Bridging the Terminology Gap using OWL ... an exciting example

Hi Folks,

I am trying to create some simple examples which demonstrate the power
of OWL. (I would like examples that are as compelling as Ian Davis'
version of The Robber and the Speeder.)

Below is my start at an example.  It needs some work to make it
"compelling".  Can you help me flesh out this example to make it more
compelling?

Here's the example:

BRIDGING THE TERMINOLOGY GAP USING OWL

A key problem in achieving interoperability is to be able to recognize
that two pieces of data are talking about the same thing.

The following example shows how OWL may be used to bridge the
"terminology gap".

INTERESTED IN PURCHASING A CAMERA

Query: "I am interested in purchasing a camera with an aperture of (at
least) 1.4, a shutter speed that ranges from 1/2000 sec. to 10 sec., and
with a 300mm zoom lens."

This query can be expressed in XML as:

<Camera>
    <aperture>1.4 (or better)</aperture>
    <shutter-speed>1/2000 sec. to 10 sec.</shutter-speed>
    <lens>300mm zoom</lens>
</Camera>

Thus, the query may be recast as: "Find all XML documents which overlap
with the above XML document."

IS THIS DOCUMENT RELEVANT?

My Web Bot finds this document at a Web site:

<PhotographyStore rdf:ID="Hunts"
                  xmlns:rdf="&rdf;#">
    <store-location>Malden, MA</store-location>
    <phone>617-555-1234</phone>
    <catalog rdf:parseType="Collection">
        <SLR rdf:ID="Olympus-OM-10">
            <f-stop>1.2</f-stop>
            <shutter-speed>1/2000 sec. to 10 sec.</shutter-speed>
            <compatible-lenses>
                <lens>35mm</lens>
                <lens>50mm</lens>
                <lens>300mm zoom</lens>
            </compatible-lenses>
            <cost>starting at: $325 USD</cost>
        </SLR>
        ...
    </catalog>
</PhotographyStore>

Is this document relevant?  Does it meet the query specifications? 

To determine if there is a match, these questions must be answered:
1. What's the relationship between "SLR" and "Camera"?
2. What's the relationship between "f-stop" and "aperture"?

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SLR AND CAMERA?

This OWL rule (from the Camera Ontology) tells the Web Bot that an SLR
is a type of Camera:

<owl:Class rdf:ID="SLR">
      <rdfs:subClassOf rdf:resource="#Camera"/>
</owl:Class>

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN F-STOP AND APERTURE?

This OWL rule tells the Web Bot that f-stop is equivalent to aperture:

<owl:DatatypeProperty rdf:ID="f-stop">
       <owl:equivalentProperty rdf:resource="#aperture"/>
       <rdfs:domain rdf:resource="#SLR"/>
       <rdfs:range rdf:resource="&xsd;#string"/>
</owl:DatatypeProperty>

My Web Bot now recognizes that the XML document it found at the Web site 
    - is talking about Cameras, and 
    - does show the aperture for the camera.

Further, the aperture exceeds the minimum value specified by the query
(1.4), and the shutter speed and lens criteria is met.

Thus, my Web Bot has determined that this Olympus OM-10 SLR instance 
document is a match for my query!

SUMMARY: INTEROPERABILITY DESPITE TERMINOLOGY DIFFERENCES!

The example demonstrates how my Web Bot was able to utilize the data
from the Web site, despite the fact that the XML document used different
terminology.  This interoperability was achieved through the use of the
OWL Camera Ontology.

----
Okay, that's a start.  Can you help to improve this example, i.e., show
more OWL features, and make it more compelling?  /Roger

Received on Friday, 4 April 2003 11:45:46 UTC