Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating a name for a business data component in an electronic business process use a received textual description of the business data component. One or more proposed names are generated in accordance with a predefined naming format. The proposed names are generated using a matching algorithm to select terms from a library of available terms based on the textual description. Each proposed name includes multiple terms, and each term in the library of available terms defines an object class, a property, a representation class, or a qualifier.

Abstract: Adding a new tag name to a collection of tag names includes receiving, in a computer system, a new tag name that is to be added to a collection of existing tag names that conform to a standardized protocol for defining semantics of contents in electronic communications, the new tag name including at least first and second terms. It is determined whether the collection already includes any of the first and second terms, wherein each term included in the existing tag names is associated with one of several unique identifiers. The method further includes selecting at least first and second unique identifiers for the new tag name, wherein, for any of the first and second terms that is already included in the collection, a corresponding one of the several unique identifiers associated therewith is selected. A data structure includes tag names and unique identifier codes for the several tag names.

Abstract: In a computer system that is configured to contain schema definitions for several data components, layout information for at least one of the data components is stored in the schema definition for the at least one data component. A method of providing display of data in a graphical user interface includes accessing layout information for a data component, the layout information being included in a schema definition for the data component, and providing, using the accessed layout information, an instance of the data component for display in a graphical user interface. A browser can parse XSD artifacts of reusable building blocks and generate a graphical user interface with the embedded relative layout information of every building block.

Abstract: A computer program product that is tangibly embodied in an information carrier is described. The computer program product includes instructions that, when executed, perform operations for tracking data elements that are used in electronic documents. The method includes identifying an instance of a data element in a first electronic document comprising one or more data elements, modifying stored information based on the identification of the data element, periodically retrieving the stored information specifying a number of times a data element is used during a time interval, applying a calculation process to the information to determine a usage trend for the data element, and providing a visual display on a display device that shows an identifier for the data element and the usage trend.

Abstract: Providing layout information includes assigning at least a first context value to layout information for a data element. The layout information is configured for use in displaying an instance of the data element in a graphical user interface. The method includes storing the layout information and the first context value in a schema definition for the data element. Providing display of data using layout information includes receiving a context definition. A data element is identified using the received context definition. A schema definition for the data element includes layout information with at least a first context value assigned thereto. The method further includes providing, using the layout information, an instance of the identified data element for display in a graphical user interface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for identifying matches between disparate schemas calculates a degree of similarity between elements of two schemas using each of multiple matching processes. The calculated degrees of similarity are combined using a first weighting vector to produce first combined degrees of similarity. The first weighting vector includes multiple weighting coefficients and each weighting coefficient corresponds to one of the matching processes. The weighting coefficients are tuned using information relating to a predicted degree of matching accuracy associated with the first weighting vector.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. An identification scheme that is to be used for generating at least one identifier for an object is identified. A scheme entity that represents the identification scheme and includes at least one aspect thereof is created. The created scheme entity is stored in a repository such that the scheme entity can be selected for association with the identifier.

Abstract: A name of one or more entity classes of the data model may be refined to conform to a naming convention. A semantic meaning of each of the names and one or more attributes of each entity class may be determined. It may be determined that the name of a first entity class is semantically similar to the name of a second entity class based on a semantic distance between the semantic meaning of the names, where a substantial similarity may be determined between the first entity class and the second entity class by comparing the semantic meaning of the one or more attributes of the first entity class to the semantic meaning of the one or more attributes of the second entity class. The data model may be normalized based on the substantial similarity.

Abstract: Providing layout information includes assigning at least a first context value to layout information for a data element. The layout information is configured for use in displaying an instance of the data element in a graphical user interface. The method includes storing the layout information and the first context value in a schema definition for the data element. Providing display of data using layout information includes receiving a context definition. A data element is identified using the received context definition. A schema definition for the data element includes layout information with at least a first context value assigned thereto. The method further includes providing, using the layout information, an instance of the identified data element for display in a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A computer system includes a repository with predefined data elements for use in identifying information portions in electronic communications. Each data element is associated with semantic information indicating its definition and intended use. The system includes a modeling tool that, upon selection by a user, displays any of the predefined data elements and the semantic information for editing. A method includes receiving a first user input made under guidance of the modeling tool in a graphical user interface (GUI). The input selects one of several predefined data elements that are associated with semantic information indicating their definition and intended use. In response to the first user input, a representation of the selected predefined data element containing the semantic information is presented in the GUI. At least one aspect of the semantic information is modified based on a second user input made under guidance of the modeling tool.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products for tracking usage of business data elements include receiving an electronic document that includes instances of business data elements and identifying an instance of a particular business data element in the electronic document. A counter associated with the particular business data element is incremented based on the identified instance. The electronic document has a format defined by a business communication schema, and the business communication schema includes a set of predefined business data elements for use in transacting electronic business.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accessing multiple portals using a unique business language semantic are provided. Business information and services are provided to customers during, for example, a supply chain management process. An accessible business environment is provided which includes a common repository. The common repository has access to one or more business portals. One can search the product listing in the common repository using a browser, e.g., a web-based browser. In response to a search, one may be provided with a product list indicating some available business portals having the specific product and/or service. The common repository entries are described by a predetermined semantical description.

