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The use of natural language identifiers as reference for ontology elements–in addition to the URIs required by the Semantic Web standards–is of utmost importance because of their predominance in the human everyday life, i.e.speech or print media. Depending on the context, different names can be chosen for one and the same element, and the same element can be referenced by different names. Here homonymy and synonymy are the main cause of ambiguity in perceiving which concrete unique ontology element ought to be referenced by a specific natural language identifier describing an entity. We propose a novel method to resolve entity references under the aspect of ambiguity which explores only formal background knowledge represented in RDF graph structures. The key idea of our domain independent approach is to build an entity network with the most likely referenced ontology elements by constructing steiner graphs based on spreading activation. In addition to exploiting complex graph structures, we devise a new ranking technique that characterises the likelihood of entities in this network, i.e. interpretation contexts. Experiments in a highly polysemic domain show the ability of the algorithm to retrieve the correct ontology elements in almost all cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss design issues of iMapping, a novel approach for visually structuring information objects on the desktop. iMapping provides a user-interface layer on top of semantic desktop technologies which shall especially support personal knowledge management and personal information organization. iMapping allows for user-friendly articulation, semantic annotation and interlinking of personal knowledge, as well as its gradual semantic enrichment. In this paper, we elaborate on main GUI principles of the iMapping knowledge mapping and interaction design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, the term ontologies was coined in the Knowledge Sharing and Reuse Effort, for efficient engineering of (distributed, cooperating) knowledge-based systems. It is not surprising that it soon entered the Knowledge Management (KM) area: Sharing and reuse of personal, group, and organizational knowledge are among the central goals aimed at in most KM projects. In this chapter we introduce the main ideas of KM, as well as the role of and requirements for information technology (IT) in KM. We discuss the potential of ontologies as elements in IT support for KM. We characterize their current role in research and practice, derive a working focus for the near future, and conclude with an outlook on trends in KM software and their implications on ontologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The next phase of enterprise interoperability will address the sharing of knowledge within a Virtual Organisation (VO) to the mutual benefit of all VO partners. Such knowledge will be a driver for new enhanced collaborative enterprises, able to achieve the global visions of enterprise interoperability. This paper outlines the approach to be followed in the SYNERGY research project which envisages the delivery of Collaboration Knowledge services through interoperability service utilities (ISUs): trusted third parties offering web-based, pay-on-use services. The aim of SYNERGY is to enhance support of the networked enterprise in the successful, timely creation of, and participation in, collaborative VOs by providing an infrastructure and services to discover, capture, deliver and apply knowledge relevant to collaboration creation and operation. The proposed approach aims to (a) provide semantic ontology-based modelling of knowledge structures on collaborative working; (b) develop a service-oriented self-adaptive solution for knowledgebased collaboration services; and (c) facilitate the testing and evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of the solution in concrete case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At DaimlerChrysler's truck plant in Wörth / Rhein, we are currently implementing a comprehensive IT solution for integrated and synergistic pro cesses in personnel development. In this paper, we sketch some onto logy-based software modules - as well as their interdependencies and synergies - which support streamlined and integrated, comprehensive personnel-development processes. A central element in the software architecture is ontology-based similarity assessment for skill-profile matching which is exemplarily discussed for software-supported project staffing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This chapter covers the mediation aspect in a Semantic Web Services environment. Mediation components should allow any service to speak with any other service in a scalable manner, overcoming the heterogeneity of data formats, terminologies, interaction styles, etc. In this chapter, we decompose mediation in three levels, according to the classification provided in Chap. (1) data mediation, concerned with the transformation of the syntactic format of the messages exchanged by Web Services; (2) ontology mediation, concerned with the transformation of the terminology used inside the messages exchanged and (3) protocol or choreography mediation, concerned with the problem of non-matching message interaction patterns. Business process mediation is not considered, since it requires to perform a task of process re-engineering that is outside the context of research in Semantic Web Services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This chapter deals about Semantically annotated Web Service (SWS) composition, one of the main challenges for the Semantic Web. We define the principles of SWS composition as well as the difficulties it raises. We follow with an overview of the different approaches envisioned in the research community. We also present an efficient solving method for this problem based on configuration. This technic uses a constrained object model as knowledge representation, which we