Open Archives Initiative Object Reuse and Exchange - Introduction

Introduction

The ORE standard is concerned with the description of aggregations of web resources. It defines 4 entities:

• the Aggregation itself, identified by its URI but without any corresponding concrete resource. It is a conceptual resource. Being uniquely identified it can enter into relationships with other resources, in particular aggregations of aggregation become possible.
• the Aggregated Resource: any resource part of an aggregation, identified by its URI
• the Resource Map: a resource describing an aggregation based on a set of assertions. A mandatory assertion indicates which aggregation the Resource Map itself is describing. Other assertions indicate the aggregated resource(s). Certain metadata are mandatory as well, such as the map creator. Dublin Core terms are used for this purpose.
• the proxy: a virtual resource acting as a proxy for a certain aggregated resource in the context of a certain aggregation. Its use is optional. A so-called lineage relationship can be established between proxy resources to trace the origin of an aggregated resource from another aggregation.

The standard accounts for the possible redundant description of the same aggregation and defines the notion of authoritative Resource Map. It also consider the notions of similar aggregations and of type of aggregated resources.

The standard is open in the sense that a Resource Map may include any additional assertions about resources.

Finally, the ORE standard builds upon the Cool URIs guideline, which discussed two strategies for not confusing a thing and some representation of it.