Data query and location through a central ontology model

Abstract

A data query system including a first storage medium including a data schema having a data schema query language associated therewith, a second storage medium including an ontology model including classes and properties, the ontology model having an ontology query language associated therewith, wherein constructs of the database schema are mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model, and an ontology query processor generating a query expressed in the data schema query language corresponding to a specified query expressed in the ontology query language. A method is also described and claimed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A data query system comprising: 
 a first storage medium including a data schema having a data schema query language associated therewith;    a second storage medium including an ontology model including classes and properties, the ontology model having an ontology query language associated therewith, wherein constructs of the data schema are mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model; and    an ontology query processor generating a query expressed in the data schema query language corresponding to a specified query expressed in the ontology query language.    
     
     
         2 . The data query system of  claim 1  wherein said second storage medium is the same as said first storage medium.  
     
     
         3 . The data query system of  claim 1  wherein said second storage medium is different from said first storage medium.  
     
     
         4 . The data query system of  claim 1  wherein said first storage medium also provides at least one data source conforming to the data schema, and further comprising a database query processor executing the query expressed in the data schema query language on the at least one data source.  
     
     
         5 . The data query system of  claim 1  wherein the specified query expressed in the ontology query language includes a clause indicating at least one subject class to which a query applies.  
     
     
         6 . The data query system of  claim 5  wherein the specified query expressed in the ontology query language includes at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, values of which are to be displayed.  
     
     
         7 . The data query system of  claim 6  wherein at least one of the at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, are inherited from at least one property or composition of properties defined on a superclass of the subject class.  
     
     
         8 . The data query system of  claim 5  wherein the specified query expressed in the ontology query language includes at least one condition that must be satisfied by at least one value of a property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class.  
     
     
         9 . The data query system of  claim 8  wherein the property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, is inherited from a property or composition of properties defined on a superclass of the subject class.  
     
     
         10 . The data query system of  claim 1  further comprising an ontology query builder generating a query expressed in the ontology query language.  
     
     
         11 . The data query system of  claim 10  wherein said ontology query builder enables a user to specify at least one subject class to which the query applies.  
     
     
         12 . The data query system of  claim 11  wherein said query builder enables a user to specify at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, values of which are to be displayed.  
     
     
         13 . The data query system of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, are inherited from at least one property or composition of properties defined on a superclass of the subject class.  
     
     
         14 . The data query system of  claim 11  wherein said query builder enables a user to specify at least one condition that must be satisfied by at least one value of a property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class.  
     
     
         15 . The data query system of  claim 14  wherein the property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, is inherited from a property or composition of properties defined on a superclass of the subject class.  
     
     
         16 . The data query system of  claim 1  wherein the data schema is a relational database schema, the constructs of which are tables and fields, and wherein the data schema query language is SQL.  
     
     
         17 . The data query system of  claim 1  wherein the data schema is an XML schema, the constructs of which are complex types, elements and attributes, and wherein the data schema query language is XQuery.  
     
     
         18 . The data query system of  claim 1  wherein the data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         19 . The data query system of  claim 1  wherein the data schema is an entity-relationship model.  
     
     
         20 . The data query system of  claim 1  further comprising a display processor generating a visual display of the query expressed in the data schema query language.  
     
     
         21 . The data query system of  claim 20  wherein the visual display includes a display of the query expressed in the ontology query language.  
     
     
         22 . The data query system of  claim 1  further comprising an additional storage medium including an additional data schema having an additional data schema query language associated therewith, wherein constructs of the additional data schema are also mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model, and wherein said ontology query processor also generates a query expressed in the additional data schema query language corresponding to the specified query expressed in the ontology query language.  
     
     
         23 . The data query system of  claim 22  wherein said additional storage medium is the same as said first storage medium.  
     
     
         24 . The data query system of  claim 22  wherein said additional storage medium as different from said first storage medium.  
     
     
         25 . The data query system of  claim 22  wherein the additional data schema is the same as the data schema, and wherein the additional data schema query language is the same as the data schema query language.  
     
     
         26 . The data query system of  claim 22  wherein the additional data schema is different from the data schema, and wherein the additional data schema query language is different from the data schema query language.  
     
     
         27 . The data query system of  claim 26  wherein the data schema is a relational database schema and wherein the additional data schema is an XML schema.  
     
