NAMING: A Key Component of Robust Resolution/Linking

A presentation by Albert Simmonds, Business Manager, Open Names Service, Online Computer Library Corporation

This presentation will cover some of the basic issues involved in utilizing names in the digital environment, focusing on how changes in the supply chain are affecting the deployment of names. Included will be a brief overview of Open Names Service, which is profiled below.

INTRODUCTION

Open Names Service is envisioned as a for profit subsidiary of the Online Computer Library Center of Dublin, Ohio, USA. The goal of Open Names Service is to create a secure, managed space on the World Wide Web for resolution of business to business transactions.

The technology underlying Open Names Service is under development. However, the central concept is that traffic will be routed within this space

Based on unique persistent identifiers (names),with each name authority controlling the terms of all transactions involving the identifier it controls.

The base revenue model is based on click revenue for classes of transactions, the exact terms for which will be specified by contract with each company or organization that utilizes the Names space.

The space will provide a platform for mounting services, both those created by Names and those provided by others. At its inception, Names will provide the following services:

Joint technology development;
Joint marketing;
Supply chain consulting;
Management of traffic to sites relevant to specific identifiers.

Management of traffic implies providing a comfortable environment within which business can be conducted. In this sense, Open Names Service is envisioned as an online mall for Available Intellectual Property providing such amenities as:

Security;
Maps and directories that support navigation processes within the space.
Etc.

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

We are currently working on a multi-level plan for development, with the introduction of the system planned for the annual meeting of the American Library Association in the summer of 2001.

Participants Information: Albert William Simmonds

Albert Simmonds has played key roles in the book and serial industry for over 15 years. From 1984 to 1998 Dr. Simmonds was first Director of Editorial and later Director of Standards and Business Development for RR Bowker, managing both the Books in Print and Ulrich's databases, as well as the United States ISBN and SAN agencies. He has served on numerous publishing industry standards committees and is currently the chairperson of the Identifiers Committee of Book And Serial Industry Communication (BASIC), the New York based publishing industry standards organization. In this capacity he works closely with EDItEUR, the international organization that is developing standard metadata sets and formats for the text publishing industry. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) and is a member of the United States delegation to Technical Committee 46 of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). He is a member of the ISO committees that are developing the International Standard Work Code (for the music industry) and the International Standard Audiovisual Number (for the movie industry).

Simmonds is chairperson of a third ISO Committee that is creating new identifiers for the text sector: the International Standard Text Work Code (ISTC). This identifier is being designed to link with ISBNs in the text supply chain to form a comprehensive identification system of text works (for use in rights management), text products (for use in electronic commerce) and the creators and rights holders connected with these products. A core text metadata set is being created as a part of this standard, and both identifiers will be compatible with web-based transaction systems.

Simmonds, a graduate of Amherst College (Amherst, Massachusetts), is based in Manhattan. He is currently Business Manager of Open Names Service, which is planned as a separate division of the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) in Dublin Ohio.