Model-driven rule-based mediation in XML data exchange

Abstract

XML data exchange has become ubiquitous in Business to Business (B2B) collaborations. Automating as much as possible the exchange of XML data between enterprise systems is a key requirement for ensuring agile interoperability and scalability in B2B collaborations. The lack of standardized XML canonical models or schemas in B2B data exchange, as well as semantic differences and inconsistencies between conceptual models of those that want to exchange XML data implies that XML data cannot be directly and fully automatically exchanged between B2B systems. We are left with the option of providing techniques and tools to support humans in reconciling the differences and inconsistencies between the data models of the parties involved in a data exchange. In this paper we introduce such a technique and tool for XML data exchange. Our approach is based on a lifting mechanism of XML schemas and instances to an object-oriented model, and the design and execution of data mediation at the object-oriented level. We use F-logic -- an object oriented rule language -- together with its Flora2 engine as the underlying mechanism for providing an abstract, object-oriented model of XML schemas and instances, as well as for specification and execution of the mappings at the model level. This provides us with a fully-fledged tool for design- and run-time data mediation, by focusing at the actual semantic models behind the XML schemas, rather than having to deal with the technicalities of XML in the data mediation process. Finally, we present the architecture of the current data exchange system and report on preliminary evaluation of our system.