Published: 17 August 2012

Chief Information Officer

IC Technical Specifications

Multi Audience Collections

Overview

This XML Data Encoding Specification for Multi Audience Collections (MAC.XML) defines detailed implementation guidance for using Extensible Markup Language (XML) to encode MAC data. This Data Encoding Specification (DES) defines the XML elements and attributes, associated structures and relationships, mandatory and cardinality requirements, and permissible values for representing MAC data concepts using XML. This DES defines how to properly structure a valid instance of Trusted Data Format (TDF) that would conform with this specification. Use of TDF is required for compliance with this DES. A TDF may conform with multiple DES simultaneously assuming none of the criteria are in conflict.

This IC enterprise data encoding specification defines XML elements and attributes, associated structures and relationships, mandatory and cardinality requirements, permissible values, and constraint rules for packaging specific types of electronic information resources that are tailored for select audiences and grouped together for exchange. Examples of this type of information resource may be something as familiar as a tearlined cable message, each tearline of which is tailored for a specific audience based on classification, or as complex as a packaging together of many customized variants of the same textual product for dissemination on JWICS.

MAC elements as Trusted Data Object (TDO) assertions may be used in conjunction XML Data Encoding Specification for Intelligence Publications (PUBS.XML) to describe the relationship between multiple PUBS.XML TDO payloads in a Trusted Data Collection (TDC). Textual information resources conformant with PUBS.XML can be packaged with MAC.XML. Textual information resources consist primarily of text supplemented by interspersed non-textual information. Examples include assessments, studies, estimates, compilations, reports, and other document-oriented information.

Compliance with this specification is measured against all aspects of the technical and documentary artifacts contained within the specification release package.

The IC Chief Information Officer maintains this specification via the Data Coordination Activity (DCA) and Common Metadata Standards Tiger Team (CMSTT).

Technical Specification Downloads

Latest Approved Public Release:

• Multi Audience Collection (V2016-SEP - Standalone Package)
• Multi Audience Collection (V2016-SEP - Convenience Package)
• Multi Audience Collection (V2016-SEP - Light Package)

Mission Requirements

This specification is designed to fulfill a number of requirements in support of the transformational efforts of the Intelligence Community. Many of these requirements are articulated in IC Directives 203, 206, 208, and 501, among others. These policies cover topics such as "write for maximum utility", "responsibility to provide", and "information sharing".

Broad information sharing within the intelligence enterprise can be facilitated by the creation, identification, packaging, and sharing of information resources tailored by the producer to support different audiences (e.g., variants). This tailoring is commonly based on, among other things, characteristics of the information, such as classification or topical interest.

The creation of multiple classification variants (e.g., TOP SECRET, SECRET, and UNCLASSIFIED versions of the same intelligence product) and sharing of those variants across secure network channels allows a producer to communicate more information to intended and unintended consumers across the broader information sharing enterprise in a way that reliably protects classified information and intelligence sources and methods.

The existence of variants today is quite common across the intelligence enterprise. This is a routine practice in cable message traffic in which tearlines, delimited blocks of text, are used to capture each variant that are then separated (often manually) prior to delivery. Producers also routinely create intelligence product variants for their different customers, but these are typically created as different documents that are stored, managed, and delivered separately.

MAC introduces a packaging structure for these separately tagged variants that allows for the efficient exchange, if not also storage, of these related variants in a form that is bound and managed together. Binding the variants together reduces the confusion that exists today when a consumer searches the enterprise and finds multiple versions of the same product and cannot discern the relationship between the products; thereby leading to a possible source of circular intelligence reporting.

Additionally, if one producer packages and shares all of the versions of a product they have created in the form of a MAC on JWICS, then other producers and consumers would not only better appreciate what other variants exist and where they may have been shared, but they would also be able to share appropriate variants with other downstream consumers who are also supporting our intelligence mission. This document provides general and prescriptive guidance for the development of secure and interoperable web services security solutions in support of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) policies and implementation guidance.

Published: 17 August 2012

Chief Information Officer

IC Technical Specifications

XML Data Encoding Specification for Virtual Coverage

Overview

This XML Data Encoding Specification for Virtual Coverage (VIRT.XML) defines detailed implementation guidance for using Extensible Markup Language (XML) to encode virtual coverage data. This Data Encoding Specification (DES) defines the XML elements and attributes, associated structures and relationships, mandatory and cardinality requirements, and permissible values for representing VIRT data concepts using XML.

This specification is applicable to the Intelligence Community (IC) and information produced by, stored, or shared within the IC. This DES may have relevance outside the scope of intelligence; however, prior to applying outside of this defined scope, the DES should be closely scrutinized and differences separately documented and assessed for applicability.

This specification applies to the IC, as defined by the National Security Act of 1947, as amended; and such other elements of any other department or agency as may be designated by the President or designated jointly by the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and the head of the department or agency concerned, as an element of the IC. Joint and Coalition forces may use this specification, but it is not required.

This specification is maintained by the IC Chief Information Officer via the Data Standards Coordination Activity (DSCA) and Common Metadata Standards Tiger Team (CMSTT).