     
         28 . A method for data query comprising: 
 providing a data schema having a data schema query language associated therewith;    providing an ontology model including classes and properties, the ontology model having an ontology query language associated therewith, wherein constructs of the data schema are mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model;    providing a query expressed in the ontology language; and    generating a query expressed in the data schema query language corresponding to the query expressed in the ontology query language.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 providing at least one data source conforming to the data schema; and  
 executing the query expressed in the data schema language on the at least one data source.  
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the query expressed in the ontology query language includes a clause indicating at least one subject class to which the query applies.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the query expressed in the ontology language includes at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, values of which are to be displayed.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein at least one of the at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, are inherited from at least one property or composition of properties defined on a superclass of the subject class.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the query expressed in the ontology language includes at least one condition that must be satisfied by at least one value of a property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, is inherited from a property or composition of properties defined on a superclass of the subject class.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising generating a query expressed in the ontology language.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said generating a query comprises specifying at least one subject class to which a query applies.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said generating a query comprises specifying at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, values of which are to be displayed.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein at least one of the at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, are inherited from at least one property or composition of properties defined on a superclass of the subject class.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said generating a query comprises specifying at least one condition that must be satisfied by at least one value of a property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, is inherited from a property or composition of properties defined on a superclass of the subject class  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the data schema is a relational database schema, the constructs of which are tables and fields, and wherein the data schema query language is SQL.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the data schema is an XML schema, the constructs of which are complex types, elements and attributes, and wherein the data schema query language is XQuery.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the data schema is an entity-relationship model.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising generating a visual display of the query expressed in the data schema query language.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the visual display includes a display of the query expressed in the ontology query language.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising; 
 providing an additional data schema having an additional data schema query language associated therewith, wherein constructs of the additional data schema are also mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model; and  
 generating a query expressed in the additional data schema query language corresponding to the query expressed in the ontology query language.  
 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the additional data schema is the same as the data schema, and wherein the additional data schema query language is the same as the data schema query language.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the additional data schema is different from the data schema, and wherein the additional data schema query language is different from the data schema query language.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the data schema is a relational database schema and wherein the additional data schema is an XML schema.  
     
     
         51 . A data locator system comprising: 
 at least one first storage medium including at least one data schema;    a second storage medium including an ontology model including classes and properties, wherein constructs of the at least one data schema are mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model; and    a data locator identifying constructs of the at least one data schema corresponding to specific classes or properties of the ontology model.    
     
     
         52 . The data locator system of  claim 51  wherein said second storage medium is the same as said first storage medium.  
     
     
         53 . The data locator system of  claim 51  wherein said second storage medium is different from said first storage medium.  
     
     
         54 . The data locator system of  claim 51  wherein said data locator identifies constructs of the at least one data schema corresponding to values of specific properties of the ontology model.  
     
     
         55 . The data locator system of  claim 54  wherein said data locator also identifies formats according to which the values of the specific properties are represented.  
     
     
         56 . The data locator system of  claim 51  wherein said at least one first storage medium comprises at least one data source conforming to the at least one data schema, and wherein said data locator also identifies, for each identified construct, data sources that contain data for the identified construct.  
     
     
         57 . The data locator system of  claim 51  wherein said data locator indicates classes and properties of the ontology model that correspond to constructs of the data schema.  
     
     
         58 . The data locator system of  claim 51  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a relational database schema, the constructs of which are tables and fields.  
     
     
         59 . The data locator system of  claim 58  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an XML schema, the constructs of which are complex types, elements and attributes.  
     
     
         60 . The data locator system of  claim 58  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         61 . The data locator system of  claim 58  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity relationship model.  
     
     
         62 . The data locator system of  claim 51  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an XML schema, the constructs of which are complex types, elements and attributes.  
     
     
         63 . The data locator system of  claim 62  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         64 . The data locator system of  claim 62  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity relationship model.  
     
     
         65 . The data locator system of  claim 51  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         66 . The data locator system of  claim 65  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity relationship model.  
     
     
         67 . The data locator system of  claim 51  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity-relationship model.  
     
     
         68 . The data locator system of  claim 51  further comprising a display processor generating a visual display of constructs of the at least one data schema identified by said data locator.  
     
     
         69 . The data locator system of  claim 68  wherein said at least one first storage medium comprises at least one data source conforming to the at least one data schema, and wherein said data locator also identifies, for each identified construct, data sources that contain data for the identified construct, and wherein the visual display includes a display of the data sources identified by said data locator.  
     
     
         70 . The data locator system of  claim 68  wherein said display processor generates an HTML page for the visual display.  
     
