Process Specification Language
Encyclopedia
The Process Specification Language (PSL) is a set of logic terms used to describe processes
. The logic terms are specified
in an ontology that provides a formal description
of the components and their relationships that make up a process. The ontology was developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and has been approved as an international standard in the document ISO 18629.
The Process Specification Language can be used for the representation of manufacturing, engineering
and business process
es, including production scheduling, process planning, workflow management, business process reengineering, simulation, process realization, process modeling, and project management
. In the manufacturing domain, PSL’s objective is to serve as a common representation for integrating several process-related applications throughout the manufacturing process life cycle
.
s (object, activity, activity_occurrence, timepoint), constants (inf+, inf-), functions (beginof, endof), and relations
(occurrence_of, participates_in, between, before, exists_at, is_occurring_at). This core ontology is then used to describe more complex concepts. The ontology uses the Common Logic Interchange Format
(CLIF) to represent the concepts, constants, functions, and relations.
This ontology provides a vocabulary of classes and relations for concepts at the ground level of event-instances, object-instances, and timepoints. PSL’s top level is built around the following:
Process (philosophy)
In philosophy and systems theory, basic processes, or logical homologies as they were termed by Ludwig von Bertalanffy, are unifying principles which operate in many different systemic contexts. For example, feedback is a principle that figures prominently in the science of cybernetics...
. The logic terms are specified
Specification language
A specification language is a formal language used in computer science.Unlike most programming languages, which are directly executable formal languages used to implement a system, specification languages are used during systems analysis, requirements analysis and systems design.Specification...
in an ontology that provides a formal description
Formal system
In formal logic, a formal system consists of a formal language and a set of inference rules, used to derive an expression from one or more other premises that are antecedently supposed or derived . The axioms and rules may be called a deductive apparatus...
of the components and their relationships that make up a process. The ontology was developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and has been approved as an international standard in the document ISO 18629.
The Process Specification Language can be used for the representation of manufacturing, engineering
Systems engineering process
A systems engineering process is a process for applying systems engineering techniques to the development of all kinds of systems. Systems engineering processes are related to the stages in a system life cycle...
and business process
Business process
A business process or business method is a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product for a particular customer or customers...
es, including production scheduling, process planning, workflow management, business process reengineering, simulation, process realization, process modeling, and project management
Project management
Project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, securing, and managing resources to achieve specific goals. A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end , undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring about beneficial change or added value...
. In the manufacturing domain, PSL’s objective is to serve as a common representation for integrating several process-related applications throughout the manufacturing process life cycle
Life cycle
Life cycle or lifecycle may refer to: * Biological life cycle* Enterprise life cycle* Life cycle assessment* New product development* Product lifecycle , various meanings* Project life cycle...
.
Ontology
The foundation of the ontology is a set of primitive conceptConcept
The word concept is used in ordinary language as well as in almost all academic disciplines. Particularly in philosophy, psychology and cognitive sciences the term is much used and much discussed. WordNet defines concept: "conception, construct ". However, the meaning of the term concept is much...
s (object, activity, activity_occurrence, timepoint), constants (inf+, inf-), functions (beginof, endof), and relations
Relation (mathematics)
In set theory and logic, a relation is a property that assigns truth values to k-tuples of individuals. Typically, the property describes a possible connection between the components of a k-tuple...
(occurrence_of, participates_in, between, before, exists_at, is_occurring_at). This core ontology is then used to describe more complex concepts. The ontology uses the Common Logic Interchange Format
Common logic
Common logic is a framework for a family of logic languages, based on first-order logic, intended to facilitate the exchange and transmission of knowledge in computer-based systems....
(CLIF) to represent the concepts, constants, functions, and relations.
This ontology provides a vocabulary of classes and relations for concepts at the ground level of event-instances, object-instances, and timepoints. PSL’s top level is built around the following:
- Activity, a class or type of action, such as install-part, which is the class of actions in which parts are installed
- Activity-occurrence, an event or action that takes place at a specific place and time, such as a specific instance of install-part occurring at a specific timestampTimestampA timestamp is a sequence of characters, denoting the date or time at which a certain event occurred. A timestamp is the time at which an event is recorded by a computer, not the time of the event itself...
- Timepoint, a point in time
- Object, anything that is not a timepoint or an activity
See also
- ISO TC 184/SC 4ISO TC 184/SC 4ISO TC 184/SC 4 is an international standards organization responsible for industrial data. ISO TC 184/SC 4 develops and maintains ISO standards that describe and manage industrial product data throughout the life of the product...
, standards for industrial data - Process ontologyProcess ontologyIn computer science, a process ontology is a description of the components and their relationships that make up a process. A formal process ontology is an ontology in the knowledge domain of processes. Often such ontologies take advantage of the benefits of an upper ontology...
, ontologies for processes