Technical Specification Downloads

Latest Approved Public Release:

• XML Data Encoding Specification for Virtual Coverage (V2020-OCTr2022-MAY - Standalone Package)
• XML Data Encoding Specification for Virtual Coverage (V2020-OCTr2022-MAY - Convenience Package)
• XML Data Encoding Specification for Virtual Coverage (V2020-OCTr2022-MAY - Light Package)

Mission Requirements

Information sharing within the national intelligence enterprise will increasingly rely on describing virtual locations in shared intelligence. A structured, verifiable representation of virtual coverage to the intelligence data is required in order for the enterprise to become inherently "smarter" about the information flowing in and around it. Such a representation, when implemented with other data formats, improved user interfaces, and data processing utilities, can provide part of a larger, robust information assurance infrastructure capable of automating some of the management and exchange decisions today being performed by human beings.

The Intelligence Community (IC) has standardized the various classification and control markings established for information sharing within the Information Security Markings (ISM) specification of the Intelligence Community Enterprise Architecture (ICEA) Data Standards. The Virtual Coverage XML specification combines NTK and ISM elements from the ISM specification and extends them to virtual coverage needs.

Published: 17 August 2012

Chief Information Officer

IC Technical Specifications

CDR: Specification Framework

Overview

This Content, Discovery and Retrieval (CDR) Specification Framework document provides guidance for ensuring consistency and interoperability in the development of CDR Service Specifications. Generally, it describes the structure and content for CDR Service Specifications including the description of their key characteristics and a decomposition of key behaviors in the context of various environmental and technical considerations.

This CDR Specification Framework document is intended to provide both CDR Service Specification developers/authors and CDR service developers/implementers guidance for developing and implementing CDR Service Specifications. Specifically, this Specification Framework describes the Interface models and related behavior for each Service Specification and how they should be codified. For CDR Service Specification developers/authors, the framework provides the structure and content guidance for how CDR Service Specifications should be documented. For CDR service developers/implementers, the framework provides the common implementation and behavior guidance that, coupled with a specific CDR Service Specification, enables the realization of a CDR service.

This specification supports Intelligence Community Directive 501 (ICD 501), Discovery, Dissemination or Retrieval of Information within the Intelligence Community, which establishes policies for (1) discovery, and (2) dissemination or retrieval of intelligence and intelligence-related information collected, or analysis produced by the Intelligence Community.

This specification framework is maintained by the IC Chief Information Officer via the Services Coordination Activity (SCA) and Content Discovery and Retrieval Integrated Product Team (CDR IPT).

Technical Specification Downloads

Latest Approved Public Release:

• IC/DoD Content Discovery & Retrieval Specification Framework (V2 - Standalone Package (Release Date: 10 Apr 2013))

Value Proposition

This CDR Specification Framework describes in greater detail the CDR Components and capabilities presented in the CDR Reference Architecture. It is meant to provide guidance in enough detail to enable interoperability among independent implementations without otherwise constraining the implementation itself. In this vein, this document describes inputs and outputs to each component in the context of the expected behavior that clarifies what is needed as inputs, outputs, and other effects that are expected to be produced. It does not, however, specify the details of the internal implementation processing.

Published: 17 August 2012

Chief Information Officer

IC Technical Specifications

CDR: Reference Architecture

Overview

This IC/DoD enterprise Content Discovery and Retrieval Reference Architecture (CDR RA) provide conceptual and contextual guidance to architects, engineers, and developers tasked to implement CDR specifications. The CDR Reference Architecture (RA) is the keystone artifact for the overall set of guidance artifacts. The primary content of the CDR RA is the definition of an extensible set of capabilities and components that are realized via service specifications. It also describes various architecture interaction patterns and the specific technical framework to enable robust, scalable, and repeatable implementations across varying business and mission boundaries.

The CDR RA defines two primary capabilities - content discovery and content retrieval and is comprised of six core CDR components: Search, Brokered Search, Retrieve, Describe, Deliver, and Query Management that provide these capabilities. The CDR RA describes an architecturally driven approach for guiding the IC/DoD Enterprise towards enabling content discovery and retrieval.

This specification supports Intelligence Community Directive 501(ICD 501), Discovery, Dissemination or Retrieval of Information within the Intelligence Community, which establishes policies for (1) discovery, and (2) dissemination or retrieval of intelligence and intelligence-related information collected, or analysis produced by the Intelligence Community.

This reference architecture is maintained by the IC Chief Information Officer via the Services Coordination Activity (SCA) and Content Discovery and Retrieval Integrated Product Team (CDR IPT).

Technical Specification Downloads

Latest Approved Public Release:

• IC/DoD Content Discovery and Retrieval Reference Architecture (V2 - Standalone Package (Release Date: 10 Apr 2013))

Value Proposition

This CDR reference architecture defines two distinct, but inter-related capabilities: Content Discovery, and Retrieval.

• Content Discovery provides consumers with the ability to discover the existence of potentially relevant content resources and content collections from across the IC/DoD Enterprise. Content Discovery also enables consumers to discover valuable metadata about content resources to support making them visible, accessible, understandable, and trusted.
• Retrieval provides consumers the ability to retrieve and route specific content resources. To do so, content providers are to ensure their content is accessible to the Enterprise.