The design of an ontology-based service-oriented architecture framework for traditional chinese medicine healthcare

In order to promote the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a platform that allows different legacy TCM information systems to interact, intercommunicate, and interoperate with each other by using standard scientific format and systematical information management is necessary. In this study, a design of an ontology-based service-oriented architecture (SOA) framework is proposed to boost the scientific standardization and systematical management of TCM information. By utilizing the information and communication technologies (ICT), this latitudinal framework is designed to have four layers, including a presentation layer for services discovery and selection, a business layer for services operation, a data access layer for database synchronization management, and a technology layer. A longitudinal information technology layer that allows data integration, access, and exchange under the privacy and security policy is charging of monitoring and managing information activities in the four layers.