IDSA Glossary¶
This document is created to ensure consistent terminology across IDSA's documents.
The definitions are aligned with the ISO/IEC DIS 20151 (to be published at the time of writing this document) and the Dataspace Protocol (2025-1 release) where possible.
Additional notes are provided where different terms are used for the same concept across the two sources.
A¶
Agreement¶
A concrete Policy associated with a specific Dataset that has been agreed between the Provider and Consumer. It is a result of a Contract Negotiation defining the Policy agreed to for a Dataset. Please also see [data sharing contract]
(Source: ISO/IEC DIS 20151)
C¶
Catalog¶
A collection of entries representing Offers that are advertised by a Provider.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
Catalog Protocol¶
A set of allowable Message Types that are used to request a Catalog from a Catalog Service.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
Catalog Service¶
A Participant Agent that makes a Catalog available and accessible to Participants.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
Connector (Data Service)¶
A Participant Agent that performs Contract Negotiation and Transfer Process operations with other Connectors, by implementing Dataspace Protocols. It produces Agreements and manages Dataset sharing.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
Consumer¶
A Participant that requests access to an offered Dataset.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
Contract Negotiation¶
A set of interactions between a Provider and Consumer that establish an Agreement. It is an instantiation of the state machine of a Contract Negotiation Protocol. An outcome of a Contract Negotiation MAY be the production of an Agreement.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
Contract Negotiation Protocol¶
A set of allowable Message Type sequences defined as a state machine.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
D¶
Dataset¶
Data or a technical service that can be shared by a Participant.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
dataspace¶
data space¶
governance framework and supporting services to build trustworthiness and enable data sharing through an agreed set of Policies, semantic models, protocols and processes
(Source: ISO/IEC DIS 20151)
dataspace governance authority role¶
DSGA role¶
set of activities provided by one or more parties that establishes, governs, manages and enforces the technical policies and business rules of a dataspace
(Source: ISO/IEC 20151)
dataspace participant¶
participant¶
party that is acting in a dataspace participant role
Note 1 to entry: By being accepted to be a participant in the dataspace, the party agrees to the governance arrangements and therefore the policies of the dataspace. (Source: ISO/IEC 20151)
Please also see Participant definition sourced from Dataspace Protocol.
dataspace participant role¶
participant role¶
set of activities within a dataspace for the purpose of data sharing or related activities Note 1 to entry: Related activities can include auditing or observing roles that do not include data sharing or governance activities.
(Source: ISO/IEC 20151)
data policy¶
human and machine-readable set of rights and obligations regarding access and use of data
(Source: ISO/IEC 20151)
Dataspace Protocol¶
A set of Messages and Message sequences that enables the interaction between Participant Agents in a dataspace. This may require additional concepts, which are not in the scope of the specification itself.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
Data Transfer Protocol¶
A set of rules and conventions that dictate how data is transmitted over a network by defining the format, error handling, and flow control. Examples include HTTP, FTP, MQTT, and AMQP.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
data sharing¶
Access to the same data by more than one authorized entity Note 1 to entry: Use of the data can be synchronous or asynchronous. Note 2 to entry: Data can be shared, for example, (i) by allowing access to, or the execution of operations over, the original dataset, or (ii) by giving a copy of the data to the interested entity. Note 3 to entry: The way in which data is shared fundamentally influences the available controls and the statements needed in a data sharing agreement. (Source: ISO/IEC 23751:2022[4], 3.7, modified - removed 'or processing of')
(Source: ISO/IEC 20151)
data sharing contract¶
formal and legally binding agreement between dataspace participants containing policies, terms and conditions for data sharing Note 1 to entry: Data sharing contracts usually contain information about access to data, including its metadata, and data use. Note 2 to entry: A data sharing contract is usually much more specific than a data sharing agreement which is often broader and often at an organizational level.
(Source: ISO/IEC 20151)
Please also see Agreement for a related definition sourced from Dataspace Protocol.
data use¶
Handling or dealing with data for a specific purpose (Source: ISO/IEC 5207:20245, 3.30, modified – Note 1 to entry removed)
(Source: ISO/IEC 20151)
G¶
governance¶
Human-based system comprising directing, overseeing and accountability (Source: ISO/IEC 38500:2024[6], 3.3)
(Source: ISO/IEC 20151)
governance framework¶
Strategies, policies, decision-making structures and accountabilities through which the organization’s governance arrangements operate (Source: ISO/IEC TR 38502:2017[7], 3.1)
(Source: ISO/IEC 20151)
M¶
Message Type¶
A definition of the structure of a Message.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
O¶
Offer¶
A concrete Policy associated with a specific Dataset.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
P¶
Participant¶
A member of one or more Dataspaces that provides and/or consumes Datasets. It registers Participant Agents that perform tasks on its behalf.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
Please also see dataspace participant definition sourced from ISO/IEC 20151.
Participant Agent¶
A technology system that performs operations and interactions in a Dataspace on behalf of a Participant, such as publishing a Catalog or engaging in a Transfer Process. It is a logical construct and does not necessarily correspond to a single runtime process. While most interactions take place between so-called Connectors, some interactions with other systems are required.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
Policy¶
A set of rules, duties, and obligations that define the terms of use for a Dataset.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
Profile¶
A restriction or subset of a specification that enforces every occurrence of an externally defined class to be conformant with the original definition.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
Provider¶
A Participant that offers a Dataset.
T¶
Transfer Process¶
A set of interactions between a Provider and Consumer that give access to a Dataset under the terms of an Agreement. It is an instantiation of the state machine of a Transfer Process Protocol.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
Transfer Process Protocol¶
A set of allowable Message Type sequences defined as a state machine.
(Source: Dataspace Protocol)
trust¶
Decision by an entity to assume that a product, service or entity will behave as expected for a given circumstance
(Source: ISO/IEC 20151)
trustworthiness¶
set of verifiable evidence that can be used to form trust
(Source: ISO/IEC 20151)