US20130086061A1

US20130086061A1 - Implementing service oriented architecture industry model repository using semantic web technologies

Info

Publication number: US20130086061A1
Application number: US13/533,007
Authority: US
Inventors: Eoin Lane; Mei Yang Selvage; Magda Mahmoud Mourad; Harry Thomas Pendergrass
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 2009-12-17
Filing date: 2012-06-26
Publication date: 2013-04-04
Also published as: US8244768B2; US20110153608A1

Abstract

A plurality of topic maps are stored in one or more storage devices. Each of the topic maps represents information using topics, associations, and occurrences. Each of the topic maps provides meta data for assets stored in an asset repository. A computer provides one or more services over a network. At least one of the one or more services enables functionality of one or more user interfaces. The one or more services provide semantic search functionality for the assets of the asset repository. The semantic search functionality utilizes the topics, associations, and occurrences of one or more of the topic maps to find one of more of the assets of the asset repository that satisfies conditions input via one of the one or more user interfaces.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 USC §120, this application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/640,697 filed Dec. 17, 2009 (pending).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to meta models and more specifically to implementing service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) meta models using semantic web technologies.
A service oriented architecture (SOA) meta model based on topic maps can be built using a number of technologies such as implementing topic maps using topic map related ISO/IEC standards (ISO 13250-1), defining the meta model in a relational database management system (RDMS), and individual semantic technologies such as web ontology language (OWL), resource description framework (RDF), and SPARQL protocol and RDF query language (SPARQL).
Topic map related ISO standards are implemented using Topic Map Constraint Language (TMCL) and Topic Map Query Language (TMQL) and come with their own programming model.
In defining the topic map meta model in a database management system, for example Relational Database Management System (RDBMS), the industry models are shredded into the desired granularity. RDBMS is relied upon for persistence and constraints and uses structured query language (SQL) as the query language, however this approach is limited by its lack of scalability and inference logic.
Each individual semantic technology implementation provides its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, of the present invention, a method for implementing topic map meta models of a service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) is provided comprising a meta model service associated with a physical asset repository. The meta model service includes at least one topic map meta model with data specific to a particular topic or industry vertical included within an information model repository common meta-meta model, and the information model repository common meta-meta model included within a meta-meta-meta model with a topic map based index. The method comprises assigning topics, occurrences and attributes to the at least one topic map meta model with data specific to a particular topic or industry vertical; converting topics of the at least one topic map meta model with data specific to a particular topic or industry vertical into resource description framework triples; and persisting the resource description framework triples into a resource description framework repository.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a computer network in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a data processing system in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented.

FIG. 3 shows an overview of an industry model repository (IMR) solution architecture system including a service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) component.

FIG. 4 shows an overview of a service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) meta-model with OWL/RDF maps.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an OWL-DL representation of a topic map.

FIG. 6 shows a UML class diagram of the TopicMap RDF data access object converting the SOA IMR topic map meta model to an OWL-DL representation.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart for taking a topic and all of the location of the RDF server and particular repository to be used for persisting the resulting RDF.