Abstract: A computer program for naming at least one of several data elements that can identify business information in a communication is described. Operations include associating a data element with an aggregate data element that includes one or more data elements. The data element is configured to have associated therewith an object class term that represents a logical grouping to which the data element belongs and a property term that represents a characteristic of the logical grouping. Also, the operations include selecting a data type that defines values that are valid for being assigned to the data element, wherein the data type includes a qualifier term that represents an additional semantic restriction describing the data type, and assigning the qualifier term to at least one of the property term and the object class term of the data element. The assignment is dependent upon a name of the aggregate data element.

Abstract: Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for creating a mapping includes obtaining a definition relating to a first schema, the definition comprising a first plurality of nodes to be mapped to a second schema comprising a second plurality of nodes. The method includes receiving at least one context value for the received definition, the context value being associated with at least one context category defined for the second schema. The method includes generating names corresponding to each of the nodes in the first plurality, the generated names being consistent with a naming rule for the second schema. The method includes mapping each of the nodes in the first plurality to a respective one of the nodes in the second plurality, wherein the context value and at least one of the generated names are taken into account in the mapping.

Abstract: Among other disclosure, a computer-implemented method for context-specific modeling of a collaborative business process includes receiving an identification of a collaborative business process to involve a communication between at least two entities. The identification is submitted by an entity seeking to model the collaborative business process for a specific context associated with the entity. The method includes selecting, in a repository and using the specific context, at least one modeling artifact that has been defined for use in the identified collaborative business process. The repository includes a plurality of stored modeling artifacts for at least one collaborative business process, each of the stored modeling artifacts associated with at least one context value. The method includes providing the selected modeling artifact to the entity in response to the received identification.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accessing multiple portals using a unique business language semantic are provided. Business information and services are provided to customers during, for example, a supply chain management process. An accessible business environment is provided which includes a common repository. The common repository has access to one or more business portals. One can search the product listing in the common repository using a browser, e.g., a web-based browser. In response to a search, one may be provided with a product list indicating some available business portals having the specific product and/or service. The common repository entries are described by a predetermined semantical description.

Abstract: Among other disclosure, a computer-implemented method for creating an electronic communication includes identifying, for an electronic communication regarding multiple items that is to be sent, a default value that applies to at least one of the items. The method includes including the default value in a default component configured for holding multiple default values. The method includes identifying a data structure that is common to more than one of the multiple items. The method includes defining the data structure in a list component configured for holding multiple data structures. The method includes forwarding the electronic communication, including the default component and the list component.

Abstract: Among other disclosure: a computer-implemented method of configuring a system for an identification scheme; a computer-implemented method of communicating an identifier; a computer-implemented method of processing a received identifier; and corresponding computer program products.

Abstract: Methods and computer program products relating to properties of data elements. A computer-implemented method for identifying a property of a data element includes receiving a request for at least one sought property of a data element. The data element is configured for use in semantically identifying information portions in electronic communications. The sought property is to be valid in a context defined by at least one context value indicated by the request. The method includes identifying the at least one sought property by evaluating at least one logical rule that defines at least one property of the data element as being valid for a specified context. The method includes generating an output in response to the request that indicates the at least one sought property.

Abstract: Processing a received message includes receiving a message that includes a plurality of values associated with respective data elements that assign an information category to each of the values. The message further includes a plurality of context values belonging to respective context categories. The method includes identifying, in a relevance record and for a first one of the context categories in the message, at least one of the data elements that is relevant for the context value of the first context category. A rule associated with the context value of the first context category is applied to the value of the identified at least one data element. A system includes a message receiving module, a context value module and a processing module.