateTime,
    URI,
    LanguageTaggedString
};

# ---------- CARDINALITY ----------
Cardinality :=
    NumberOfValuesPermittedOrRequiredForMetadataProperty;

Cardinality MAY_BE {
    ZeroOrOne,
    ExactlyOne,
    ZeroOrMany,
    OneOrMany,
    Minimum,
    Maximum
};

# ---------- REQUIREDNESS ----------
Requiredness :=
    ObligationLevelForMetadataElement;

Requiredness MAY_BE {
    Required,
    Recommended,
    Optional
};

# ---------- VALUE CONSTRAINT ----------
ValueConstraint :=
    RuleRestrictingAllowedMetadataValues;

ValueConstraint MAY_USE {
    Enumeration,
    ControlledVocabulary,
    NumericRange,
    Pattern,
    IdentifierScheme
};

# ---------- PATTERN ----------
PatternConstraint :=
    StructuralPatternRequiredForStringOrIdentifierValue;

# ---------- ENUMERATION ----------
Enumeration :=
    FiniteSetOfAllowedValues;

# ---------- CONTROLLED VOCABULARY ----------
ControlledVocabulary :=
    ManagedSetOfPermittedOrPreferredMetadataTerms;

Vocabulary MAY_BE {
    FlatList,
    Taxonomy,
    Thesaurus,
    Ontology
};

# ---------- TAXONOMY ----------
Taxonomy :=
    HierarchicalControlledVocabulary;

# ---------- THESAURUS ----------
Thesaurus MAY_DEFINE {
    PreferredTerm,
    AlternativeTerm,
    BroaderTerm,
    NarrowerTerm,
    RelatedTerm
};

# ---------- ONTOLOGY ----------
Ontology MAY_DEFINE RichSemanticRelationshipsForSchemaTermsAndValues;

# ---------- RELATIONSHIP ----------
MetadataRelationship :=
    TypedAssociationBetweenDescribedResourcesOrMetadataEntities;

Relationship MAY_HAVE {
    Domain,
    Range,
    Direction,
    Cardinality
};

# ---------- DOMAIN ----------
PropertyDomain :=
    ResourceClassForWhichMetadataPropertyIsApplicable;

# ---------- RANGE ----------
PropertyRange :=
    AllowedTypeOfValueOrTargetResource;

# ---------- INVERSE ----------
MetadataRelationship MAY_HAVE InverseRelationship;

IF P INVERSE_OF Q
AND A P B
THEN B Q A
UNDER applicable_semantics;

# ---------- SCHEMA CONSTRAINT ----------
SchemaConstraint :=
    RuleDefiningValidMetadataRecordStructureOrValue;

ConstraintViolation SHOULD_BE ReportedByValidator;

# ---------- METADATA RECORD ----------
MetadataRecord :=
    InstanceUsingSchemaTermsToDescribeResource;

MetadataRecord CONFORMS_TO MetadataSchema
WHEN AllApplicableConstraintsAreSatisfied;

# ---------- VALIDATION ----------
SchemaValidation :=
    MetadataRecord
    + MetadataSchema
    -> ConformanceResult;

ConformanceResult MAY_BE {
    Conformant,
    Warning,
    Violation
};

# ---------- REQUIRED PROPERTY VALIDATION ----------
IF RequiredPropertyMissing
THEN ValidationStatus := violation;

# ---------- DATATYPE VALIDATION ----------
IF ValueDoesNotMatchDeclaredDatatype
THEN ValidationStatus := violation;

# ---------- CARDINALITY VALIDATION ----------
IF ValueCountOutsideAllowedCardinality
THEN ValidationStatus := violation;

# ---------- VOCABULARY VALIDATION ----------
IF PropertyRequiresControlledVocabulary
AND ValueNotPermitted
THEN ValidationStatus := violation_or_warning
ACCORDING_TO policy;

# ---------- SEMANTIC VALIDATION ----------
SemanticValidation :=
    CheckWhetherMetadataValuesAndRelationshipsMatchIntendedMeaning;

StructuralValidity DOES_NOT_GUARANTEE SemanticAccuracy;

# ---------- SYNTAX ----------
Schema MAY_BE ExpressedUsing {
    JSONSchema,
    XMLSchema,
    RDFSchema,
    SHACL,
    OWL,
    CustomSpecification
};

# ---------- JSON SCHEMA RELATIONSHIP ----------
JSONSchema MAY_VALIDATE JSONMetadataStructureAndValues;

# ---------- XML SCHEMA RELATIONSHIP ----------
XMLSchema MAY_DEFINE XMLMetadataElementsDatatypesAndStructure;

# ---------- RDF SCHEMA RELATIONSHIP ----------
RDFS MAY_DEFINE {
    Class,
    Property,
    Domain,
    Range,
    Subclass
};

