D.2.1. Identifier Resolution¶
Standards for ensuring content is identified and resolvable.
The capability Identifier Resolution (D.2.1) is part of the capability area Technology Execution in the Technology Pillar.
Standards for ensuring content is identified and resolvable.
Identifier resolution is a process of combining multiple identifiers across devices, spreadsheets, repositories, and platforms into a cohesive profile. The process includes searching across disparate datasets and analyzing content to find (and resolve) matches based on available data records and attributes. Identifier resolution is complicated by distinctions in both structure and meaning because various information systems can vary in quality, completeness, format, and nomenclature.
Identifier resolution is a crucial process within the Enterprise Knowledge Graph (EKG), guided by the principles of the Enterprise Knowledge Graph Foundation1. It ensures that every object in the EKG has a unique, permanent, and resolvable identifier known as the EKG Identifier (EKG/IRI). This identifier serves as the primary means of identifying and connecting objects within the EKG ecosystem.
The EKG/IRI offers several advantages. It provides a consistent and unchanging identifier that simplifies identity mapping and promotes interoperability across different EKGs. By encouraging the use of standardized EKG/IRIs, the number of connections between EKGs increases, fostering better interoperability.
Resolving identifiers within the EKG can be achieved through different methods, including lookup services, standardized policies with hashing, and generating EKG/IRIs for authoritative objects. These approaches ensure that the identifiers remain reliable and resolvable over time.
Adopting EKG/IRIs requires considering factors such as mapping other identifiers to the EKG/IRI, maintaining the opacity of EKG/IRIs to prevent human-readable ambiguity, and handling objects with existing RDF and Linked Data compliant identifiers. It's important to note that using multiple EKG identifiers, often in conjunction with legacy identifiers, means that the Unique Name Assumption (UNA) should be avoided within the EKG.
By following these practices, organizations can establish a robust and consistent identification framework within their EKG, promoting data integrity, interoperability, and long-term resolvability.
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The 10 EKG principles ↩