SBVR14 — Rule Set

A very common need for rules is to organize them into named sets. These named sets can be referenced by other rules. Because of that fact, this Issue is one pertaining to semantics – i.e., it is within SBVR scope.

SBVR-SE provides for the specification of rule sets (Annex A.5). This is a further reason for some appropriate entry/ies within SBVR proper for “rule set”.

SBVR currently includes the following entry:

body of shared guidance all of the elements of guidance within a body of shared meanings

But a rule set (or ruleset) organizes some, not all, elements of guidance within a body of shared meanings. In other words, a rule set need not be ‘complete’ (but should be non-redundant).

Annex A.5 indicates that a rule set can have a:

• Name
• Description
• Vocabulary
• Note
• Source

However, some or all of these same properties probably apply to many or all kinds of bodies/sets/collections, and so it properly addressed under Issue 17542 (Containers Holistically).

Resolution:

Add the following entries into Clause 19:

rule set
Definition: set of one or more elements of guidance within a body of shared guidance
Synonym: ruleset

ruleset
See: rule set

body of shared guidance includes rule set
Synonymous Form: rule set is included in body of shared guidance

rule set includes element of guidance
Synonymous Form: element of guidance is included in rule set

The concept ‘rule set’ is referenced in the context of the SBVR Content Model exchange document in SBVR Clause 23 which is normative, but it is not defined in the SBVR Vocabulary, nor is this concept included in either the SBVR XMI Metamodel file (Clause 25.2) or the SBVR XMI Metamodel XML Schema file (Clause 25.3). The concept ‘rule set’ and its two supporting concepts needs to be added to SBVR to close this internal gap in SBVR.

Add into Clause 19 the entries for:
• rule set (ruleset)
• body of shared guidance includes rule set
• rule set includes element of guidance