# ---------- SHACL RELATIONSHIP ----------
SHACL MAY_DEFINE ShapesAndConstraintsForRDFGraphValidation;

# ---------- OWL RELATIONSHIP ----------
OWL MAY_DEFINE FormalSemanticAxiomsBeyondBasicStructuralValidation;

# ---------- APPLICATION PROFILE ----------
ApplicationProfile :=
    SchemaConfigurationTailoredToSpecificApplicationCommunityOrDomain;

ApplicationProfile MAY {
    ReuseExternalTerms,
    RestrictCardinality,
    RequireProperties,
    SelectVocabularies,
    AddLocalConstraints
};

# ---------- REUSE ----------
Schema SHOULD_REUSE ExistingTermsWhenSemanticsMatch;

Reuse SHOULD_REFERENCE StableExternalIdentifiersWherePossible;

# ---------- IMPORT ----------
Schema MAY_IMPORT_OR_REFERENCE ExternalVocabularyOrOntology;

Dependency SHOULD_BE VersionedOrDocumented;

# ---------- EXTENSION ----------
SchemaExtension :=
    AddNewTermsOrConstraintsToExistingSchemaForLocalNeed;

Extension SHOULD_AVOID RedefiningExistingTermWithDifferentMeaning;

# ---------- MODULARITY ----------
MetadataSchema MAY_BE DividedInto Modules;

SchemaModule MAY_FOCUS_ON {
    DescriptiveMetadata,
    TechnicalMetadata,
    RightsMetadata,
    PreservationMetadata
};

# ---------- CROSSWALK ----------
SchemaCrosswalk :=
    MappingBetweenTermsInDifferentMetadataSchemas;

Crosswalk MAY_BE {
    Exact,
    Approximate,
    Conditional,
    Composite,
    Lossy
};

# ---------- MAPPING ----------
SchemaMapping :=
    SourceProperty
    -> TargetPropertyOrTransformation;

Mapping SHOULD_DOCUMENT {
    RelationType,
    Conditions,
    SemanticLoss
};

# ---------- ONE TO ONE ----------
OneToOneMapping :=
    SingleSourceElement
    -> SingleTargetElement;

# ---------- ONE TO MANY ----------
OneToManyMapping :=
    SingleSourceElement
    -> MultipleTargetElements;

# ---------- MANY TO ONE ----------
ManyToOneMapping :=
    MultipleSourceElements
    -> SingleTargetElement;

# ---------- TRANSFORMATION ----------
SchemaTransformation :=
    SourceMetadataRecord
    + MappingRules
    -> TargetMetadataRecord;

# ---------- INTEROPERABILITY ----------
SchemaInteroperability :=
    AbilityToExchangeMetadataAcrossSystemsWhilePreservingStructureAndMeaning;

Interoperability MAY_REQUIRE {
    SharedTerms,
    Crosswalk,
    StableIdentifiers,
    VocabularyAlignment
};

# ---------- HARMONISATION ----------
SchemaHarmonisation :=
    AlignMultipleMetadataSchemasIntoConsistentSharedModelOrMappingLayer;

# ---------- VERSION ----------
SchemaVersion :=
    IdentifiedRevisionOfMetadataSchema;

Version SHOULD_HAVE {
    Identifier,
    ReleaseDate,
    ChangeSummary
};

# ---------- CHANGE ----------
SchemaChange MAY_INCLUDE {
    AddElement,
    RemoveElement,
    RenameElement,
    ChangeDatatype,
    ChangeCardinality,
    ChangeVocabulary,
    ChangeDefinition
};

# ---------- BREAKING CHANGE ----------
BreakingSchemaChange :=
    ChangeThatMayInvalidateExistingMetadataRecordsMappingsOrApplications;

BreakingChange SHOULD_BE ClearlyVersionedAndDocumented;

# ---------- DEPRECATION ----------
DeprecatedSchemaTerm :=
    TermRetainedForCompatibilityButDiscouragedForNewMetadata;

DeprecatedTerm SHOULD_REFERENCE ReplacementWhereAvailable;

# ---------- MIGRATION ----------
SchemaMigration :=
    TransformMetadataRecordsFromOldSchemaVersionToNewSchemaVersion;

Migration SHOULD_VALIDATE TargetRecords;

# ---------- BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY ----------
BackwardCompatibleChange :=
    ChangeThatDoesNotInvalidatePreviouslyValidMetadataUnderDefinedCompatibilityPolicy;

