Semantic Modeling of Management Information: Enabling Automatic Reasoning on DMTF-CIM

Authors: Fernando Alonso, Rafael Fernandez, Sonia Frutos, Javier Soriano

Abstract:

CIM is the standard formalism for modeling management information developed by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) in the context of its WBEM proposal, designed to provide a conceptual view of the managed environment. In this paper, we propose the inclusion of formal knowledge representation techniques, based on Description Logics (DLs) and the Web Ontology Language (OWL), in CIM-based conceptual modeling, and then we examine the benefits of such a decision. The proposal is specified as a CIM metamodel level mapping to a highly expressive subset of DLs capable of capturing all the semantics of the models. The paper shows how the proposed mapping can be used for automatic reasoning about the management information models, as a design aid, by means of new-generation CASE tools, thanks to the use of state-of-the-art automatic reasoning systems that support the proposed logic and use algorithms that are sound and complete with respect to the semantics. Such a CASE tool framework has been developed by the authors and its architecture is also introduced. The proposed formalization is not only useful at design time, but also at run time through the use of rational autonomous agents, in response to a need recently recognized by the DMTF.

Keywords: CIM, Knowledge-based Information Models, Ontology Languages, OWL, Description Logics, Integrated Network Management, Intelligent Agents, Automatic Reasoning Techniques.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1061673

References:

[1] O. Dieste, N. Juristo, A. M. Moreno, J. Pazos, and A. Sierra. Handbook of Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering, volume 1, chapter Conceptual Modelling in Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering: Concepts, Techniques and Trends. World Scientific Publishing Company, 2000.
[2] Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM). Technical report, Distributed Management Task Force, 2003.
[3] A. S. Evans. Foundations of the Unified Modeling Language. In D. Duke and A. S. Evans, editors, Proceedings of the 2nd Northen Formal Methods Workshop, LNCS, pages 75-81, Heidelberg, Germany, 1997. Springer Verlag.
[4] A. S. Evans. Reasoning with UML class diagrams. In Proceedings of the 2nd Workshop on Industrial Strength Formal Specification Techniques. IEEE Computer Society Press, 1998.
[5] V. Haarslev and R. Mller. RACER system description. In Proceedings of the IJCAR 2001, number 2083 in LNAI, pages 701-705, Heidelberg, Berlin, 2001. Springer Verlag.
[6] A. L. G. Hayzelden and J. Bigham, editors. Software Agents for Future Communication Systems. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Berlin, 1999.
[7] A. L. G. Hayzelden and R. A. Bourne, editors. Agent Technology for Communication Infrastructures. John Wiley and Sons, LTD, 2001.
[8] H. Hegering, S. Abeck, and B. Neumair. Integrated Management of Networked Systems: Concepts, Architectures and their Operational Application. Series in Networking. Morgan Kaufmann, 1998.
[9] I. Horrocks, U. Sattler, and S. Tobies. Practical reasoning for expressive description logics. In Springer Verlag, editor, LPAR-99, number 1705 in LNCS, pages 161-180, Heidelberg, Berlin, 1999. Springer Verlag.
[10] M. D-Inverno and M. Luck, editors. Understanding Agent Systems. Springer-Verlag, 2002.
[11] D. L. McGuinness et al. The Description Logic Handbook: Theory, Implementation and Applications. Cambridge University Press, 2003.
[12] OMG. Unified Modeling Language Specification Version 1.4. Technical report, OMG, 2001.
[13] OMG. Meta-object facility (MOF) specification. Technical report, Object Management Group, 2002.
[14] J. Rumbaugh, I. Jacobson, and G. Booch. The Unified Modeling Language Reference Manual. Object Technology Series. Addison- Wesley, 1999.
[15] J. Soriano. Architectural Model for Distributed Systems and Services Management based on Holons and Autonomous Agents. PhD thesis, Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
[16] G. Weiss, editor. Multi-Agent Systems: A Modern Approach to Distributed Artificial Intelligence. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1999.
[17] A. Westerinen. What is policy and what can it be?. (keynote). In Proceedings of the IEEE Policy 2003 Conference. IEEE Computer Society Press, 2003.
[18] W3C WebOnt WG. Web ontology language (owl) guide. Last call working draft, World Wide Web Consortium, 2003.