Skip to content

# UIM Protocol Terminology

This page provides definitions for key terms used in the UIM Protocol specification. Terms are organized by category for easy reference.

## Core Protocol Terms

### Intent

Definition: An action that can be performed by a web service, including metadata and parameters required for execution.
Related Terms: Intent UID, Intent Metadata, Parameters
Example: SearchProducts, GetProductDetails, PlaceOrder

### Web Service

Definition: A service that publishes its capabilities (intents) using the UIM Protocol.
Related Terms: Service Provider, API
Example: An e-commerce platform that exposes intents for searching products and placing orders.

### AI Agent

Definition: An application or service that uses intents to interact with web services.
Related Terms: Client, Consumer
Example: A shopping assistant that helps users find products across multiple e-commerce platforms.

### Policy Adherence Token (PAT)

Definition: A token issued by a web service to an AI agent, encapsulating permissions, usage limits, and billing agreements.
Related Terms: ODRL Policy, UIM License
Example: A JWT token containing permissions and rate limits.

## Intent-Related Terms

### Intent UID

Definition: A unique identifier for an intent, following the format `namespace:intent_name:version`.
Related Terms: Intent, Namespace
Example: `ecommerce.com:SearchProducts:v1`

### Intent Metadata

Definition: Descriptive information about an intent, including its name, description, and category.
Related Terms: Intent, Tags
Example: Name: "SearchProducts", Description: "Search for products based on criteria", Tags: ["e-commerce", "search"]

### Parameters

Definition: Inputs required by an intent to perform its action, including name, type, and whether they are required.
Related Terms: Intent, Input Parameters, Output Parameters
Example: `query`, `category`, `price_range`

### Input Parameters

Definition: Parameters that are provided by the AI agent to the web service when executing an intent.
Related Terms: Parameters, Intent
Example: `query: "laptop"`, `category: "electronics"`

### Output Parameters

Definition: Parameters that are returned by the web service to the AI agent after executing an intent.
Related Terms: Parameters, Intent
Example: `products: [...]`, `total_results: 42`

### Endpoint

Definition: The API endpoint where an intent can be executed.
Related Terms: API, URL
Example: `https://api.ecommerce.com/products/search`

## Policy-Related Terms

### ODRL Policy

Definition: A policy expressed using the Open Digital Rights Language (ODRL) that defines permissions, prohibitions, and obligations.
Related Terms: Permission, Prohibition, Obligation
Example: A policy that allows executing intents with a rate limit of 1000 requests per hour.

### UIM License

Definition: A set of rules and conditions that govern the usage of data returned by an intent, including permissions, prohibitions, and obligations.
Related Terms: ODRL Policy, PAT
Example: `UIM-BY-NC-v1.0` - A license that allows non-commercial use with attribution.

### Permission

Definition: An allowed action specified in a policy.
Related Terms: ODRL Policy, Prohibition, Obligation
Example: Permission to execute an intent with a rate limit of 1000 requests per hour.

### Prohibition

Definition: A disallowed action specified in a policy.
Related Terms: ODRL Policy, Permission, Obligation
Example: Prohibition against exceeding the rate limit.

### Obligation

Definition: An action that must be performed as a condition of using a service.
Related Terms: ODRL Policy, Permission, Prohibition
Example: Obligation to pay for intent execution.

## Discovery-Related Terms

### Discovery Endpoint

Definition: The API endpoint where AI agents can query for available intents.
Related Terms: Intent, API Endpoint
Example: `/api/intents/search`

### DNS TXT Record

Definition: A DNS record that contains text information, used in the UIM Protocol to provide discovery information.
Related Terms: agents.json
Example: `uim-agents-file=https://example.com/agents.json`

### agents.json

Definition: A JSON file that contains information about a web service and its available intents.
Related Terms: DNS TXT Record, Intent
Example: A file containing service information, intents, and policy information.

## Security-Related Terms

### Authentication

Definition: The process of verifying the identity of an AI agent.
Related Terms: Authorization, PAT
Example: Using a PAT to authenticate an AI agent.

### Authorization

Definition: The process of determining whether an authenticated AI agent has permission to perform a specific action.
Related Terms: Authentication, Permission
Example: Checking if an AI agent has permission to execute a specific intent.

### Digital Signature

Definition: A cryptographic mechanism used to verify the authenticity and integrity of data.
Related Terms: Public Key, Private Key
Example: Signing a policy with a private key to prove agreement.

## Architecture-Related Terms

### Centralized Architecture

Definition: An architecture where a central repository manages intent registration, discovery, and execution.
Related Terms: Decentralized Architecture, Hybrid Approach
Example: A central repository that manages intents from multiple web services.

### Decentralized Architecture

Definition: An architecture where AI agents interact directly with web services without a central intermediary.
Related Terms: Centralized Architecture, Hybrid Approach
Example: AI agents discovering web services through DNS TXT records and interacting directly with them.

### Hybrid Approach

Definition: An architecture that combines elements of centralized and decentralized architectures.
Related Terms: Centralized Architecture, Decentralized Architecture
Example: Centralized discovery with decentralized execution.

## Implementation-Related Terms

### Execution Endpoint

Definition: The API endpoint where AI agents can execute intents.
Related Terms: Intent, API Endpoint
Example: `/api/intents/execute`

### Rate Limit

Definition: A limit on the number of requests an AI agent can make to a web service within a specific time period.
Related Terms: PAT, Policy
Example: 1000 requests per hour.

### Billing Information

Definition: Information about the cost of executing intents and payment methods.
Related Terms: PAT, Policy
Example: $0.01 per intent execution.

## Data-Related Terms

### Data Minimization

Definition: The principle of collecting and storing only the data necessary for the intended purpose.
Related Terms: Privacy, Security
Example: Designing intents to require only the minimum necessary parameters.

### Anonymization

Definition: The process of removing personally identifiable information from data.
Related Terms: Privacy, Security
Example: Removing user IDs and email addresses from data returned by intents.

### Data Retention

Definition: The period of time for which data is stored before being deleted.
Related Terms: Privacy, Security
Example: Storing data for 30 days before deleting it.