(part of the InLOC Information Model)

InLOC properties and relationships

InLOC specifies three different kinds of properties or relationships.

• InLOC's direct properties are those that are properties of the classes of the main InLOC information model. These include both the literal properties of InLOC classes, and properties linking different classes of the InLOC model. These can be seen in, or inferred from, the UML diagram. Two of these direct properties in particular deserve fuller explanation:
  • the type property, along with an explanation of each specified type;
  • the number property.
• InLOC's compound properties are expressed through LOCassociations, linking LOCstructures and LOCdefinitions to information with a structure significant for interoperability. The by type of LOCassociation is the only one of these for which InLOC specifies scheme.ids.
• InLOC's relationships are also expressed through LOCassociations. The subject and object of a relationship LOCassociation are each a LOCstructure or LOCdefinition. The scheme in a relationship LOCassociation plays a role rather like a RDF "predicate" linking the subject and object resources. InLOC specifies the allowed scheme.ids for relationships.

Using these three kinds of properties or relationships, InLOC specifies a mechanism for property inheritance, to avoid the necessity of repeating properties that are by nature common to many LOCdefinitions. The relationships table specifies the relationships through which inheritance passes or is passed, while the tables for the direct properties and compound properties specify which properties are inherited.

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