FIG. 8 shows a sequence diagram showing how a topic map would be automatically converted to an OWL-DL representation and stored in an RDF repository.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the figures, and in particular, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, exemplary diagrams of data processing environments are provided in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. It should be appreciated that FIGS. 1 and 2 are only exemplary and are not intended to assert or imply any limitation with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depicted environments may be made.
FIG. 1 depicts a pictorial representation of a network of data processing systems in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Network data processing system 1 is a network of computers in which the illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Network data processing system 1 contains network 2, which is the medium used to provide communication links between various devices and computers connected together within network data processing system 1. Network 2 may include connections, such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables.
In the depicted example, server 4 and server 6 connect to network 2 along with storage unit 8. In addition, clients 10, 12, and 14 connect to network 2. Clients 10, 12, and 14 may be, for example, personal computers or network computers. In the depicted example, server 4 provides information, such as boot files, operating system images, and applications to clients 10, 12, and 14. Clients 10, 12, and 14 are clients to server 4 in this example. Network data processing system 1 may include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown.
Program code located in network data processing system 1 may be stored on a computer recordable storage medium and downloaded to a data processing system or other device for use. For example, program code may be stored on a computer recordable storage medium on server 4 and downloaded to client 10 over network 2 for use on client 10.
In the depicted example, network data processing system 1 is the Internet with network 2 representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, governmental, educational and other computer systems that route data and messages. Of course, network data processing system 1 also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as, for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN). FIG. 1 is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation, for the different illustrative embodiments.
With reference now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a data processing system is shown in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Data processing system 20 is an example of a computer, such as server 4 or client 10 in FIG. 1, in which computer usable program code or instructions implementing the processes may be located for the illustrative embodiments. In this illustrative example, data processing system 20 includes communications fabric 22, which provides communications between processor unit 24, memory 26, persistent storage 28, communications unit 30, input/output (I/O) unit 32, and display 34.
Processor unit 24 serves to execute instructions for software that may be loaded into memory 26. Processor unit 24 may be a set of one or more processors, or may be a multi-processor core, depending on the particular implementation. Further, processor unit 24 may be implemented using one or more heterogeneous processor systems in which a main processor is present with secondary processors on a single chip. As another illustrative example, processor unit 24 may be a symmetric multi-processor system containing multiple processors of the same type.
Memory 26 and persistent storage 28 are examples of storage devices 36. A storage device is any piece of hardware that is capable of storing information, such as, for example, without limitation, data, program code in functional form, and/or other suitable information either on a temporary basis and/or a permanent basis. Memory 26, in these examples, may be, for example, a random access memory or any other suitable volatile or non-volatile storage device. Persistent storage 28 may take various forms depending on the particular implementation. For example, persistent storage 28 may contain one or more components or devices. For example, persistent storage 28 may be a hard drive, a flash memory, a rewritable optical disk, a rewritable magnetic tape, or some combination of the above. The media used by persistent storage 28 also may be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage 28.
Communications unit 30, in these examples, provides for communications with other data processing systems or devices. In these examples, communications unit 30 is a network interface card. Communications unit 30 may provide communications through the use of either or both physical and wireless communication links.
Input/output unit 32 allows for input and output of data with other devices that may be connected to data processing system 20. For example, input/output unit 32 may provide a connection for user input through a keyboard, a mouse, and/or some other suitable input device. Further, input/output unit 32 may send output to a printer. Display 34 provides a mechanism to display information to a user.
