A tool for mapping discovery over revealing schemas

Abstract

In a world of wide-scale information sharing, the decentralized coordination has to consolidate a variety of heterogeneity. Shared data are described in different formats, i.e. data structures, values and schemas. Querying manifold such sources entails techniques that can bridge the data formats. Some of these techniques deal with producing mappings for the schemas of data. The existing techniques view complementary aspects of the schema mapping problem. Important ones, consider producing all the possible mappings for a pair of schemas, insinuating any accompanying semantics in the mappings and adapting correct mappings as schemas evolve. Towards this end we have developed a solution that is fine-tuned for the discovery of mappings as schemas of autonomous sources are gradually revealed. In this demonstration we exhibit a new prototype tool that implements this solution. The tool provides a mechanism that realizes discovery of correct mappings as schemas are revealed. Mapping discovery is schema-centric and incorporates new semantics as they are unveiled. Mapping experience is reused and possible mappings are ranked so that the best choice is presented. The core mechanism collaborates with an automatic schema matching tool and the user that lightly guides the mapping process. The demonstration presents two application scenarios that prove the suitability of this prototype tool and the effectiveness of the implemented mapping solution in realistic situations of of data integration and exchange between heterogeneous autonomous sources. Copyright 2009 ACM.