Method of composing an ontology alignment

A computer program product, which contains a program code stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and which, when executed on a computer, carries out a method of composing an ontology alignment for a plurality of ontologies, comprising:

• providing at least one source ontology from a first memory unit, the source ontology including a plurality of structured information entities;
• providing at least one target ontology from a second memory unit, the target ontology including a plurality of structured information entities;
• processing a set of correspondences between at least one of said structured information entities of said source ontology and at least one of said structured information entities of said target ontology by applying at least one of a plurality of mapping functions;
• at least partially restricting said set of correspondences by applying at least one of a plurality of filtering functions;
• for each of said correspondences assigning an identifier for each mapping function and each filtering function being applied to said correspondence;
• composing a plurality of ontology alignments, each ontology alignment being a connection between an individual set of said plurality of mapping functions and an individual set of said plurality of filtering functions;
• and
• evaluating an ontology alignment by rating a relevance of at least one of the plurality of correspondences resulting from said ontology alignment, the relevance being determined by the degree of relatedness of the information entities being provided by said correspondence.

An apparatus for composing an ontology alignment for a plurality of ontologies, comprising:

• a processor;
• comprising:
• a first memory unit storing at least one source ontology, the source ontology including a plurality of structured information entities;
• a second memory unit for storing at least one target ontology, the target ontology including a plurality of structured information entities;
• a mapping unit for processing a set of correspondences between at least one of said structured information entities of said source ontology and at least one of said structured information entities of said target ontology by applying at least one of a plurality of mapping functions;
• a restriction unit for restricting said set of correspondences by applying at least one of a plurality of filtering functions;
• an assignment unit for assigning an identifier for each mapping function and each filtering function being applied to each of said correspondences;
• a composition unit for composing a plurality of ontology alignments, each ontology alignment being a connection between an individual set of said plurality of mapping functions and an individual set of said plurality of filtering functions;
• and
• an evaluation unit for evaluating an ontology alignment by rating a relevance of at least one of the plurality of correspondences resulting from said ontology alignment, the relevance being determined by the degree of relatedness of the information entities being provided by said correspondence.

A system of composing an ontology alignment for a plurality of ontologies, comprising:

• a processor and a first and second memory unit;
• wherein the processor is operable to provide at least one source ontology from the first memory unit, the source ontology including a plurality of structured information entities;
• wherein the processor is further operable to provide at least one target ontology from the second memory unit, the target ontology including a plurality of structured information entities;
• wherein the processor is further operable to process a set of correspondences between at least one of said structured information entities of said source ontology and at least one of said structured information entities of said target ontology by applying at least one of a plurality of mapping functions;
• wherein the processor is further operable to at least partially restrict said set of correspondences by applying at least one of a plurality of filtering functions;
• for each of said correspondences, the processor is configured to assign an identifier for each mapping function and each filtering function being applied to provide said correspondence;
• wherein the processor is further operable to compose a plurality of ontology alignments, each ontology alignment being a connection between an individual set of said plurality of mapping functions and an individual set of said plurality of filtering functions;
• and
• wherein the processor is further operable to evaluate an ontology alignment by rating a relevance of at least one of the plurality of correspondences resulting from said ontology alignment, the relevance being determined by the degree of relatedness of the information entities being provided by said correspondence.