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.