Marko Vujasinovic

Semantic mediation for standard-based B2B interoperability

A semantic-mediation architecture advances traditional approaches for standard-based business-to-business interoperability. The architecture formally models a business domain in a reference ontology and annotates domain message schemas to define public and proprietary reconciliation rule sets. Enterprises can use the rule sets to implement standard-based message interfaces and to translate message content between their proprietary message forms. An implementation of the semantic-mediation architecture augments a general applications-integration toolset developed for the Athena European FP 6 project. The implementation demonstrates the architectures feasibility and suggests directions for future tool enhancements.

A semantic-mediation architecture for interoperable supply-chain applications

This paper presents a semantic-mediation architecture that enables standards-based interoperability between heterogeneous supply-chain applications. The architecture was implemented using a state-of-the-art semantic-mediation toolset for design-time and run-time integration tasks. The design-time tools supported a domain ontology definition, message annotations, message schema transformations and reconciliation rules specifications. The run-time tools performed exchanges, transformations, and reconciliations of the messages. The architecture supports a supply-chain integration scenario where heterogeneous automotive manufacturing supply-chain applications exchange inventory information.

Enabling Semantic Mediation for Business Applications: XML-RDF, RDF-XML and XSD-RDFS transformations

In this paper, we describe results of our work in developing transformation tools that enable use of RDF-based Semantic Mediation tools for integration of business applications that have implemented XML Schema-based interfaces. Specifically, we are concerned with validating advanced Semantic Mediation solutions that required XML to RDF, RDF to XML, and the XML Schema to the RDF Schema transformations to be used by these business applications. To use the advanced integration solutions we developed all three of these transformations. We discuss the requirements for the transformation tool posed by the Semantic Mediation approach in the context of a business-to-business scenario. We analyze the related work and various related approaches. We describe our implemented transformation approach and explain the intended use of the resulting tool within a typical usage scenario.

Semantic B2B-integration Using an Ontological Message Metamodel

E-Business applications are often required to use different, incompatible, message sets to implement message interfaces for a business-to-business (B2B) communication. This makes communication with every new partner a new interoperability problem. In this article, we present a semantic-mediation architecture that provides for interoperable B2B data exchange. The mediation process is based on an Ontological Metamodel of message schemas and messages, and uses existing reference business ontologies. An approach for message schema semantic reconciliation and annotation is devised to support the mediation. We demonstrate the approach on a scenario that involves two incompatible message interfaces, one UN/EDIFACT based and another OAGIS XML based.

INTEROPERABLE SUPPLY-CHAIN APPLICATIONS: MESSAGE METAMODEL-BASED SEMANTIC RECONCILIATION OF B2B MESSAGES

Supply-chain applications exchange numerous electronic business-to-business (B2B) messages of varied types. Traditionally, prior to a message exchange, partners adopt one particular message specification that constrains message structure and syntax to implement compatible application message interfaces. However, in open, dynamic supply-chains, the applications need to interact even though their message interfaces are based on different, yet incompatible message specifications. To achieve such interactions, we propose the Message Metamodel-based semantic reconciliation of B2B messages. The Message Metamodel is a novel, ontological form that provides for common representation of B2B message specifications and messages of various syntaxes, such as Extensible Markup Language (XML) or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). The experimental investigation showed that proposed semantic reconciliation architecture built atop the Message Metamodel (1) insulates the reconciliation activities from the specific message syntaxes, (2) supports the reconciliation of messages irrespective of message standards used, and (3) enables seamless interoperable message exchange between heterogeneous supply-chain applications.

A survey and classification of principles for domain-specific ontology design patterns development

Dynamic, networked service-oriented systems, like those found in manufacturing, logistics or transportation, require efficient communication of capabilities of their services to enable on-the-fly integrations as a result of changing requirements. Previously, in a case of a manufacturing services network, we have shown the manufacturing service capability (MSC) in- formation communication can be enhanced by introducing a reference MSC ontology - a formal, OWL DL domain-specific ontology. However, consistent and quality development of reference ontology for a large and evolving domain such as manu- facturing is a challenge. Therefore, we propose to utilize the notion of OWL ontology design patterns (ODPs) to develop such reference ontology. However, despite the existence of rich design patterns for information modeling in general, there has been no documentation detailing the principles for development of domain-specific ODPs for domain-specific semantic models. This survey paper fills this void by providing a survey and systematic synthesis of applicable principles for domain-specific ODP development in an investigation of the prior works in data modeling, object-oriented software analysis and ontology modeling design patterns. The paper discusses applicability of the revealed principles in regards to requirements of MSC domain-specific ODPs. Although the paper is concerned with the MSC domain, the findings apply to any domain-specific ODP development. Further research is identified to operationalize principles towards domain-specific ODP development.

Data level enterprise applications integration

Information integration across heterogeneous systems is a key issue for successful enterprise application systems development. Particularly challenging is integration of different applications deployed on different platforms into one integrated and stable business information system. This paper summarizes results of resolving a real enterprise applications integration problem during an ERP system implementation. The solution resolves the integration problem by using the data level integration approach. The solution is general but only its core functionality is presented in this paper.

Use Case Analysis for Standard Manufacturing Service Capability Model

Manufacturing enterprises are becoming globally distributed production systems. Rigid supply chains are giving way to dynamic supply networks that are cost-efficient and can respond to change quickly. A key factor in the formation of dynamic supply networks is the communication of manufacturing capabilities – both production capabilities and information processing capabilities. These are collectively referred to as manufacturing service capability (MSC) information. Presently, MSC information is provided using many different, proprietary terminologies and representations. The lack of a standard model impedes communications of MSC information. We propose the development of a standard MSC model to enhance the MSC information communications. This paper motives such development by presenting a use case analysis that illustrates the current and a desirable future state of MSC information communication. The future state, which relies on a standard MSC model can advance the current practice and allow precise and computer-interpretable representation of MSC information.