Instructions for the operating system, applications, and/or programs may be located in storage devices 36, which are in communication with processor unit 24 through communications fabric 22. In these illustrative examples the instructions are in a functional form on persistent storage 28. These instructions may be loaded into memory 26 for running by processor unit 24. The processes of the different embodiments may be performed by processor unit 24 using computer implemented instructions, which may be located in a memory, such as memory 26.
These instructions are referred to as program code, computer usable program code, or computer readable program code, that may be read and run by a processor in processor unit 24. The program code in the different embodiments may be embodied on different physical or tangible computer readable media, such as memory 26 or persistent storage 28.
Program code 38 is located in a functional form on computer readable media 40 that is selectively removable and may be loaded onto or transferred to data processing system 20 for running by processor unit 24. Program code 38 and computer readable media 40 form computer program product 42 in these examples. In one example, computer readable media 40 may be in a tangible form, such as, for example, an optical or magnetic disc that is inserted or placed into a drive or other device that is part of persistent storage 28 for transfer onto a storage device, such as a hard drive that is part of persistent storage 28. In a tangible form, computer readable media 40 also may take the form of a persistent storage, such as a hard drive, a thumb drive, or a flash memory that is connected to data processing system 20. The tangible form of computer readable media 40 is also referred to as computer recordable storage media 44. In some instances, computer readable media 40 may not be removable.
Alternatively, program code 38 may be transferred to data processing system 20 from computer readable media 40 through a communications link to communications unit 30 and/or through a connection to input/output unit 32. The communications link and/or the connection may be physical or wireless in the illustrative examples. The computer readable media also may take the form of non-tangible media, such as communication links or wireless transmissions containing the program code. The non-tangible media can be referred to as a computer readable signal media 46.
In some illustrative embodiments, program code 38 may be downloaded over a network to persistent storage 28 from another device or data processing system for use within data processing system 20. For instance, program code stored in a computer readable storage medium in a server data processing system may be downloaded over a network from the server to data processing system 20. The data processing system providing program code 38 may be a server computer, a client computer, or some other device capable of storing and transmitting program code 38.
The different components illustrated for data processing system 20 are not meant to provide architectural limitations to the manner in which different embodiments may be implemented. The different illustrative embodiments may be implemented in a data processing system including components in addition to, or in place of, those illustrated for data processing system 20. Other components shown in FIG. 2 can be varied from the illustrative examples shown. The different embodiments may be implemented using any hardware device or system capable of executing program code. As one example, the data processing system may include organic components integrated with inorganic components and/or may be comprised entirely of organic components excluding a human being. For example, a storage device may be comprised of an organic semiconductor.
As another example, a storage device in data processing system 20 is any hardware apparatus that may store data. Memory 26, persistent storage 28 and computer readable media 40 are examples of storage devices in a tangible form.
In another example, a bus system may be used to implement communications fabric 22 and may be comprised of one or more buses, such as a system bus or an input/output bus. Of course, the bus system may be implemented using any suitable type of architecture that provides for a transfer of data between different components or devices attached to the bus system. Additionally, a communications unit may include one or more devices used to transmit and receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter. Further, a memory may be, for example, memory 26 or a cache such as found in an interface and memory controller hub that may be present in communications fabric 22.
FIG. 3 shows the IMR architecture system 100 which may be part of the network data processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 and includes a service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) component 102. The SOA-IMR component 102 provides tools to facilitate the consumption and reuse of the model assets through topic map IMR meta model creation and topic map interface 104 and semantic web implementation 105 which represent and implement the IMR meta models using semantics provided by the OWL language. The SOA IMR component 102 is discussed in further detail in an application entitled, “SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY MODEL REPOSITORY META-MODEL WITH A STANDARD BASED INDEX” filed concurrently with the present application. This application is hereby incorporated by reference. Block 105 is described in greater detail below.