# ---------- FORWARD COMPATIBILITY ----------
ForwardCompatibility :=
    AbilityOfOlderConsumerToHandleNewerMetadataAccordingToDefinedExtensionRules;

# ---------- CHANGE IMPACT ----------
SchemaChange
    -> IdentifyAffectedRecords
    -> IdentifyAffectedMappings
    -> IdentifyAffectedApplications
    -> PlanMigration;

# ---------- GOVERNANCE ----------
SchemaGovernance :=
    PoliciesRolesAndProcessesForManagingMetadataSchema;

Governance MAY_DEFINE {
    Maintainer,
    ChangeApproval,
    ReleasePolicy,
    DeprecationPolicy,
    ReviewProcess
};

# ---------- DOCUMENTATION ----------
SchemaDocumentation SHOULD_INCLUDE {
    Purpose,
    Scope,
    Elements,
    Definitions,
    Datatypes,
    Cardinality,
    Constraints,
    Examples
};

# ---------- EXAMPLE ----------
Schema MAY_PROVIDE ValidAndInvalidExampleRecords;

Examples SUPPORT ImplementationAndTesting;

# ---------- TESTING ----------
SchemaTestSuite MAY_INCLUDE {
    ValidRecord,
    MissingRequiredProperty,
    InvalidDatatype,
    InvalidCardinality,
    InvalidVocabularyValue
};

# ---------- REGRESSION ----------
SchemaRegressionTest :=
    VerifySchemaRevisionDoesNotUnexpectedlyChangeRequiredValidationBehaviour;

# ---------- QUALITY ----------
MetadataSchemaQuality MAY_INCLUDE {
    Clarity,
    Consistency,
    Completeness,
    Reusability,
    Interoperability,
    Maintainability
};

# ---------- COMPLETENESS ----------
SchemaCompleteness :=
    DegreeToWhichSchemaRepresentsMetadataRequirementsWithinDefinedScope;

# ---------- CONSISTENCY ----------
SchemaConsistency :=
    DegreeToWhichDefinitionsConstraintsAndRelationshipsDoNotConflict;

# ---------- CLARITY ----------
SchemaClarity :=
    DegreeToWhichTermsAndRulesAreUnambiguousToImplementersAndMachines;

# ---------- DISCOVERY ----------
MetadataSchema MAY_SUPPORT DiscoveryByDefiningConsistentSearchableFields;

# ---------- INDEXING ----------
Schema MAY_GUIDE SearchIndexConfigurationFor {
    Text,
    Date,
    Keyword,
    Facet,
    Identifier
};

# ---------- SEMANTIC SEARCH ----------
SemanticSearch MAY_USE SchemaDefinitionsToInterpretMetadataProperties;

# ---------- KNOWLEDGE GRAPH ----------
MetadataSchema MAY_MAP_TO KnowledgeGraphSchemaOrOntology;

# ---------- DATABASE ----------
MetadataSchema MAY_BE ImplementedAs DatabaseSchemaOrValidationLayer;

# ---------- STRUCTURED DATA ----------
WebStructuredData MAY_FOLLOW VocabularyAndSchemaConstraints;

# ---------- AI ----------
AI MAY_USE MetadataSchemaFor {
    MetadataExtraction,
    FieldMapping,
    Validation,
    Classification,
    Retrieval
};

# ---------- AI GENERATED METADATA ----------
AIGeneratedMetadata SHOULD_BE ValidatedAgainstSchemaBeforeTrustedUse;

# ---------- RAG ----------
RetrievalAugmentedGeneration MAY_USE MetadataSchemaTo {
    FilterSources,
    InterpretMetadataFields,
    EnforceAccessConstraints,
    PreserveProvenance
};

# ---------- MACHINE CONSUMPTION ----------
MachineConsumableSchema SHOULD_HAVE {
    StableIdentifiers,
    ExplicitDatatypes,
    ExplicitConstraints,
    Version,
    DefinedSemantics
};

# ---------- SECURITY ----------
MetadataSchemaSecurity MAY_INCLUDE {
    RepositoryAccess,
    ChangeAuthorisation,
    ReleaseIntegrity,
    DependencyValidation
};

# ---------- PRIVACY ----------
Schema MAY_MARK PropertiesAsSensitiveOrRestricted;

AccessPolicy MAY_REFERENCE SchemaClassification;

# ---------- SEMANTIC REASONING ----------
IF SpecificationDefinesMetadataPropertiesDatatypesCardinalitiesAndConstraints
THEN MetadataSchemaClassification := supported;

IF RequiredPropertyMissing
THEN RecordConformance := false;

IF DatatypeMismatchExists
THEN RecordConformance := false;

