The Resource Description Framework is well-established as a lingua franca for data modeling and is designed to integrate heterogeneous data at instance and schema level using statements. While RDF is conceptually simple, data models nevertheless get complex, when complex data needs to be represented. Additional levels of indirection with intermediate resources instead of simple properties lead to higher barriers for prospective users of the data. Based on three patterns, we argue that shifting information to a meta-level can not only be used to (1) provide provenance information, but can also help to (2) maintain backwards compatibility for existing models, and to (3) reduce the complexity of a data model. There are, however, multiple ways in RDF to use a meta-level, i.e., to provide additional statements about statements. With Named Graphs, there exists a well-established mechanism to describe groups of statements. Since its inception, however, it has been hard to make statements about single statements. With the introduction of RDF-star, a new way to provide data about single statements is now available. We show that the combination of RDF-star and Named Graphs is a viable solution to express data on a meta-level and propose that this meta-level should be used as first class citizen in data modeling.
翻译:资源描述框架作为数据建模的通用语已被确立为数据建模的通用语,旨在将各种数据在实例和方形一级使用报表。虽然RDF在概念上是简单的,但数据模型却变得复杂,因为需要代表复杂的数据,数据模型在概念上是简单的,而数据模型则在概念上是简单的。更多的中间资源间接化水平,而不是简单的属性,导致数据潜在用户面临更大的障碍。根据三种模式,我们认为,将信息转移到元层次不仅可用于(1) 提供出处信息,而且还有助于(2) 保持现有模型的逆向兼容性,以及(3) 降低数据模型的复杂性。然而,RDF有多种方法使用元层次,即提供关于报表的补充说明。在命名的图表中,有一个完善的机制来描述各类报表。然而,自开始以来,很难就单一的报表作出陈述。随着RDFS-star的引入,现在可以提供单一报表数据的新方式已经存在。我们指出,将RDFS-star和Named Grain图形组合是第一个可行的解决办法,用以表达元层次上使用的任何数据。