The IMR architecture system 100 includes federated physical model assets 103 that are stored in different types of repositories depending on the model driven framework tools and products that are being deployed by the system. The federated physical assets may include framework, industry models, business models, unified modeling language (UML) design applications, data models, business services, service components, and technical services. The federated physical assets are not limited to the assets shown in FIG. 3.
Applications and services 106 are provided to IMR users 108 through the network 109 (e.g. intranet or Internet) using interfaces 107. The interfaces used by the IMR users 108 include reports generation and tools supporting multi-formats and visualization tools supporting complex views. The applications and services 106 may include registration and profile management; creating and customizing repository meta model, importing customized and disparate model/data into the repository, examining/decomposing complex diagrams and structures, structure, link, and trace change disparate model/assets; advanced search and query, navigate/browse data assets; select and download model/assets, customize/add models/assets submit for repository upload; and impact analysis. The application and services are not limited to the assets shown in FIG. 3. The applications and services are described in greater detail in applications entitled “FRAMEWORK TO POPULATE AND MAINTAIN A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY MODEL”, “MANAGING AND MAINTAINING SCOPE IN A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY MODEL REPOSITORY”, and “RECOGNITION OF AND SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF AN ENTERPRISE CANONICAL MESSAGE MODEL” filed concurrently with the present application. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference. The interfaces 107 are further described in greater detail in an application entitled, “SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY MODEL REPOSITORY META-MODEL WITH A STANDARD BASED INDEX” filed concurrently and hereby incorporated by reference.
The IMR users 108 may include but are not limited to repository administrator, model manager, system architect, and business analyst.
FIG. 4 shows a service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) component 102 in greater detail. The SOA IMR component 102 includes a Meta Model Service 202 associated with the physical asset repository. Within the meta model service 202 is a meta-meta-meta model 206 with a topic map based index, an information model repository (IMR) common meta-meta model 208 and at least one topic map meta model 210 with data specific to a particular topic or industry vertical. The topic map meta model 210 is associated with the physical asset repositories which may include but are not limited to repository 204 of model assets (RAM) 212, requirement models 214, and document models (wiki) 216.
The internal meta model service 202 of the SOA IMR component 102 is the SOA IMR meta-model service using ISO Standard topic map meta models 210. Topic Maps map both web and real-world information resources, by reifying real-world resources as “subjects” and creating “topic” constructs to capture their characteristics and relationships with other topics and subjects. By using the topic maps meta models 206, 208, and 210 as the repository internal meta model, a common meta model service interface 202 allow users to programmatically access, manage, and maintain these meta models.
Topic Maps are an ISO/IEC standard (ISO 13250-1) for mapping both web and real-world information resources, by reifying real-world resources as “subjects”, and creating “topic” constructs to capture their characteristics and relationships with other topics and subjects.
The SOA IMR meta model service 202 maps or implements the ISO topic map meta models 210 to a web ontology language (OWL) representation of the topic map. The industry model repository (IMR) provides the context for the implementation of the ISO topic map meta models 210 to the OWL representation of the topic maps. The OWL representation of the topic map is stored in a resource description framework (RDF) semantic web repository 218. An example of a semantic web repository is a Sesame RDF Server which is an open source framework for querying and analyzing RDF data. The repository preferably allows for versioning and merging of asset-requirement topic maps and therefore allows topic maps to be built up by different domain experts to be organized in conceptual spaces according to meaning.
FIG. 5 shows an example of a topic map. The topic map 400 may be converted to an OWL-DL representation. ‘Abandon’ 401 shown in FIG. 5 is an index item in the ISO topic map meta model 210. Converting the topic map 400 of FIG. 5 to an OWL-DL representation would include assigning topics, occurrences and attributes to the elements and index items in the topic map. For example if the ‘Abandon’ portion 401 of the topic map 400 shown in FIG. 5 was converted to an OWL-DL representation, the following would be assigned:

