The CIMI Profile defines five Conformance Levels: Levels 0,1,2,3,4. These are associated with search and retrieval functionality supported by CIMI Z-clients and Z-servers. The extent of attribute values and element set names supported defines the Conformance Levels (i.e., a server supports a certain set of attribute values; a server creates a retrieval record using one or more element set names). In addition to specifying a group of Use attributes and one or more element set names to support at each Conformance Level, there is an indication of the Z39.50 Objects (see Section 6.2) required for support by CIMI Z-clients and Z-servers. Conformance Levels are cascading in that Conformance Level N+1 inherits the functionality for Conformance Level N.
This approach to conformance addresses two key concerns. First, Conformance Levels 0 and 1 provide a foundation for interoperable cross-domain resource discovery. This level results in relatively "coarse grain" search and retrieval.
Second, the resources accessible by CIMI Z-clients and Z-servers are diverse in database richness, structure, the extent to which fields in the database are populated with data, and the extent of access points supported in specific databases. Specifying multiple Conformance Levels reflects the Profile's sensitivity to this heterogeneous situation.
Support for attributes in this context means that the server will recognize the Use attributes, and a search using the Use attributes listed for a Conformance Level will always result in a valid result set (which could contain 0 hits). This implies that all CIMI conformant implementations must have search capabilities for the listed Use attributes for a specific conformance level.
6.6.1. Interoperability and USMARC
Implementation at Conformance Levels 0 and 1 puts the least burden on the installed base of Z39.50 implementations to interact with CIMI Z-clients and CIMI Z-servers. Level 0 can be considered the easiest Conformance Level to support and implement; it provides support for simple searching, and returns a simple, brief record comprised of tagSet-G elements.
Although the CIMI Profile requires CIMI Z-clients and Z-servers to support GRS-1, the Profile recommends that CIMI implementations consider support for the USMARC record syntax. CIMI Z-clients and Z-servers should also be prepared for interactions with implementations that understand the Simple Unstructured Text Record Syntax (SUTRS). Support for USMARC and SUTRS record syntaxes is optional at all Conformance Levels.
Identifying optional support for USMARC in the CIMI Profile addresses CIMI's interest in promoting wider interoperability with installed Z39.50 implementations, in particular, Z39.50 bibliographic clients and servers. Since many Z39.50 bibliographic implementations support only Version 2, the Bib-1 Attribute Set, and the USMARC record syntax, the CIMI Profile specifies how interoperability with those implementations can be achieved at a level of simple search and retrieval. CIMI Profile implementors who plan to support searches from Z39.50 bibliographic clients and/or retrieval from Z39.50 bibliographic servers should strongly consider supporting USMARC record syntax. Appendix D provides a mapping between element set name b elements and USMARC fields.
Conformance Level 0 offers a mode of interaction between CIMI Z-clients and CIMI Z-servers for basic and generic search and retrieval. Use attributes Who, What, When, and Where support simple searching for cultural heritage information on CIMI Z-servers. This Conformance Level allows Z39.50 bibliographic clients to conduct basic Author, Title, and Subject searching of CIMI Z-servers through use of Bib-1 attribute values. CIMI Z-clients can also search Z39.50 bibliographic servers for similar search and retrieval. Conformance Level 0 requires support of a minimum set of attributes, one element set name, and several Z39.50 Objects. CIMI Z-servers should be prepared to receive a query with a Bib-1 OID and the Bib-1 Use attributes listed below. Support for USMARC and SUTRS record syntaxes are optional.
Use Attributes:
| CIMI-1 Use Attribute Value | Name | Bib-1 Use Attribute Value | Name | |||||||||||
| 4 | title | 4 | title | |||||||||||
| 7 | ISBN | 7 | ISBN | |||||||||||
| 8 | ISSN | 8 | ISSN | |||||||||||
| 12 | local number | 12 | local number | |||||||||||
| 21 | subject heading | 21 | subject heading | |||||||||||
| 31 | date of publication | 31 | date of publication | |||||||||||
| 1003 | author | 1003 | author | |||||||||||
| 1004 | personal author | 1004 | personal author | |||||||||||
| 1016 | any | 1016 | any | |||||||||||
| 2046 | who | |||||||||||||
| 2047 | what | |||||||||||||
| 2048 | when | |||||||||||||
| 2049 | where |
Element Set Name:
Level 0 requires that clients and servers can request and return all elements in element set name b (see Section 6.4.3.4.1.).
Z39.50 Objects:
| Object | OID | Client | Server | ||||||
| Bib-1 attribute set | 1.2.840.10003.3.1 | X | X | ||||||
| CIMI-1 attribute set | 1.2.840.10003.3.8 | X | X | ||||||
| Bib-1 diagnostic set | 1.2.840.10003.4.1 | X | X | ||||||
| GRS-1 record syntax | 1.2.840.10003.5.105 | X | X | ||||||
| SUTRS record syntax | 1.2.840.10003.5.101 | optional | optional | ||||||
| USMARC record syntax | 1.2.840.10003.5.10 | optional | optional | ||||||
| TagSet-M | 1.2.840.10003.14.1 | X | X | ||||||
| TagSet-G | 1.2.840.10003.14.2 | X | X |
Conformance Level 1 provides "coarse grain" or generic-level search and retrieval for purposes of resource discovery. Network-accessible resources are viewed through the lens of the Dublin Core Metadata Elements. Conformance Level 1 allows CIMI Z-clients and non-CIMI Z-clients to use Dublin Core Metadata as concepts upon which to search (i.e., access points) and as elements in which to package database information into a retrieval record. A CIMI Z39.50 client must use the CIMI-1 Use attribute values below and send the CIMI-1 OID in a query. A non-CIMI Z-client can use the Bib-1 Use attributes below and send the Bib-1 OID in a query. A non-CIMI Z39.50 client that supports GRS-1 can interoperate with a CIMI Z-server since Conformance Level 1 only requires those clients to process tagSet-G and tagSet-M elements in a retrieval record. Conformance Level 1 corresponds to the generic level of semantic interoperability discussed in Section 6.4.3.1. If a Dublin Core Attribute Set becomes available, non-CIMI Z39.50 clients will be able to use those attributes for searching and will be required to know nothing about the CIMI-1 Attribute Set.
