Semantic web services for handling data heterogeneity in an e-business framework

Abstract

E-business requires interoperability of information systems and, therefore, standardization of information sharing. Several XML-based e-business frameworks are developed to define standards for information sharing within and between companies. These frameworks only standardize structure of messages and aren't able to define semantics. The use of Semantic Web Service (SWS) technologies has been suggested to enable more dynamic B2B integration of heterogeneous systems and partners. We present a semantic B2B mediator based on the WSMX -a SWS execution environment, to tackle heterogeneities in RosettaNet messages. We develop a rich RosettaNet ontology and use the axiomatized knowledge and rules to resolve data heterogeneities. We modeled natural language constraints with formal language that used with WSMX. This is illustrated through a purchasing and shipping scenario. We used a reasoner in interaction with WSMX for automatic consistency checking of instances in run-time. The benefits of applying SWS technologies include more flexibility in accepting heterogeneity in B2B integrations. © 2008 Springer-Verlag.