Standard data model
Encyclopedia
A standard data model or industry standard data model (ISDM) is a data model
that is widely applied in some industry, and shared amongst competitors to some degree. They are often defined by standards bodies, database vendors or operating system vendors.
When in use, they enable easier and faster information sharing because heterogeneous organizations have a standard vocabulary and pre-negotiated semantics, format, and quality standards for exchanged data. The standardization has an impact on software architecture
as solutions that vary from the standard may cause data sharing issues and problems if data is out of compliance with the standard.
The more effective standard models have developed in the banking, insurance, pharmaceutical and automotive industries, to reflect the stringent standards applied to customer information gathering, customer privacy, consumer safety, or just in time manufacturing.
Typically these use the popular relational model
of database management, but some use the hierarchical model
, especially those used in manufacturing or mandated by governments, e.g., the DIN
codes specified by Germany
. While the format of the standard may have implementation trade-offs, the underlying goal of these standards is to make sharing of data easier.
The most complex data models known are in military use, and consortia such as NATO tend to require strict standards of their members' equipment and supply databases. However, they typically do not share these with non-NATO competitors, and so calling these 'standard' in the same sense as commercial software
is probably not very appropriate.
An emerging area of standard data model is in the identity card arena, where a vast number of security engineering
solutions for public spaces, e.g., airports, other public transport
, hospitals, are expected soon to rely on a standard data model for identifying the card holder/user of the facility. This may contain biometric information or other data that would be standardized across an entire trade bloc
, e.g., the European Union
or the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA). This raises many privacy
and carceral state
concerns. These are discussed more deeply in an article on standard user model
s.
Data model
A data model in software engineering is an abstract model, that documents and organizes the business data for communication between team members and is used as a plan for developing applications, specifically how data is stored and accessed....
that is widely applied in some industry, and shared amongst competitors to some degree. They are often defined by standards bodies, database vendors or operating system vendors.
When in use, they enable easier and faster information sharing because heterogeneous organizations have a standard vocabulary and pre-negotiated semantics, format, and quality standards for exchanged data. The standardization has an impact on software architecture
Software architecture
The software architecture of a system is the set of structures needed to reason about the system, which comprise software elements, relations among them, and properties of both...
as solutions that vary from the standard may cause data sharing issues and problems if data is out of compliance with the standard.
The more effective standard models have developed in the banking, insurance, pharmaceutical and automotive industries, to reflect the stringent standards applied to customer information gathering, customer privacy, consumer safety, or just in time manufacturing.
Typically these use the popular relational model
Relational model
The relational model for database management is a database model based on first-order predicate logic, first formulated and proposed in 1969 by Edgar F...
of database management, but some use the hierarchical model
Hierarchical model
A hierarchical database model is a data model in which the data is organized into a tree-like structure. The structure allows representing information using parent/child relationships: each parent can have many children, but each child has only one parent...
, especially those used in manufacturing or mandated by governments, e.g., the DIN
Din
DIN or Din or din can have several meanings:* A din is a loud noise.* Dīn, an Arabic term meaning "religion" or "way of life".* Din is one of the ten aspects of the Ein Sof in Kabbalah ....
codes specified by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. While the format of the standard may have implementation trade-offs, the underlying goal of these standards is to make sharing of data easier.
The most complex data models known are in military use, and consortia such as NATO tend to require strict standards of their members' equipment and supply databases. However, they typically do not share these with non-NATO competitors, and so calling these 'standard' in the same sense as commercial software
Commercial software
Commercial software, or less commonly, payware, is computer software that is produced for sale or that serves commercial purposes.Commercial software is most often proprietary software, but free software packages may also be commercial software....
is probably not very appropriate.
An emerging area of standard data model is in the identity card arena, where a vast number of security engineering
Security engineering
Security engineering is a specialized field of engineering that focuses on the security aspects in the design of systems that need to be able to deal robustly with possible sources of disruption, ranging from natural disasters to malicious acts...
solutions for public spaces, e.g., airports, other public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
, hospitals, are expected soon to rely on a standard data model for identifying the card holder/user of the facility. This may contain biometric information or other data that would be standardized across an entire trade bloc
Trade bloc
A trade bloc is a type of intergovernmental agreement, often part of a regional intergovernmental organization, where regional barriers to trade, are reduced or eliminated among the participating states.-Description:...
, e.g., the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
or the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
(NAFTA). This raises many privacy
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
and carceral state
Carceral state
A Carceral archipelago refers to French social theorist Michel Foucault's work on surveillance systems and their technologies over modern societies and its practice of social control and discipline over its population in all areas of social life.Taken from his classic work Discipline and punish...
concerns. These are discussed more deeply in an article on standard user model
Standard user model
A standard user model is a standard data model of a service end user. In theory, it permits a wide range of adaptive infrastructure, especially software, to adapt to a single human user's characteristics, e.g...
s.