     
         71 . The data locator system of  claim 51  further comprising a report generator generating at least one report based on constructs of the at least one data schema identified by said data locator.  
     
     
         72 . The data locator system of  claim 70  wherein said report generator generates a list of classes and properties of the ontology model to which more than a prescribed number of constructs of the at least one data schema correspond.  
     
     
         73 . A method for data location comprising: 
 providing at least one data schema;    providing an ontology model including classes and properties, wherein constructs of the at least one data schema are mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model; and    identifying constructs of the at least one data schema corresponding to specific classes or properties of the ontology model.    
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73  wherein said identifying constructs identifies constructs of the at least one data schema corresponding to values of specific properties of the ontology model.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 73  wherein said identifying constructs also identifies formats according to which the values of the specific properties are represented.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising providing at least one data source conforming to said at least one data schema, and wherein said identifying constructs comprises identifying, for each identified construct, data sources that contain data for the identified construct.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising indicating classes and properties of the ontology model that correspond to constructs of the data schema.  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 73  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a relational database schema, the constructs of which are tables and fields.  
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an XML schema, the constructs of which are complex types, elements and attributes.  
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 78  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 78  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity relationship model.  
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 73  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an XML schema, the constructs of which are complex types, elements and attributes.  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 82  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity relationship model.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 73  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity relationship model.  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 73  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity-relationship model.  
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising generating a visual display of constructs of the at least one data schema identified by said identifying constructs.  
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 88  further comprising providing at least one data source conforming to said at least one data schema, and wherein said identifying constructs comprises identifying, for each identified construct, data sources that contain data for the identified construct, and wherein the visual display includes a display of the data sources identified by said identifying constructs.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 88  wherein said generating a visual display generates an HTML page for the visual display.  
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising generating at least one report based on constructs of the at least one data schema identified by said data locator.  
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91  wherein said generating generates a list of classes and properties of the ontology model to which more than a prescribed number of constructs of the at least one data schema correspond.  
     
     
         93 . An ontology query system, comprising: 
 a storage medium providing an ontology model including classes and properties; and    a query builder generating an ontology query, the ontology query including a first clause indicating at least one subject class to which the query applies, and a second clause indicating at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, values of which are to be displayed.    
     
     
         94 . The ontology query system of  claim 93  wherein the ontology query includes a third clause indicating at least one condition that must be satisfied by values of properties or compositions of properties defined on the at least one subject class.  
     
     
         95 . A method for querying ontological data, comprising: 
 providing an ontology model including classes and properties; and    generating an ontology query, the ontology query including a first clause indicating at least one subject class to which the query applies, and a second clause indicating at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, values of which are to be displayed.    
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95  wherein the ontology query includes a third clause indicating at least one condition that must be satisfied by values of properties or compositions of properties defined on the at least one subject class.  
     
     
         97 . A data descriptor propagation system comprising: 
 at least one first storage medium including at least one data schema and at least one data source conforming to the at least one data schema;    a second storage medium including an ontology model including classes and properties, wherein constructs of the at least one data schema are mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model; and    a data descriptor propagator associating descriptors with data for data schema constructs in the at least one data source, corresponding to descriptors associated with corresponding classes and properties of the ontology system.    
     
     
         98 . The data descriptor propagation system of  claim 97  further comprising an ontology descriptor associating descriptors with classes and properties of an ontology.  
     
     
         99 . The data descriptor propagation system of  claim 97  wherein descriptors are used to specify access privileges to data.  
     
     
         100 . The data descriptor propagation system of  claim 97  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a relational database schema, the constructs of which are tables and fields.  
     
     
         101 . The data descriptor propagation system of  claim 97  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an XML schema, the constructs of which are complex types, elements and attributes.  
     
     
         102 . The data descriptor propagation system of  claim 97  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         103 . The data descriptor propagation system of  claim 97  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity-relationship model.  
     
     
         104 . A method for data descriptor propagation comprising: 
 providing at least one data schema and at least one data source conforming to the at least one data schema;    providing an ontology model including classes and properties, wherein constructs of the at least one data schema are mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model; and    associating descriptors with data for data schema constructs in the at least one data source, corresponding to descriptors associated with corresponding classes and properties of the ontology system.    
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 104  further comprising associating descriptors with classes and properties of an ontology.  
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 104  wherein descriptors are used to specify access privileges to data.  
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 104  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a relational database schema, the constructs of which are tables and fields.  
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 104  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an XML schema, the constructs of which are complex types, elements and attributes.  
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 104  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 104  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity-relationship model.  
     
