Things, references, connectors, types, variables, relations and attributes - A contribution to the FI and MU theories

Abstract

This work builds upon the FI [1] and MU [2] theories, that belong to the 2015 ensemble of theories from the discipline of enterprise engineering [3]. We critique several aspects of those theories and build upon them proposing a modelling ontology to represent the world, having an asynchronous network of actors, as a requirement. This modelling ontology has seven building blocks to enable modelling data and structures of the world (Things, References, Connectors, Types, Variables, Relations and Attributes). Things address the problem of identity. References introduce the notion of Pointer, extending the FI Theory [1] and clarifying concepts. Connectors address the problem of linking mutable and immutable Things in a network environment. The most innovative contribution is the usage of Types as a dynamic expression of constraints over attributes. Variables and Relations are defined using the revised Relational Theory [4, 5]. Variables are mutable structures that hold values using temporal logic. Relations can be assigned to Variables that also follow the temporal logic. Attributes are Variables within the closure context of a Thing. Together these seven building blocks allow for better modeling in line with the FI and MU theory.