Formalizing Obligations for Data Exchange Specifications Like FHIR and HL7 v2.

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Information Systems

Background:

• Current data exchange specifications lack formal requirements for data elements, leading to vague interpretations.
• Text-based requirements and simple tags are insufficient for expressing complex behavioral expectations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a formal approach for representing data exchange requirements and behavioral expectations.
• To introduce a novel ontology for formalizing data obligations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data representation and profiling requirements.
• Development of a formal structure to represent obligations.

Main Results:

• A new, high-level ontology for formal data exchange specifications.
• Identification of challenges in implementing formal requirement representation.

Conclusions:

• Discussion on the practical implementation and establishment of the proposed ontology's axes.
• Need for formal methods to ensure clarity and consistency in data exchange.