RIB uses the IEEE Standard 1420.1, Basic Interoperability Data Model (BIDM), as the default data model for storing and exchanging metadata. The purpose of BIDM is to define the minimal set of information about assets that reuse libraries should be able to exchange in order to support interoperability. Since the BIDM describes a minimal set, other data that would be useful for interoperability, such as library data model information as well as communication protocol and related standards, are not included in the BIDM.

Standard NHSE extension While using the BIDM within the National HPCC Software Exchange (NHSE), several fields in addition to the standard BIDM fields were found to be useful. Those fields are included in the standard NHSE extension. The fields are :

• RigObject.RecordMaintainedBy.Organization : The Organization that is responsible for maintaining the information in the data object.
• RigObject.Webpage : A URL where further information about the data object can be found.
• Asset.ContactIs.Organization : The Organization which serves as a contact for the Asset.
• Asset.TitleLine : A one-line description of the Asset.

Abstract - general definition or explanation of an asset.
Address - in Organization, the mailing address of the organization (or person). Includes street number, name, city, state, zipcode, and country.
Attribute - a characteristic of a class for which a value may be given for an instance of that class.
Asset - any reusable entity in the software life cycle process (e.g ., a software package, tool, or routine).
AwardedWith - relates an asset to a certificate that states that th e asset has been assessed or evaluated according to specified evaluation criteria.
BIDM - Basic Interoperability Data Model
Certificate - software review or evaluation.
CertificationArtifact - a tangible result from a certification process (e.g., inspection checklist, metric report).
CertificationLevel - Certification level awarded to an asset by a certificate.
CertificationMethod - the method applied in assessing a certification property (e.g., inspection, static analysis, testing, formal verification, benchmarking).
CertificationPolicy - The policy used for the certification process of the Asset.
CertificationProperty - A feature or characteristic of an asset that may be assessed during a certification process.
CertificationStatus - status of the certificate (e.g., approved, rejected, in progress).
CertifiedBy - indicates the organization that issued the certificate or performed the certification process.
Class - type of BIDM object
ContactIs - An organization that is a point of contact for a library or asset (an organization can be a person).
Cost - the type and amount of fees a subscriber must pay to obtain the right to reuse an asset, including type of currency paid and pricing policy for maintenance support and upgrades.
DateOfInformation - the date the information about an asset was last updated.
DistributionStatement - an indication of who may receive an asset.
Domain - a broad area of interest, application area, or area of activity or knowledge.
Element - a file that is part of an asset
ElementType - the kind of element (e.g., source code, test suite, makefile)
Field - an attribute or relationship.
Icon - the url for an icon that graphically represents or provides information about the asset.
IsComposedOf - indicates an asset that is a subset or part of an as set.
IsLocatedIn - indicates a library (i.e., repository) in which an asset is located.
IsMadeOf - indicates an element (i.e., file) that is part of an asset.
Keyword - a word or phrase that describes the asset. Language - programming language used to express one or more elements of an asset.
Library - repository that contains assets.
LicensingTerms - Licensing terms for an asset or rights category. This outlines the specific licensing requirements that detail all of the terms between licensor and licensee of an asset or rights category.
Local - found in the repository currently being administrated.
Media - the media through which an element can be obtained (e.g., Cd-ROM, electronic, etc.).
Name - name or title of an object
Non-local - found in another (foreign) repository.
Object - an instance of a class.
Organization - a person, company, research group, etc. that creates and manages an asset or library.
PolicyEffectiveDate - date the CertificationPolicy was made effective for the organization.
PolicyReference - reference to document(s) or standard(s) that define a CertificationPolicy.
PropertyDescription - a statement about some feature or characteristic of an asset that may be assessed as being true or false during a certification process.
RecordMaintainedBy - an organization (see Organization) that is responsible for maintaining the catalog record for an object.
Relationship - a relationship between two classes, expressed by a link from an instance of the first class to an instance of the second.
Restrictions - legal information governing the use of the asset, including possibly copyright, patents, data rights, disclaimers, export restrictions, and licenses.
RIB - Repository In a Box
RIG - Reuse Library Interoperability Group
RightsAssessment - A statement of the intellectual property rights of an asset determined by some organization.
RightsCategory - A rights management (eg., distribution - shareware, public domain, etc.) category defined by a RightsPolicy
RightsPolicy - A statement of a reuse library's policy for rights management
SecurityClassification - the highest security classification assigned to the asset or to any part of it.
TargetEnvironment - computer system, operating system, and/or compiler for which an asset was developed or on which an asset will operate.
ToolApplied - reference to the automated tool applied in support of the CertificationMethod assessing the CertificationProperty.
TitleLine - a one line description of an asset.
UniqueID - a name or handle used to refer to the set of data that makes up the identity of the asset or element.
Version - the designation of the version of an asset (usually a number).
VersionDate - the publication date for the given version of an asset (i.e., the date the asset was made available for public use).
WasCreatedBy - an organization (see Organization) that originated or produced an asset.
Webpage - the url for the home page of the asset.