- Abandon 401 is a topic
- Requirements Model 402 is a topic
- Atomic Data Element 403 is a topic
- Claim recovery—Abandoned 404 is a topic
- Has 411 is an association type
- Found 412 is an association type
  Then, the ‘abandon’ topic 401 is searched for in other parts of the semantic web repository 218. The search results may yield as follows:
- Topic Abandon found in topic Claim recovery—Abandoned

Once the topics, occurrences and attributes are assigned, they are converted to RDF triples and persisted in an RDF repository.
FIG. 6 is a UML class diagram that shows a Java implementation of the SOA IMR meta data management interface. The TopicMapService 340 is an interface is implemented by the TopicMapServiceBindingImpl 342. The TopicMapServiceBindingImpl 342 uses a CacheManagerSingleton 344 to add and remove an item from cache and a Controller 346 to create or get Associations, Occurrence, Topics, TopicMap and set Associations and Topics. The Controller 346 uses TopicMapRDFDAO 348 to provide the conversion of the SOA IMR topic map meta model 210 to an OWL-DL representation 218.
The TopicMapRDFDAO 348 converts a topic of a topic map 210 into RDF triples and then the RDF triples are persisted in an RDF repository. Referring to FIG. 7, in a first step a handle to the RDF repository 350 is obtained. Then, uniform resource identifiers for each topic of the topic map 210 are created 352. In the next step, a connection to the repository is obtained 354. Next, topic RDF statements or RDF triples based on the topic map 210 are created 356 and the topic RDF statements RDF triples are added to the repository 358.
In the next step, create the topic occurrence RDF statements or RDF triples 360 to be sent to the repository. To create a topic occurrence RDF statement or RDF triple 360, an occurrence of the topic in the topic map is read 362. Next, a topic occurrence RDF statement or RDF triple is created 364. Then the topic occurrence RDF statement or RDF triple is added to the repository 366. Decision point 368 shows that if there are additional occurrences of the topic on the topic map 210, the steps of creating a topic occurrence RDF statement or RDF triple 364 and adding a topic occurrence RDF statement to the repository 366 are repeated until no more occurrences of the topic on the topic map 210 occur.
When no occurrences remain (as indicated by decision point 368), the method of taking in a topic and all of the locations of the topic on the RDF server and the particular repository to be used for persisting the resulting RDF ends 370. All of the locations of the topic on the RDF server and the particular repository to be used for persisting the resulting RDF triples are accounted for. Therefore, different repositories may be used for different industry models.
FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram that shows how a topic map would be automatically converted to an OWL-DL representation and stored in a semantic web RDF repository, such as a Sesame RDF server. The Sesame RDF server is an open source framework for querying and analyzing RDF data.
The semantic web RDF repository allows for versioning and merging of asset-requirement topic maps. With versioning and merging of asset-requirement topic maps, topic maps may be built by different domain experts and organized in conceptual spaces according to meaning. For example, a domain expert could build up an asset—requirements topic map in the SOA information service space and another domain expert could build an assets-requirements topic map in the integration services space and both maps could then be easily merged together to provide multiple views on the topic map based on the role of who is using them. A user would only need to see the relevant subset of the asset-requirement topic map to help understand what particular assets are relevant to his requirements. An asset requirements domain expert would only see the relevant services topic map for his domain. An asset-requirements topic map admin would be able to see and navigate the entire map, create new association type of new topic types.
By providing an implementation for converting the SOA IMR topic map meta model to a semantic representation, the standards based query language of SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language (SPARQL) may be used to query the SOA IMR topic map meta model. SPARQL allows for very fast querying, will scale to millions of data items. Another advantage is that the requirement maps are maintained and information is kept up to date. By using a standards based query language, search and query requirement maps to understand the suitable industry model assets or combinations of assets to be used for a particular set of requirements. Querying of relevant information about a particular model asset can be carried out using the standard based query language, such as where the particular model asset can be found and what assets the particular model asset can be used in conjunction with new information such as associations between using assets can be uncovered using inference technology such as semantic web based query languages, such as SPARQL to provide answers to queries across the asset-requirements topic maps. The selection of an RDF based repository like Sesame provides support for the kind of querying to determine all of the assets that can be used to satisfy a particular requirement, even though some assets do not have explicit relationships with the requirement.
By using semantic web technologies of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), such as OWL and RDF, a user has the OWL capabilities and tools for expressing constraints, doing constraint checking and automated reasoning/inference, and for querying and visualization of ontology. In addition using semantic web technologies for converting the SOA IMR topic map meta model to an OWL-DL representation also has many additional benefits. Using semantic web technology allows the complex model-model, model requirement, and requirement-requirement associations both abstract and instance data to be expressed mathematically in the form of triples (subject, predicate) which may be continuously checked for consistency to ensure the integrity of the data. Automatic tools can be used for consistency checking. Additional constraints can also be introduced depending on the particular industry model. Since the semantic web technologies are mathematically based, inference of the data can be performed to identify new associations. By using standard XML based technologies of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) such as OWL and RDF, a variety of tools such as security can be leveraged. Controlled access to the topic maps, maps or subsection of the maps is supported using the family of XML security based standards.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Any suitable computer usable or computer readable medium may be utilized. The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a transmission media such as those supporting the Internet or an intranet, or a magnetic storage device. Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signal with the computer-usable program code embodied therewith, either in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. The computer usable program code may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to the Internet, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc.
Computer program code for carrying out operations of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be written in an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of one or more embodiments of the present invention may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
The present invention is described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention for example as shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 6-8. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:

