Terms, Definitions and Abbreviations

Terms and Definitions

Please note: the definitions of terms are only valid in a certain context. This glossary applies only within the context of this document.

If available, definitions were taken from IEC 63278-1:2023.

API

specification of the set of operations and events that forms an API in a selected technology

API Operation

specification of the operations (procedures) that may be called through an API

Asset Administration Shell (AAS)

standardized digital representation of an asset

Note: Asset Administration Shell and Administration Shell are used synonymously.

  • [SOURCE: IEC 63278-1:2023, note added]

interface

shared boundary between two entities defined by functional characteristics, signal characteristics, or other characteristics as appropriate

interface operation

interface operations define interaction patterns via the specified interface

operation

executable realization of a function

Note 1: the term method is synonymous to operation.

Note 2: an operation has a name and a list of parameters [ISO 19119:2005, 4.1.3].

  • [SOURCE: Glossary Industrie 4.0, editorial changes]

service

distinct part of the functionality that is provided by an entity through interfaces

  • [SOURCE: IEC 63278-1:2023; IEC 60050-741:2020, 741-01-28]

service specification

specification of a service according to the notation, architectural style and constraints of a selected technology

Note: one or multiple API Operations can be assigned to one service specification.

Submodel

representation of an aspect of an asset

  • [SOURCE: IEC 63278-1:2023]

SubmodelElement

element of a Submodel

  • [SOURCE: IEC 63278-1:2023]

Abbreviations

Abbreviation Description

AAS

Asset Administration Shell

AASX

Package file format for the AAS

AML

AutomationML, Automation Markup Language

API

Application Programming Interface

BITKOM

Bundesverband Informationswirtschaft, Telekommunikation und neue Medien e. V.

BLOB

Binary Large Object

CDD

Common Data Dictionary

GUID

Globally unique identifier

ID

Identifier

IDTA

Industrial Digital Twin Association

IEC

International Electrotechnical Commission

IRDI

International Registration Data Identifier

ISO

International Organization for Standardization

JSON

JavaScript Object Notation

MIME

Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions

OPC

Open Packaging Conventions (ECMA-376, ISO/IEC 29500-2)

OPCF

OPC Foundation

OPC UA

OPC Unified Architecture maintained by the OPC Foundation

PDF

Portable Document Format

RAMI4.0

Reference Architecture Model Industrie 4.0

RDF

Resource Description Framework

REST

Representational State Transfer

RFC

Request for Comment

ROA

Resource Oriented Architecture

SOA

Service Oriented Architecture

UML

Unified Modeling Language

URI

Uniform Resource Identifier

URL

Uniform Resource Locator

URN

Uniform Resource Name

UUID

Universally Unique Identifier

VDE

Verband der Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik e. V.

VDI

Verein Deutscher Ingenieure e.V.

VDMA

Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V.

W3C

World Wide Web Consortium

XML

eXtensible Markup Language

ZIP

archive file format that supports lossless data compression

ZVEI

Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e. V.