Method and apparatus for re-using presentation data across templates in an ontology

• US 20060106876A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siderean Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Siderean Software, Inc.
• Inventors: MacGregor, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US11/271,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106876A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/36 Creation of semantic tools, e.g. ontology or thesauri

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that re-uses presentation data across templates in an ontology, wherein an ontology is a logic structure that defines semantics for a set of data, and wherein a template is a representation of a contextualized view of the meta-data of the ontology. During operation, the system produces a “decorated template” by associating paths in the template with decorations that describe how to present the set of data represented by the meta-data of the ontology. The system then attempts to identify matching paths in a second template. Any identified matching paths in the second template are associated with the decorations for corresponding matching paths from the decorated templates, thereby automatically attaching information from a path in the decorated template to a matching path in the second template.

Claims

1. A method for re-using presentation data across templates in an ontology, wherein the ontology is a logic structure that defines semantics for a set of data, and wherein a template is a representation of a contextualized view of the meta-data of the ontology, comprising:

producing a decorated template by associating paths in the template with decorations that describe how to present the set of data represented by the meta-data of the ontology;

attempting to identify matching paths in a second template;

associating matching paths in the second template with decorations from corresponding matching paths in the decorated template;

whereby information attached to a path in the decorated template can be automatically attached to a matching path in the second template.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a path in the decorated template is characterized by a signature which specifies a set of items with types and a set of links between the items along the path.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a decoration and the characteristics of its associated path are stored in a library.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:

comparing the path in an undecorated template with a set of stored paths and decorations in the library; and

if the path in the undecorated template is found to match a path in the library, decorating the path in the undecorated template with the decoration associated with the matching path in the library.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if multiple paths in the library match an undecorated path in the template, the method further involves:

determining which matching path is most specific; and

associating the undecorated path with the decoration of the most specific matching path.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining which path is most specific involves:

determining a first matching path to be more specific than a second matching path if the first matching path is longer than the second matching path; and

determining the first matching path to be more specific than a third matching path if the items and links in the first matching path have more specific types and properties than the items and links in the third matching path.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is used to decorate the ontology with non-semantic presentation data that is used in a principled fashion in conjunction with semantic data to operate on and display a set of data.

8. The method of claim 2,

wherein the decorated template allows a contextualized view of the ontology that provides hints for improved display of the data represented by ontology;

wherein the use of paths allows views of the ontology to extend beyond the immediate neighbors of items; and

wherein the use of paths allows a conceptual context to be set up for every item class or type.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the decorated template is a query specified using the XRBR language.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for re-using presentation data across templates in an ontology, wherein the ontology is a logic structure that defines semantics for a set of data, and wherein a template is a representation of a contextualized view of the meta-data of the ontology, the method comprising:

producing a decorated template by associating paths in the template with decorations that describe how to present the set of data represented by the meta-data of the ontology;

attempting to identify matching paths in a second template;

associating matching paths in the second template with decorations from corresponding matching paths in the decorated template;

whereby information attached to a path in the decorated template can be automatically attached to a matching path in the second template.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein a path in the decorated template is characterized by a signature which specifies a set of items with types and a set of links between the items along the path.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein a decoration and the characteristics of its associated path are stored in a library.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

comparing the path in an undecorated template with a set of stored paths and decorations in the library; and

if the path in the undecorated template is found to match a path in the library, decorating the path in the undecorated template with the decoration associated with the matching path in the library.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein if multiple paths in the library match an undecorated path in the template, the method further involves:

determining which matching path is most specific; and

associating the undecorated path with the decoration of the most specific matching path.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein determining which path is most specific involves:

determining a first matching path to be more specific than a second matching path if the first matching path is longer than the second matching path; and

determining the first matching path to be more specific than a third matching path if the items and links in the first matching path have more specific types and properties than the items and links in the third matching path.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method is used to decorate the ontology with non-semantic presentation data that is used in a principled fashion in conjunction with semantic data to operate on and display a set of data.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the decorated template allows a contextualized view of the ontology that provides hints for improved display of the data represented by ontology;

wherein the use of paths allows views of the ontology to extend beyond the immediate neighbors of items; and

wherein the use of paths allows a conceptual context to be set up for every item class or type

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the decorated template is a query specified using the XRBR language.

19. An apparatus for re-using presentation data across templates in an ontology, wherein the ontology is a logic structure that defines semantics for a set of data, and wherein a template is a representation of a contextualized view of the meta-data of the ontology, comprising:

a production mechanism configured to produce a decorated template by associating paths in the template with decorations that describe how to present the set of data represented by the meta-data of the ontology;

an identification mechanism configured to attempt to identify matching paths in a second template;

an association mechanism configured to associate matching paths in the second template with decorations from corresponding matching paths in the decorated template;

whereby information attached to a path in the decorated template can be automatically attached to a matching path in the second template

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a path in the decorated template is characterized by a signature which specifies a set of items with types and a set of links between the items along the path.