Glossary

Table 1. Glossary
Term Definition

API (Application Programming Interface)

The means to access a software service or library.

application

It is a software application on top of Bosch Semantic Stack that can also include custom models and data.

“as engineered” data

“As engineered” data refers to new and existing engineering data.

“as operated” data

“As operated” data originates from the product being operated and used in the field after it has been produced.

“as produced” data

“As produced” data originates from the manufacturing process as well as manufacturing systems, such as MES or ERP.

Aspect

An aspect is a domain-specific view on information and functionality associated with a specific digital twin with a reference to a concrete Aspect Model.

An aspect is a software service to retrieve data at runtime or live data of a Twin (current or aggregated) from a data source or to trigger operations. Thus, an aspect is built with an implementation that ensures that the exchanged data is compliant to the specification of the referenced Aspect Model via a defined interface.

Aspects are registered (incl. their “API endpoint” information) with the Twin to which they belong in the Digital Twin Registry.

See also the Aspect concept description.

Aspect implementation

Implementing an aspect means to provide an interface (API) which offers meaningful data for consumption. Therefore, an aspect implementation includes:

  • Getting raw data from the underlying, integrated data source(s) - data at runtime or live data

  • Aligning the data with the corresponding Aspect Model

  • Exposing it through an API (RESTful or MQTT)

Aspect Model

An Aspect Model is a formal, machine-readable semantic description of data accessible from an aspect.

An Aspect Model must adhere to the Semantic Aspect Meta Model (SAMM), i.e., it utilizes elements and relations defined in the Semantic Aspect Meta Model and is compliant to the validity rules defined by SAMM.

Aspect Models are logical data models which can be used to detail a conceptual model in order to describe the semantics of runtime data related to a concept. Further, elements of an Aspect Model can/should refer to terms of a standardized Business Glossary (if existing).

Aspect Models can be created using the Aspect Model Editor and are managed in the Aspect Model Catalog.

See also the Aspect Model concept description.

Aspect Model Catalog

The Aspect Model Catalog is the central persistence and point of reference for all Aspect Models. It is a browsable repository/collection which provides the functionality to manage the lifecycle of the stored artifacts (e.g., versioning, publishing, and releasing of Aspect Models). See also Aspect Model Catalog

Aspect Model Editor

The Aspect Model Editor (AME) is the visual editor for Aspect Models to be used in Bosch Semantic Stack.

See also the Aspect Model Editor documentationexternallink 20.

Asset Administration Shell (AAS)

Standardized digital representation of an asset [SOURCE: IEC 63278-1:2023, 3.1.2]

Asset Administration Shell Descriptor

Object containing the Asset Administration Shell’s identification and endpoint information [SOURCE: IDTA-01002-3-0, 6.2.4]

AAS V3.0 API

The AAS V3.0 API based on the Asset Administration Shell (AAS v3.0) - Registry Service Specification Profile SSP-001 APIexternallink 20 and Asset Administration Shell (AAS v3.0) - Discovery Service Specification Profile SSP-001 APIexternallink 20 specifications is the base for the Bosch AAS V3.0 implementation.

Find the detailed API descriptions at https://registry.bosch-semantic-stack.com/static/api-doc-aas-registry.htmlexternallink 20 and https://registry.bosch-semantic-stack.com/static/api-doc-aas-discovery.htmlexternallink 20.

asset

An asset is a physical object that is identifiable and can be represented by one or more digital twins, such as a machine or a sensor.

BAMM Aspect Meta Model

In March 2023 BAMM was replaced with SAMM.

customer

The customer is a legal entity consuming our services. The user can be the end user or developer using a digital twin, platform- or system component in general.

data analytics

Analytics is the systematic computational analysis of data or statistics. We make data available in a semantic way to then apply analytic technologies to gain knowledge.

data-driven business (DDB)

Data-driven business is a scenario to drive external business and achieve new revenue.

data-driven operations (DDO)

Data-driven operations is a scenario to achieve and increase internal efficiency.

data model

A data model reflects the desired structure of data for a specified domain. Data models define business meaning of the source data. They describe the concepts, attributes, and relationships in or across data sets.

digital twin

A digital twin is a virtual identifiable representation of a real-world entity or process, synchronized at a specified frequency and fidelity. For example,

The properties of a digital twin include at least the explicit relationship to the concrete asset that the digital twin represents.

Digital twins are motivated by outcomes, tailored to use cases, powered by integration, built on data, guided by domain knowledge, and implemented in IT/OT systems.

In Bosch Semantic Stack, a Digital Twin can aggregate aspects, which are associated with the Twin in the Digital Twin Registry.

Twins can be associated with an element of an ontology or knowledge graph providing additional context for the Twin.

Digital Twin Registry

The Digital Twin Registry is the central registry which contains all digital twins and their aspects including information about the underlying asset, asset manufacturer, and access options (e.g., aspect endpoints).

