Introduction to RM-ODP Overview
Copyright © OGC 2010
11 The engineering viewpoint: A viewpoint on the system and its environment that
focuses on the mechanisms and functions required to support distributed interaction between objects in the system.
The technology viewpoint: A viewpoint on the system and its environment that focuses on the choice of technology in that system.
The distributed aspect of an ODP system is handled by the concept of distribution transparency. Distribution transparency relates to the masking from applications the
details and the differences in mechanisms used to overcome problems caused by distribution. According to the RM-ODP, application designers simply select which
distribution transparencies they wish to assume and where in the design they are to apply. The RM-ODP distinguishes between eight distribution transparency types. These
distribution transparencies consider aspects of object access, failure of objects, location of objects, as well as replication, migration, relocation, persistence and transactional
behaviour of objects.
More recently than the initial publication of RM-ODP, the ISO 19793:2008 standard has been published addressing how to use UML with RM-ODP [RD11]. ISOIEC 19793
applies UML as an alternative to the viewpoint languages in the original ISO 10746:1998. The ISO 19793 UML is an improvement over the ISO 10746 viewpoint
languages. The UML for RM-ODP are useful for the methodology purposes but will not be used directly. The UML for RM-ODP does improve our understanding and use of the
RM-ODP viewpoints. In particular two of the summary descriptions from ISOIEC 19793 are useful for the methodology See Figure 2:
The engineering viewpoint addresses: Solution Types and Distribution - Infrastructure required to support distribution
The technology viewpoint addresses: Implementation - System hardware and software and actual distribution
12
Figure 2 RM-ODP Viewpoints from ISOIEC 19793
The RM-ODP has been used in the FP6 ORCHESTRA Project [RD1] and in the Heterogeneous Mission Accessibility Project [RD5].
The RM-ODP including the UML version has been used in the GEOSS Architecture Implementation Pilot.