storing a plurality of topic maps in one or more storage devices, wherein each of the topic maps represents information using topics, associations, and occurrences, wherein each of the topic maps provides meta data for assets stored in an asset repository; and

a computer providing one or more services over a network, at least one of the one or more services enabling functionality of one or more user interfaces, wherein the one or more services provide semantic search functionality for the assets of the asset repository, said semantic search functionality utilizing the topics, associations, and occurrences of one or more of the topic maps to find one of more of the assets of the asset repository that satisfies conditions input via one of the one or more user interfaces.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the computer creating uniform resource identifiers for the topics of at least one of the topic maps; and

the computer creating topic resource description framework triples for each topic of at least one of the topic maps.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the computer creating topic occurrence resource description framework triples for each occurrence of an element or index item in at least one of the topic maps.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the topics, associations, and occurrences are data structures for a related type of information of the topic maps.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the represented information of the topic maps is necessary for enabling search functionalities dependent upon hypergraph relationships between topics that are represented by data structures of the topic maps of the associations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the topic maps conform to International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 13250-1 or a standard based upon or derivative from ISO/IEC standard 13250-1.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of topic maps comprises data for a particular topic or industry vertical.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of topic maps comprises data for a different industry vertical of a company owning the assets of the asset repository.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of topic maps comprises data for a different topic for an industry to which the assets of the asset repository relate, each different topic representing a conceptual space of meaning.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the computer utilizing a meta model search service implemented within an abstraction layer of a system architecture where the topic maps are stored to interface with the asset repository, which asset repository is maintained in a separate layer of abstraction of the system architecture.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the computer converting topics of stored topic maps into Resource Description Framework (RDF) triples, which RDF triples are persisted in an RDF repository, wherein the one or more services utilize the RDF triples for the semantic Web search functionality.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the assets of the asset repository comprise at least three of: industry models, business models, unified modeling language (UML) design applications, data models, business services, service components, and technical services for a specific organization.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset repository comprises a plurality of different types of repositories, each storing a subset of the assets.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the computer implementing the one or more services in an application and services layer of abstraction of a system architecture;

the computer implementing the one or more services in a service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) component layer of abstraction of the system architecture; and

the computer implementing the asset repository in a federated physical assets layer of abstraction of the system architecture, wherein communications between the application and services layer and the federated physical assets layer must occur through the service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) component layer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more services are Web services, wherein the assets are distributed across a plurality of different physical storage devices, which storage devices store the assets in a heterogeneous manner, wherein said assets are federated into a single logical repository referred to as the asset repository.

16. A computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories and one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to store a plurality of topic maps in one or more storage devices, wherein each of the topic maps represents information using topics, associations, and occurrences, wherein each of the topic maps provides meta data for assets stored in an asset repository; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to provide one or more services over a network, at least one of the one or more services enabling functionality of one or more user interfaces, wherein the one or more services provide semantic search functionality for the assets of the asset repository, said semantic search functionality utilizing the topics, associations, and occurrences of one or more of the topic maps to find one of more of the assets of the asset repository that satisfies conditions input via one of the one or more user interfaces.

17. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to implement the one or more services in an application and services layer of abstraction of a system architecture;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to implement the one or more services in a service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) component layer of abstraction of the system architecture; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to implement the asset repository in a federated physical assets layer of abstraction of the system architecture, wherein communications between the application and services layer and the federated physical assets layer must occur through the service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) component layer.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the one or more services are Web services, wherein the assets are distributed across a plurality of different physical storage devices, which store the assets in a heterogeneous manner, wherein said assets are federated into a single logical repository referred to as the asset repository.

19. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to store a plurality of topic maps in one or more storage devices, wherein each of the topic maps represents information using topics, associations, and occurrences, wherein each of the topic maps provides meta data for assets stored in an asset repository; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to provide one or more services over a network, at least one of the one or more services enabling functionality of one or more user interfaces, wherein the one or more services provide semantic search functionality for the assets of the asset repository, said semantic search functionality utilizing the topics, associations, and occurrences of one or more of the topic maps to find one of more of the assets of the asset repository that satisfies conditions input via one of the one or more user interfaces.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to implement the one or more services in an application and services layer of abstraction of a system architecture;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to implement the one or more services in a service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) component layer of abstraction of the system architecture; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to implement the asset repository in a federated physical assets layer of abstraction of the system architecture, wherein communications between the application and services layer and the federated physical assets layer must occur through the service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) component layer.