Abstract: A method for presenting a user with a unified bill of material from a plurality of bills of materials respectively stored in multiple databases is disclosed. The method includes receiving at least one keyword from the user, querying a taxonomy associated with the at least one keyword, utilizing a semantic based ontology model to generate queries for forwarding to the databases, the queries based on the taxonomy and the at least one keyword, receiving from the databases, a listing of the available information stored in the databases that includes the at least one keyword, presenting the listing to the user, receiving from the user, based on the listing, a selection of the information they wish to retrieve from the databases, generating a query requesting retrieval of the user selected information from the databases, receiving the retrieved information from the databases, and providing the retrieved information in an organized format.

Abstract: A method for presenting a user with a unified bill of material from a plurality of bills of materials respectively stored in multiple databases is disclosed. The method includes receiving at least one keyword from the user, querying a taxonomy associated with the at least one keyword, utilizing a semantic based ontology model to generate queries for forwarding to the databases, the queries based on the taxonomy and the at least one keyword, receiving from the databases, a listing of the available information stored in the databases that includes the at least one keyword, presenting the listing to the user, receiving from the user, based on the listing, a selection of the information they wish to retrieve from the databases, generating a query requesting retrieval of the user selected information from the databases, receiving the retrieved information from the databases, and providing the retrieved information in an organized format.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for exchanging process model data between process authoring tools in a process management system. A set of information requirements for exchanging the process model data between process authoring tools using different process model exchange formats within the process management system is identified. A definition of a common process model exchange format is extended to include a set of common objects using the set of information requirements to form a common process model exchange format. The set of common objects are supported between a source process authoring tool and a target process authoring tool in the process authoring tools. An output file is generated using the common process model exchange format. The common process model exchange format is compatible with a process model exchange format used by the target process authoring tool.