Terminology

This and the following sections define the core concepts, entities, and relationships that underpin a dataspace and its protocol.

Agreement

A concrete Policy associated with a specific Dataset that has been signed by both the Provider and consumer Participants. An Agreement is a result of a Contract Negotiation and is associated with exactly one Dataset.

Catalog

A collection of entries representing Datasets and their Offers that is advertised by a Provider Participant.

Catalog Protocol

A set of allowable Message Types that are used to request a Catalog from a Catalog Service.

Catalog Service

A Participant Agent that makes a Catalog accessible to Participants.

Connector (Data Service)

A Participant Agent that produces Agreements and manages Dataset sharing.

Consumer

A Participant Agent that requests access to an offered Dataset.

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.

Contract Negotiation Protocol

A set of allowable Message Type sequences defined as a state machine.

Credential Issuer

A Credential Issuer is a trusted technology system that issues verifiable credentials for a Participant and Participant Agents.

Dataset

Data or a technical service that can be shared by a Participant.

Dataspace

A set of technical services that facilitate interoperable Dataset sharing between entities.

Dataspace Authority

An entity that manages a Dataspace. The form and capabilities of a Dataspace Authority are not covered in these specifications.

Dataspace Registration Service (Dataspace Registry)

A technology system that maintains the state of Participants in a Dataspace. The form and capabilities of a Dataspace Registration Service are not covered in these specifications.

Identity Provider

A trusted technology system that creates, maintains, and manages identity information for a Participant and Participant Agents.

Message

An instantiation of a Message Type.

Message Type

A definition of the structure of a Message.

Offer

A concrete Policy associated with a specific Dataset.

Participant

A Dataspace member that provides and/or consumes Datasets.

Participant Agent

A technology system that performs operations on behalf of a Participant that offers a Dataset.

Policy

A set of rules, duties, and obligations that define the terms of use for a Dataset. Also referred to as "Usage Policy".

Provider

A Participant Agent that offers a Dataset.

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.

Transfer Process Protocol

A set of allowable Message Type sequences defined as a state machine.