precisely define in this chapter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web Services expose machine-processable interfaces that provide flexible access to their functionality in network environments for realising application integration scenarios. As any other web resource, it is desirable to locate and get access to Web Services by specifying relevant properties in the form of a request, similar to how websites are located via search engines. When annotated with semantic information about their functionality, Web Services can be located based on their actual capabilities rather than on their interfaces only. Discovery is the task of locating Web Services by means of their semantic annotations. This typically involves matching of semantic capability descriptions for requested service against those for advertised services. This chapter discusses the notion of discovery of services in the Semantic Web. It gives an overview on approaches to realise discovery by different matching techniques and elaborates on matching of service annotations within the description logic formalism. This particular approach is illustrated by an example taken from the logistics domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This chapter introduces the combination of the formerly described Web Services and Semantic Web technologies to Semantic Web Services. It outlines the vision and goals in the Semantic Web Services area and clarifies terminology in this field. It defines an abstract Semantic Web Service architecture and introduces a life cycle of the relationship between a requester and a provider party. This motivates the subsequent chapters for description, discovery, mediation and invocation of semantically annotated services in the web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this chapter, we give a brief introduction into the main idea of the Semantic Web, namely making better use and enabling more intelligent applications for Web-accessible information by accompanying them with machine-understandable, semantic meta data; we sketch the major methodological framework behind, consisting of two intertwined, orthogonal processes, the knowledge process and the knowledge meta process-the latter is concerned with ontology engineering, the former uses ontologies for ontology-based meta-data assignment to Web resources, i.e. for semantic annotation. The major part of the chapter is devoted to the idea of semantic annotation, requirements and functionalities of annotation tools, an example implementation and an overview of the state of research and practice in semantic annotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of ontologies is comparable in complexity with the development of a complex software. Therefore, it is not enough just to be familiar with the available ontology formalisms to build high-quality ontologies. Development methodologies are needed, which structure the steps of the ontology development process. This chapter will introduce two popular methodologies - On-To-Knowledge and METHONTOLOGY - which show most of the major ideas behind ontology methodologies. Creating the conceptual ontology model - which is one of the steps in the ontology development process - is a highly complex task, and methodologies alone do not provide solutions how to perform it. This chapter therefore also provides an overview of best-practice ontology design principles, which provide standard solutions for the most common problems. A discussion about the modularisation of big ontologies closes this chapter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Artificial Intelligence, knowledge representation studies the formalisation of knowledge and its processing within machines. Techniques of automated reasoning allow a computer system to draw conclusions from knowledge represented in a machine-interpretable form. Recently, ontologies have evolved in computer science as computational artefacts to provide computer systems with a conceptual yet computational model of a particular domain of interest. In this way, computer systems can base decisions on reasoning about domain knowledge, similar to humans. This chapter gives an overview on basic knowledge representation aspects and on ontologies as used within computer systems. After introducing ontologies in terms of their appearance, usage and classification, it addresses concrete ontology languages that are particularly important in the context of the Semantic Web. The most recent and predominant ontology languages and formalisms are presented in relation to each other and a selection of them is discussed in more detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Web Services are complex artefacts that rely on sophisticated protocols and data formats, it is important to have effective strategies for dealing with this complexity. As a basic concept, the Web Service technologies are structured in a stack model. It is crucial for every Web Service developer to have this model in mind and to have a clear understanding how the single items work together. In this chapter, we will first give an overview of the Web Service technology stack. Then, we will step through this model and discuss the different core technologies in detail. This includes different variants of Web Service transport bindings, SOAP, WSDL and UDDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper describes a case-based approach for supporting consulting agencies in accompanying an organisation's Knowledge Management (KM) implementation. Best Practice Cases (BPCs) of successfully conducted consulting services are captured by the system's ontology-based case base and reused for further KM introduction services. The system synergetically combines technologies of the Semantic Web with those of Case-based Reasoning. Seen from the KM point of view, the system follows the holistic approach of a KM introduction by considering technological, organizational and human aspects of KM in equal measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]