     
         111 . An ontology modeling system comprising: 
 at least one data construct for container classes for modeling sets, bags and lists;    at least one data construct for modeling multi-valued properties whose targets are said container classes; and    at least one data construct for imposing constraints on said multi-valued properties.    
     
     
         112 . The ontology modeling system of  claim 111  further comprising at least one data construct for assigning a minimum number of elements and a maximum number of elements to said multi-valued properties.  
     
     
         113 . A COBOL mapping system for embedding a COBOL Copy Book including group items and elementary items into an ontology model including classes and properties, comprising: 
 at least one data construct for mapping at least one COBOL group item within a COBOL Copy Book to at least one class of an ontology model; and    at least one data construct for mapping at least one COBOL elementary items within the COBOL Copy Book to at least one property or composition of properties of the ontology model.    
     
     
         114 . A method for embedding a COBOL Copy Book including group items and elementary items into an ontology model including classes and properties, comprising: 
 mapping at least one COBOL group item within a COBOL Copy Book to at least one class of an ontology model; and    at least one data construct for mapping at least one COBOL elementary items within the COBOL Copy Book to at least one property or composition of properties of the ontology model.    
     
     
         115 . A computer readable medium (CRM) containing executable computer program instructions which, when executed on a processing system, cause the processing system to perform a method for data query comprising: 
 providing an ontology model including classes and properties, the ontology model having an ontology query language associated therewith, wherein constructs of a data schema having a data schema query language, associated therewith are mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model;    generating a query expressed in the data schema query language corresponding to a query expressed in the ontology query language.    
     
     
         116 . The CRM of  claim 115 , the method further comprising: 
 providing at least one data source conforming to the data schema; and    executing the query expressed in the data schema language on the at least one data source.    
     
     
         117 . The CRM of  claim 115  wherein the query expressed in the ontology query language includes a clause indicating at least one subject class to which the query applies.  
     
     
         118 . The CRM of  claim 115  wherein the query expressed in the ontology language includes at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, values of which are to be displayed.  
     
     
         119 . The CRM of  claim 118  wherein at least one of the at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, are inherited from at least one property or composition of properties defined on a superclass of the subject class.  
     
     
         120 . The CRM of  claim 115  wherein the query expressed in the ontology language includes at least one condition that must be satisfied by at least one value of a property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class.  
     
     
         121 . The CRM of  claim 120  wherein the property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, is inherited from a property or composition of properties defined on a superclass of the subject class.  
     
     
         122 . The CRM of  claim 28 , the method further comprising generating a query expressed in the ontology language.  
     
     
         123 . The CRM of  claim 122  wherein said generating a query comprises specifying at least one subject class to which a query applies.  
     
     
         124 . The CRM of  claim 123  wherein said generating a query comprises specifying at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, values of which are to be displayed.  
     
     
         125 . The CRM of  claim 124  wherein at least one of the at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, are inherited from at least one property or composition of properties defined on a superclass of the subject class.  
     
     
         126 . The CRM of  claim 123  wherein said generating a query comprises specifying at least one condition that must be satisfied by at least one value of a property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class.  
     
     
         127 . The CRM of  claim 126  wherein the property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, is inherited from a property or composition of properties defined on a superclass of the subject class  
     
     
         128 . The CRM of  claim 115  wherein the data schema is a relational database schema, the constructs of which are tables and fields, and wherein the data schema query language is SQL.  
     
     
         129 . The CRM of  claim 115  wherein the data schema is an XML schema, the constructs of which are complex types, elements and attributes, and wherein the data schema query language is XQuery.  
     
     
         130 . The CRM of  claim 115  wherein the data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         131 . The CRM of  claim 115  wherein the data schema is an entity-relationship model.  
     
     
         132 . The CRM of  claim 115 , the method further comprising generating a visual display of the query expressed in the data schema query language.  
     
     
         133 . The CRM of  claim 132  wherein the visual display includes a display of the query expressed in the ontology query language.  
     
     
         134 . The CRM of  claim 115 , the method further comprising; 
 providing an additional data schema having an additional data schema query language associated therewith, wherein constructs of the additional data schema are also mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model; and    generating a query expressed in the additional data schema query language corresponding to the query expressed in the ontology query language.    
     
     
         135 . The CRM of  claim 134  wherein the additional data schema is the same as the data schema, and wherein the additional data schema query language is the same as the data schema query language.  
     
