Glossary

catalog

A set of subscription offers. A subscriber obtains a catalog from a syndicator, and uses the offers within the catalog to initiate the ICE subscription protocol.

collection

A set of items generated over time by receipt of a package sequence. For example, on a subscriber's site, a collection would be all the different items acquired during the subscription's duration.

content provider

One who provides the content for content subscribers. Oracle Syndication Server supports three types of content providers: file, database, and Web, and is also extensible so it can support additional types of content providers.

Distinguished Name (DN)

The unique name of a directory entry in Oracle Internet Directory (OID). It includes all the individual names of the parent entries back to the root. The Distinguished Name tells you exactly where the entry resides in the directory's hierarchy. This hierarchy is represented by a directory information tree (DIT).

Document Type Definition (DTD)

An XML document used to validate other XML documents. Oracle Syndication Server uses an ICE agent layered on Dynamic Services to take a content syndication or a content subscription request in the form of an XML document, which is validated against a predetermined ICE protocol Document Type Definition (DTD).

ICE

Information and Content Exchange.

ICE payload

See payload.

item

A single delivery instance of an arbitrary data type.

ICE/HTTP

The specific binding of the ICE protocol to the HTTP protocol.

message

The abstract concept of an atomic unit of communication.

minimal subscriber

A subscriber ICE implementation that has no persistent server component and therefore cannot receive syndicator-initiated request messages.

negotiation

A subscriber ICE implementation may negotiate to arrive at mutually agreeable delivery methods and schedules.

package

A single delivery instance of a group of items. For example, a single issue of a parts manual or a single set of headlines. A package is the atomic unit of information distribution in ICE.

package sequence

An ordered series of packages delivered over time.

payload

A protocol structure encapsulating a set of logical ICE operations delivered at discrete intervals. A payload is a single instance of an XML document formatted according to the protocol definitions contained in this specification.

pull

The retrieval of content by a subscriber who polls a syndicator for new or updated content provided by content providers.

push

The automatic delivery of content by sending it to subscribers when content changes or according to some schedule.

receiver

Generic term referring to the target of an ICE payload.

request

A message asking for the performance of an operation. Requests in ICE are messages carried by payloads.

requester

Generic term referring to the initiator of an ICE payload request.

response

A message containing the results of an operation. Responses in ICE are messages carried by payloads.

responder

Generic term referring to the recipient of an ICE payload request.

sender

Generic term referring to the originator of an ICE payload.

service

A component within the Internet computing model that delivers a specialized value-added function.

service provider

A business partner or application developer who provides and manages the content of a service for the Dynamic Services execution engine. Typically, the service provider is the owner of some data resource or process, such as, the owner of a currency exchange rate Web site. Also, it is someone who provides content for a service.

subscriber

In the world of content syndication, one of the two parties in an ICE relationship, who receives information and content from the other party, a syndicator. The subscriber uses ICE to obtain information and content from the syndicator.

subscription

An agreement to deliver a package sequence from a syndicator to a subscriber. There may be many independent subscriptions between a syndicator and a subscriber.

subscription element

The identifier for a logical concept represented by a specific item, or group of items, within a collection. The subscription element may have many versions over time, and thus may have been represented by different items. For example, a company logo is a single subscription element, that can be updated over time. Every subscription element has a unique subscription element ID assigned by the syndicator.

subscription offer

A proposed set of parameters for a particular subscription.

syndicator

In the world of content syndication, one of the two parties in an ICE relationship, who sends information and content to the other party, a subscriber. The syndicator uses ICE to send information and content to the subscriber. The role of content syndicator is carried out by Oracle Syndicator Server.

unsolicited message

A protocol mechanism used in ICE to provide a way for a syndicator to initiate communication to a minimal subscriber.