A model for semantic interoperability using XML

Interoperability between different systems is becoming at the heart of modern IT operations. XML is taking an important role in the data exchange between interoperable systems due to its flexibility and richness in data representation. We extend that trend by presenting a model for semantic interoperability with XML. The model is comprised of two parts: semantic representation and semantic mapping. In the semantic representation model we start by analyzing the different types of semantic information that are usually impeded in the data and not explicitly represented. Then we introduce a model to represent this information as XML document called the semantic definition. In the semantic mapping process we define a component called the semantic mapping agent SMA that has an interface that allows it to store different semantic definition and then to map values from one semantic definition to the other.