A submodel service enables participants to store, access, and exchange these submodels in a way that other participants can seamlessly interpret, facilitating effective data interoperability across the network.
What is a Submodel?
A Submodel in Catena-X represents a standardized digital twin component that defines specific data structures and semantics for sharing information about an asset or process across organizations. It enables interoperable data exchange by adhering to established standards like Asset Administration Shell (AAS).
Each submodel uses a semantic model.
For more information, see What is a Submodel?
What is a Submodel Service?
A submodel service enables participants to store, access, and exchange submodels in a way that other participants can seamlessly interpret, facilitating effective data interoperability across the network.
By offering a structured and secure way to manage digital twins and associated data, the submodel service helps establish a shared digital environment where companies can collaborate, innovate, and streamline processes. This is particularly valuable in sectors with complex supply chains, such as automotive manufacturing.
Storage and Management - The submodel service stores the submodel data, managing updates and ensuring that participants always access the latest version of a submodel.
Data Sharing and Access Control - The submodel service ensures secure data sharing by controlling access to submodels based on permissions, only allowing authorized entities to retrieve or modify submodel information.
Data Transformation and Interpretation - The submodel service helps translate data into the standard submodel format, making it understandable and usable by other participants’ systems regardless of their underlying architecture.
The Catena-X Submodel Service relies on AAS (Asset Administration Shell) as the digital twin framework, ensuring that submodels are compliant with Industry 4.0 standards.
The submodel service is part of a broader ecosystem of services within Catena-X, designed to ensure a standardized, trusted, and secure data exchange among automotive industry stakeholders.
Step 1 - Components View
From the menu select Components.
This view allows you to search, add, edit, and remove components, while displaying details such as component type, version, name and state. This view also contains the Audit which logs all components.
Search and Filter
Use the Search Field in the top left to look up a specific component. The list will only show components which contain the entered name.
Use the Dropdown Field in the top left to filter the components by type (e.g. DTR, EDC).
Use the Sort Feature in the header to sort the components in an ascending or descending order. When using this feature, the affected column header is highlighted.
Select Reset to remove all search queries and filters.
Step 2 - Add a Submodel Service
Select Add component.
The new submodel service is set up in the dialog.
Select type SUBMODEL_SERVICE.
Fill in the required fields:
Versions - The version of the submodel service.
Component name - Internal name to identify thie submodel service.
Display name - This name is displayed in the graphical user interface.
Description - A short description of this submodel service.
Company/department name - The name of the organization that is beneficiary of this submodel service.
Cost center - Used for identification and billing cost in an organization.
Select Add to create the submodel service.
It is recommended to use the latest version.
Faulty or missing input will result in error messages. Follow the instructions in those messages.
Status of Submodel Services
The view displays the status of each submodel service.
Status of Submodel Service | Description |
OK | The submodel service is working correctly |
Creating | The submodel service is created. This may take a few minutes. |
For more information about a specific Submodel Service and its submodels, refer Submodel Service Details.
Next Steps
After adding the submodel service, the next step is to Add a Digital Twin Registry (DTR).