By David S. Linthicum, CEO, Linthicum Group, LLC , 01/03/2005
Print this article
Email this article
Talk Back!
Write to Editor
RDF and Ontologies
Resource Description Framework (RDF), a part of the XML story, provides interoperability between applications that exchange information. RDF is another Web standard that’s finding use everywhere, including application integration. RDF was developed by the W3C to provide a foundation of metadata interoperability across different resource description communities and is the basis for the W3C movement to ontologies such as the use of Web Ontology Language (OWL).
RDF uses XML to define a foundation for processing metadata and to provide a standard metadata infrastructure for both the Web and the enterprise. The difference between the two is that XML is used to transport data using a common format, while RDF is layered on top of XML defining a broad category of data. When the XML data is declared to be of the RDF format, applications are then able to understand the data without understanding who sent it.
RDF extends the XML model and syntax to be specified for describing either resources or a collection of information. (XML points to a resource in order to scope and uniquely identify a set of properties known as the schema.)
RDF metadata can be applied to many areas, including application integration. One example would be searching for data, and cataloging data and relationships. RDF is also able to support new technology (such as intelligent software agents and exchange of content rating.)
RDF itself does not offer predefined vocabularies for authoring metadata. However, the W3C does expect standard vocabularies to emerge once the infrastructure for metadata interoperability is in place. Anyone, or any industry, can design and implement a new vocabulary. The only requirement is that all resources be included in the metadata instances using the new vocabulary.
RDF benefits application integration in that it supports the concept of a common metadata layer that is sharable throughout an enterprise or between enterprises. Thus, RDF can be used as a common mechanism for describing data within the application integration problem domain.
Web-Based Standards and Ontologies
The use of languages for ontology is beginning to appear, built on reasoning techniques that provide for the development of special-purpose reasoning services. In fact, the W3C is creating a Web standard for ontology language as part of its effort to define semantic standards for the Web. The Semantic Web is the abstract representation of data on the World Wide Web, based on the Resource Description Framework standards (see the “RDF and Ontologies” tidbit) and other standards still to be defined. It is being developed by the W3C, in collaboration with a large number of researchers and industrial partners.
1
Insurance: Discovering the Missing Link of Business Architecture
SOA Infrastructure for Any Economic Climate
Mobilizing the Enterprise: Using RIA and SaaS to Do More with Less
Adapt with Agility - Web 2.0 in your Application Infrastructure
Please pardon our appearance while we work out the remaining kinks of our new site. If you happen to find a bug, please let us know at support@ebizq.net
ebizQ is very interested in what you have to say. To contribute an article, an opinion, or to become a blogger, please contact Peter Schooff.
Nov 19, 2008
This conference will teach business leaders what to expect, and what to avoid, to make their SOA journey a success. SOA is a long journey, not a single project, and distributed architectures are inherently complex. Success requires new ways of working, creating more efficient cross organization processes, adopting new tools, and building new skills.Register
Date: Dec 04, 2008
Time: 12:00 PM
ET- (17:00 GMT)
Date: Dec 09, 2008
Time: 12:00 PM
ET- (17:00 GMT)
Date:Jan 14, 2009
Time:12:00 PM ET- (17:00 GMT)
REGISTER TODAY!
Read this Forrester report to see how vendors stack up regarding business process management. Forrester evaluated eight business process management...
Download Now
Almost a year after their first chat, XAware founder and CTO Bill Miller gives Dennis Byron an update on what's going on this year at XAware and how that "open source thing" is working out.
Listen Now
Listen to Peter Schooff's podcast with Jason English, VP of Corporate Marketing for iTKO, where they offer a quick preview of ebizQ's upcoming SOA in Action Virtual Conference on Nov. 19.
Listen Now
David Bressler provides Progress Software's customers and field teams with the expertise and experience to deliver SOA. In this podcast, Bressler gives an excellent introduction to ebizQ's Nov. 19 SOA in Action Virtual Conference, where he'll be a featured speaker.
Listen Now
Hear Larry Alston's unique perspective on the open source development model and how IONA is adopting a "functionality rules" open-source-as-a-tactic theme now that Iona is part of Progress.
Listen Now
In this podcast, Rothman flies solo and rants about Web 2.0 attack vectors, providing a primer on the types of attacks you're likely to see from social networks. Rothman also gives himself the "free association" treatment, discussing topics like Facebook and the impact of Web 2.0 on PCI.rnrnListen to or download the 11:39 minute podcast below:
Listen Now
Integrating BPM and CEP gives you intelligent business processes that can react to rapidly changing business conditions with continuous visibility. Learn More
Insurers need to think about creating "true linkage," which means linking business strategy to process to IT investments and thereby setting the foundation for true change. Learn More
To be effective, business intelligence technology must work behind the scenes to deliver relevant information when, where, and how it's needed. Learn More
A lot of people are talking about Enterprise 2.0 as being the business application of Web 2.0 technology. However, there's still some debate on exactly what this technology entails, how it applies to today's business models, and which components bring true value. Some use the term Enterprise 2.0 exclusively to describe the use of social networking technologies in the enterprise, while others use it to describe a web economy platform, or the technological framework behind such a platform. Still others say that Enterprise 2.0 is all of these things. Learn More
Smart event processing can help your company run smarter and faster. This comprehensive guide helps you research the basics of complex event processing (CEP) and learn how to get started on the right foot with your CEP project using EDA, RFID, SOA, SCADA and other relevant technologies. Learn More
|
|