Use Attributes:
| CIMI-1 Use Attribute Value | Name | Bib-1 Use Attribute Value | Name | ||||||
| 12 | local number | 12 | localNumber | ||||||
| 2051 | DC-title | 4 | title | ||||||
| 2052 | DC-creator | 1003 | author | ||||||
| 2053 | DC-subject | 21 | subjectHeading | ||||||
| 2054 | DC-description | 62 | abstract | ||||||
| 2055 | DC-publisher | 1018 | publisher | ||||||
| 2056 | DC-contributor | 1003 | author | ||||||
| 2057 | DC-date | 31 | date | ||||||
| 2058 | DC-type | 1031 | materialType | ||||||
| 2059 | DC-format | ||||||||
| 2060 | DC-identifier | 1032 | doc-id | ||||||
| 2061 | DC-source | ||||||||
| 2062 | DC-language | 54 | codeLanguage | ||||||
| 2063 | DC-relation | ||||||||
| 2064 | DC-coverage | ||||||||
| 2065 | DC-rights management |
Element Set Name:
Level 1 requires that clients and servers can request and return all elements in element set name b (see Section 6.4.3.4.1.).
Z39.50 Objects:
| Object | OID | Client | Server | ||||||
| Bib-1 attribute set | 1.2.840.10003.3.1 | X | X | ||||||
| CIMI-1 attribute set | 1.2.840.10003.3.8 | X | X | ||||||
| Bib-1 diagnostic set | 1.2.840.10003.4.1 | X | X | ||||||
| GRS-1 record syntax | 1.2.840.10003.5.105 | X | X | ||||||
| SUTRS record syntax | 1.2.840.10003.5.101 | optional | optional | ||||||
| USMARC record syntax | 1.2.840.10003.5.10 | optional | optional | ||||||
| TagSet-M | 1.2.840.10003.14.1 | X | X | ||||||
| TagSet-G | 1.2.840.10003.14.2 | X | X |
Conformance Level 2 is unspecified in this release of the Profile. When specified, Conformance Level 2 will address more extensive use of the Digital Collections Profile. Conformance Level 2 corresponds to the Digital Collections level of semantic interoperability discussed in Section 6.4.3.1.
Conformance Level 3 provides for more sophisticated, cultural heritage information-related search and retrieval. CIMI Z-clients and Z-servers must be both Digital Collection-Schema and CIMI-Schema aware. Conformance Level 3 retrieval allows CIMI Z-clients to receive sufficient database elements to build typical brief record views of museum data (e.g., tombstone). Conformance Level 3 corresponds to the CIMI level of semantic interoperability discussed in Section 6.4.3.1.
Use Attributes:
| Value | Name | ||
| 12 | local number | ||
| 2035 | creatorName | ||
| 2036 | creatorDateOfBirth | ||
| 2037 | creatorDateOfDeath | ||
| 2009 | creatorNationalityCultureRace | ||
| 2070 | fieldCollector | ||
| 2071 | dateCollected | ||
| 2072 | agePeriod | ||
| 2073 | typeSpecimen | ||
| 2008 | materialMedium | ||
| 2024 | objectID | ||
| 2032 | objectName | ||
| 2033 | objectTitle | ||
| 2026 | owner | ||
| 2023 | placeOfOrigin | ||
| 2017 | stylePeriod | ||
Element Set Name:
Level 3 requires that clients and servers can request and return all elements in element set name mb (see Section 6.4.3.4.2.).
Z39.50 Objects:
| Object | OID | Client | Server | ||||||
| Bib-1 attribute set | 1.2.840.10003.3.1 | X | X | ||||||
| CIMI-1 attribute set | 1.2.840.10003.3.8 | X | X | ||||||
| Bib-1 diagnostic set | 1.2.840.10003.4.1 | X | X | ||||||
| GRS-1 record syntax | 1.2.840.10003.5.105 | X | X | ||||||
| SUTRS record syntax | 1.2.840.10003.5.101 | optional | optional | ||||||
| USMARC record syntax | 1.2.840.10003.5.10 | optional | optional | ||||||
| Digital Collections Schema | 1.2.840.10003.13 3 | X | X | ||||||
| CIMI Schema | 1.2.840.10003.13.5 | X | X | ||||||
| TagSet-M | 1.2.840.10003.14.1 | X | X | ||||||
| TagSet-G | 1.2.840.10003.14.2 | X | X | ||||||
| TagSet–Collections | 1.2.840.10003.14.5 | X | X | ||||||
| TagSet–CIMI | 1.2.840.10003.14.6 | X | X |
Conformance Level 4 requires CIMI Z-clients and Z-servers to support the CIMI-1 Attribute Set and element set name f. Conformance at Level 4 provides the richest search and retrieval of cultural heritage information resources. Conformance Level 4 corresponds to CIMI level semantic interoperability discussed in Section 6.4.3.1