Ontology and Terminology Servers in Agent-based Health-care Information Systems

S. Falasconi; G. Lanzola; M. Stefanelli

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1634688

Methods of Information in Medicine, Table of Contents

Methods Inf Med 1997; 36(01): 30-43
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1634688

Original Article

Schattauer GmbH

Ontology and Terminology Servers in Agent-based Health-care Information Systems

S. Falasconi

¹Medical Informatics Laboratory, Dept. of Informatics and Systems Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

,

G. Lanzola

¹Medical Informatics Laboratory, Dept. of Informatics and Systems Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

,

M. Stefanelli

¹Medical Informatics Laboratory, Dept. of Informatics and Systems Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Abstract:

A new research paradigm is emerging based on the multi-agent system architectural framework, allowing human and software agents to interoperate and thus cooperate within common application areas. Within a multi-agent system, the different “views of the world” of knowledgeable agents are to be bridged through their commitment to common ontologies and terminologies. We developed a general methodology for the design or integration of new components into a Health-care Information System conceived as a network of software and human agents. In our view, ontological and terminological services are entrusted to dedicated agents, namely ontology and terminology servers, allowing the configuration of suitable application ontologies for distributed applications. The role is described that such servers, operatively coordinated in order to preserve semantic coherence, should play within a distributed Health-care Information System.

Keywords:

Agent - Ontology - Distributed Health-care

Full Text

References

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