See also Digital Twin Registry.

domain

A specific area of expertise in a social or commercial institution.

domain knowledge

Domain knowledge is the knowledge of a specific, specialized discipline, profession, or activity, in contrast to general knowledge.

Source: https://www.zippia.com/advice/domain-knowledge/externallink 20

Eclipse Dataspace Connector (EDC)

The Eclipse Dataspace Connector provides a framework for sovereign, inter-organizational data exchange.
It is used in Catena-X scenarios.
See https://github.com/eclipse-edc/Connectorexternallink 20
See https://catena-x.net/en/offers/edc-the-central-componentexternallink 20

knowledge graph

A knowledge graph is an explicit, formal, and machine-readable specification of a shared conceptualization that defines domain concepts, attributes, and relationships among them = conceptual model (ontology). It usually contains instances of concepts = data. knowledge graph

local identifier

The local identifier is a set of key-value pairs which uniquely identifies the asset in the scope of a tenant.

Local identifiers can be attached to digital twins in the Digital Twin Registry.

See also local identifiers in the Digital Twin Registry usage guide.

model-based API

Any API which is based and generated of a conceptually or logically described data model. Aspects are per definition model-based APIs as they are based on Aspect Models.

ontology

An ontology is a formal description of knowledge as a set of concepts within a domain and the relationships that hold between them.

Source: https://www.ontotext.com/knowledgehub/fundamentals/what-are-ontologies/externallink 20

platform

A platform is a group of technologies that are used as a base upon which other applications, processes or technologies are developed.

product

Result of the production and target of company division. Also, satisfaction of needs. Differentiation in assets (physical, durable, consumable), service (immaterial) and energy.

Product Instance Twin

Digital twin of a product instance.

At Bosch, product instances are identifiable by their serial number (SN).

Product Type Twin

Digital twin of a product type.

At Bosch, product types are identifiable by their part number.

RDF

RDF (Resource Description Framework) is a standard by the W3C to describe graph-based data. See http://www.w3.org/TR/rdf11-concepts/externallink 20

Runtime data

With runtime data we refer to the fact that this is data that will be provided via an API, ready for consumption at any time. The nature of the data may either be data that is changing rapidly (e.g. current temperature of an asset ), configuration data, or master data (which never changes for an existing asset).

Semantic Aspect Meta Model (SAMM)

The Semantic Aspect Meta Model (SAMM) allows the creation of models to describe the semantics of digital twins by defining their domain-specific data which will be provided through aspects or Submodels. SAMM provides a set of predefined objects that allow a domain expert to define Aspect Models and complement a digital twin with a semantic foundation.

SAMM was previously known as BAMM Aspect Meta Model.

See also Semantic Aspect Meta Model (SAMM)

semantic data integration

Semantic data integration is a process that uses knowledge graphs to which data of original source systems is mapped using so-called mapping rules.

semantic data model

The semantic data model is a method of structuring data that includes semantic information that adds a basic meaning to the data and the relationships that lie between them.

Source: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/30489/semantic-data-modelexternallink 20

semantic information

Also: semantically described information. Data that — within a certain context — has a particular meaning.

wisdom knowledge information data pyramid

semantic interoperability

Semantic interoperability denotes the ability of different applications and business partners to understand exchanged data in a similar way, implying a precise and unambiguous meaning of the exchanged information.

Source: https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/challenges-interoperability-ecosystem/26340externallink 20

semantic stack

Bosch Semantic Stack is a semantic stack: software that supports implementing digital twins by delivering the necessary tools to create, manage, and utilize digital twins and their components while adding semantics to the data exchanged through digital twins.

Bosch Semantic Stack includes the Digital Twin Registry and the Aspect Model Catalog. It is complemented by the open-source Semantic Aspect Meta Model (SAMM) specification, the Aspect Model Editor, and all related SDK functionality to utilize semantically described data provided by digital twins.

semantics

Semantics is the study of meaning, reference, or truth.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semanticsexternallink 20

SHACL

SHACL (SHApes Constraint Language) is a standard by the W3C to validate graph-based data in RDF. See https://www.w3.org/TR/shacl/externallink 20

solution

A solution based on Bosch Semantic Stack is a software application including the model, data, semantic stack components, and other libraries.

SPARQL

SPARQL (SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language) is a standard by the W3C to query graph-based data in RDF format. See https://www.w3.org/TR/sparql11-query/externallink 20

Submodel Descriptor

Object containing the Submodel’s identification and endpoint information [SOURCE: IDTA-01002-3-0, 6.3.4].

Submodel template

Template for the representation of an aspect of an asset [SOURCE: IEC 63278-1:2023, 3.1.27].

TTL

Turtle (Terse RDF Triple Language) is a standard by the W3C. The Resource Description Framework (RDF) is a general-purpose language for representing information in the Web.

See http://www.w3.org/TR/turtle/externallink 20

use case

A use case is a usage scenario for a piece of software; to suggest a situation where a piece of software may be useful. The fulfillment of the need from a use case is reflect in a solution.