     
         136 . The CRM of  claim 134  wherein the additional data schema is different from the data schema, and wherein the additional data schema query language is different from the data schema query language.  
     
     
         137 . The CRM of  claim 134  wherein the data schema is a relational database schema and wherein the additional data schema is an XML schema.  
     
     
         138 . A computer readable medium (CRM) containing executable computer program instructions which, when executed on a processing system, cause the processing system to perform a method for data location comprising: 
 providing an ontology model including classes and properties, wherein constructs of at least one data schema are mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model; and    identifying constructs of the at least one data schema corresponding to specific classes or properties of the ontology model.    
     
     
         139 . The CRM of  claim 138  wherein said identifying constructs identifies constructs of the at least one data schema corresponding to values of specific properties of the ontology model.  
     
     
         140 . The CRM of  claim 138  wherein said identifying constructs also identifies formats according to which the values of the specific properties are represented.  
     
     
         141 . The CRM of  claim 138 , the method further comprising providing at least one data source conforming to said at least one data schema, and wherein said identifying constructs comprises identifying, for each identified construct, data sources that contain data for the identified construct.  
     
     
         142 . The CRM of  claim 138 , the method further comprising indicating classes and properties of the ontology model that correspond to constructs of the data schema.  
     
     
         143 . The CRM of  claim 138  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a relational database schema, the constructs of which are tables and fields.  
     
     
         144 . The CRM of  claim 143  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an XML schema, the constructs of which are complex types, elements and attributes.  
     
     
         145 . The CRM of  claim 143  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         146 . The CRM of  claim 143  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity relationship model.  
     
     
         147 . The CRM of  claim 138  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an XML schema, the constructs of which are complex types, elements and attributes.  
     
     
         148 . The CRM of  claim 147  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         149 . The CRM of  claim 147  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity relationship model.  
     
     
         150 . The CRM of  claim 138  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         151 . The CRM of  claim 150  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity relationship model.  
     
     
         152 . The CRM of  claim 138  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity-relationship model.  
     
     
         153 . The CRM of  claim 138  further comprising generating a visual display of constructs of the at least one data schema identified by said identifying constructs.  
     
     
         154 . The CRM of  claim 153  further comprising providing at least one data source conforming to said at least one data schema, and wherein said identifying constructs comprises identifying, for each identified construct, data sources that contain data for the identified construct, and wherein the visual display includes a display of the data sources identified by said identifying constructs.  
     
     
         155 . The CRM of  claim 153  wherein said generating a visual display generates an HTML page for the visual display.  
     
     
         156 . The CRM of  claim 138  further comprising generating at least one report based on constructs of the at least one data schema identified by said data locator.  
     
     
         157 . The CRM of  claim 156  wherein said generating generates a list of classes and properties of the ontology model to which more than a prescribed number of constructs of the at least one data schema correspond.  
     
     
         158 . A computer readable medium (CRM) containing executable computer program instructions which, when executed on a processing system, cause the processing system to perform a method for querying ontological data, comprising: 
 storing an ontology model including classes and properties; and    generating an ontology query, the ontology query including a first clause indicating at least one subject class to which the query applies, and a second clause indicating at least one property or composition of properties defined on the at least one subject class, values of which are to be displayed.    
     
     
         159 . The CRM of  claim 158  wherein the ontology query includes a third clause indicating at least one condition that must be satisfied by values of properties or compositions of properties defined on the at least one subject class.  
     
     
         160 . A computer readable medium (CRM) containing executable computer program instructions which, when executed on a processing system, cause the processing system to perform a method for data descriptor propagation comprising: 
 receiving an input from at least one data source conforming to the at least one data schema;    providing an ontology model including classes and properties, wherein constructs of the at least one data schema are mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model; and    associating descriptors with data for data schema constructs in the at least one data source, corresponding to descriptors associated with corresponding classes and properties of the ontology system.    
     
     
         161 . The CRM of  claim 160 , the method further comprising associating descriptors with classes and properties of an ontology.  
     
     
         162 . The CRM of  claim 160  wherein descriptors are used to specify access privileges to data.  
     
     
         163 . The CRM of  claim 160  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a relational database schema, the constructs of which are tables and fields.  
     
     
         164 . The CRM of  claim 160  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an XML schema, the constructs of which are complex types, elements and attributes.  
     
     
         165 . The CRM of  claim 160  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is a COBOL Copy Book, the constructs of which are group items and elementary items.  
     
     
         166 . The CRM of  claim 160  wherein at least one of the at least one data schema is an entity-relationship model.