3.1 Nature of the Reference Architecture

Return to 3. FDIS Reference Architecture

The Federated Data Interpretation Systems Reference Architecture (FDIS-RA) defines a shared architectural framework for systems that interpret, validate, compare, and govern information produced through statutory, regulatory, contractual, and other governed reporting regimes.

FDIS-RA identifies the architectural responsibilities, constraints, quality characteristics, interfaces, and relationships required to support transparent, comparable, auditable, traceable, and governable interpretation of regulated information throughout its lifecycle.

FDIS-RA is not the architecture of a particular system, organization, deployment, or product. It does not prescribe:

Internal component structuresAlgorithmsData schemasProcessing workflowsRuntime behaviorOperational configurationsTechnology selectionsInstead, FDIS-RA operates at a higher level of abstraction by establishing architectural expectations that apply across multiple systems, organizations, jurisdictions, and implementation approaches.

FDIS-RA is distinct from a software architecture.

A software architecture describes the internal structure, components, interfaces, deployment, and runtime behavior of a particular software system.

FDIS-RA defines the architectural responsibilities, constraints, quality characteristics, governance mechanisms, and semantic obligations that software architectures satisfy when they support regulated data interpretation.

Software architectures may realize, align with, or conform to FDIS-RA. FDIS-RA does not prescribe system decomposition, implementation structure, programming models, products, or technology choices.

Instead, it constrains how systems manage:

Semantic meaningInterpretation logicProvenanceTraceabilityGovernanceVersion managementControlled semantic evolutionThese constraints enable software architectures to support long-term regulatory reliance while preserving semantic integrity, auditability, accountability, and comparability.

FDIS-RA is also distinct from a reference implementation, technical specification, data standard, communication protocol, or implementation framework.

It does not define:

Executable softwareConcrete data modelsExchange formatsProtocol bindingsProgramming interfacesPlatform-specific behaviorStandards, semantic models, schemas, ontologies, rules, APIs, and other implementation artifacts may realize, align with, or support aspects of FDIS-RA. They do not replace the Reference Architecture.

FDIS-RA provides the architectural context within which such artifacts are designed, evaluated, governed, and assessed for conformance.

Accordingly, FDIS-RA serves as a framework for architectural design, assessment, governance, procurement, and conformance evaluation.

It establishes a common architectural baseline against which organizations evaluate systems for alignment with the objectives of regulated data interpretation, including:

Long-term semantic stabilityControlled semantic evolutionTraceabilityAuditabilityComparabilityAccountabilityGovernance across reporting periods, organizations, and regulatory regimes

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