The information modelas part of the OAIS, is based on the "concept of information being a combination of Data and Representation Information". It identifies so-called information packages, i.e. “conceptual containers” of information or data that include several information objects: content information, preservation description information, packaging information, and descriptive information (or metadata) (CCSDS, 2012).
Content information consists of the content data object, i.e. the information to be preserved, and the representation information, e.g. software required to access the information.
The preservation description information refers to the context of the content information, for example to access rights.
The logical combination of the relating components of both form the packaging information.
The three elements taken together create the descriptive information.
Information packages
Three forms of information packages can be distinguished: The submission information package (SIP) refers to the content and related information sent from a data producer to an archive or a repository.
For preservation it is then transferred into an archival information package (AIP), which may contain more than one SIP.
If a consumer requests access to the respective data, it will be converted into a dissemination information package (DIP). Depending on the situation it contains less information than the AIP.