Ontology modeling framework for automated information integration of components libraries

In the ontology-based approaches for automated information integration, the problem of aligning or merging different ontologies is well-known. Ontologies which are developed independently have semantic mismatches that hinder the ontology integration. In this paper, we propose a well-founded ontology modeling framework for components libraries based on Guarino's theory of upper ontology. Using the framework, ontology developers can model the knowledge of components libraries systematically and consistently, so that the mismatches are confined within a manageable form which a software program can solve automatically. We also discuss an experimental application of our proposal to a real case of mold and die components libraries.