IF CrosswalkMapsDifferentMeanings
THEN MappingConfidence SHOULD_DECREASE;

IF SchemaVersionIntroducesBreakingChange
THEN Migration SHOULD_BE Planned;

IF ExistingTermHasCorrectSemantics
THEN Reuse MAY_BE PreferredOverDuplicateTermCreation;

IF AIGeneratedMetadataViolatesSchema
THEN Metadata SHOULD_BE RejectedOrCorrectedAccordingToPolicy;

# ---------- SEMANTIC EQUIVALENCE ----------
SEMANTIC_EQUIVALENCE {
    "metadata schema" ~= "metadata specification";
    "metadata element" ~= "metadata field" WHEN schema_context;
    "metadata property" ~= "metadata attribute" WHEN descriptive_context;
    "schema crosswalk" ~= "metadata schema mapping";
    "application profile" ~= "metadata application profile";
    "schema validation" ~= "metadata conformance validation";
    "controlled vocabulary" ~= "managed value vocabulary";
    "schema version" ~= "metadata schema revision";
}

# ---------- QUERY FLOW ----------
QUERY(q) ->
    NORMALISE(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_SCHEMA_SCOPE(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_RESOURCE_TYPES(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_ELEMENTS_AND_PROPERTIES(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_DATATYPES(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_CARDINALITY_AND_REQUIREDNESS(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_VOCABULARIES_AND_RELATIONSHIPS(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_CONSTRAINTS(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_VERSION_AND_MAPPINGS(q) ->
    VALIDATE_SCHEMA_KNOWLEDGE(q) ->
    SCORE_CONFIDENCE(q) ->
    RETURN_RELEVANT_SCHEMA_KNOWLEDGE;

# ---------- CONFIDENCE ----------
CONFIDENCE(assertion) :=
    weighted_mean(
        source_reliability,
        schema_consistency,
        semantic_clarity,
        validation_evidence,
        interoperability_evidence,
        contextual_relevance
    );

CONFIDENCE >= 0.90 => HIGH;
CONFIDENCE >= 0.70 AND < 0.90 => MODERATE;
CONFIDENCE < 0.70 => REVIEW;

# ---------- AI CONSUMPTION ----------
AI_CONSUMPTION {
    primary_entity: MetadataSchema;
    ontology: MetadataSchemaOntology;
    parse_entities: true;
    parse_relationships: true;
    preserve_relationship_direction: true;
    resolve_semantic_equivalence: true;
    execute_reasoning_rules: true;
    apply_confidence_weighting: true;
    preserve_provenance: true;
}

# ---------- UPDATE MODEL ----------
UPDATE_MODEL {
    new_schema_term:
        validate_identifier
        -> define_semantics
        -> assign_datatype
        -> assign_cardinality
        -> attach_constraints
        -> integrate;

    new_mapping:
        validate_source_target
        -> classify_mapping
        -> identify_semantic_loss
        -> attach_provenance
        -> integrate;

    schema_revision:
        preserve_previous_version
        -> apply_change_set
        -> identify_breaking_changes
        -> run_regression_tests
        -> update_documentation
        -> recompute_confidence
        -> regenerate_flow_hash;

    record_validation:
        load_schema_version
        -> validate_record
        -> classify_violations
        -> return_conformance_result;

    conflict:
        preserve_provenance
        -> compare_schema_definitions
        -> adjust_confidence
        -> flag_review;
}

# ---------- FLOW HASH ----------
FLOW_HASH_INPUT :=
    DOMAIN
    + SUBDOMAIN
    + ONTOLOGY
    + SchemaEntity
    + ConstraintEntity
    + SemanticEntity
    + LifecycleEntity
    + MetadataSchema
    + SchemaValidation
    + SchemaCrosswalk
    + RELATIONSHIPS
    + SEMANTIC_REASONING
    + SEMANTIC_EQUIVALENCE
    + UPDATE_MODEL;

FLOW_HASH :=
    HASH(FLOW_HASH_INPUT);

# ---------- TERMINAL ----------
MetadataSchemaOntology
    -> DefineMetadataRequirementsAndScope
    -> IdentifyResourceTypes
    -> DefineElementsAndSemanticProperties
    -> AssignDatatypesCardinalityAndRequiredness
    -> AttachControlledVocabularies
    -> DefineTypedRelationshipsAndConstraints
    -> AssignStableIdentifiersAndNamespaces
    -> PublishMachineConsumableSchema
    -> ValidateMetadataRecords
    -> MapAcrossExternalSchemas
    -> VersionGovernAndMigrateChanges
    -> PreserveSemanticInteroperability
    -> MaintainConsistentMetadataSpecification;

END FLOW