Model Mapping in XML-Oriented Environments

XML and Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA) make it easier to develop loosely coupled systems, but they do not eliminate the fundamental necessity of communications that there must be an underlying shared model. Because of the popularity of SOA, it becomes increasingly important to be able to quickly and efficiently integrate information systems, rather than using an expensive top-down process. The XML landscape evolved bottom-up, and so far it has not yet reached a stage where XML is explicitly targeted in conceptual models. Filling this gap with guidelines and best practices thus is the most pragmatic approach. The approach presented in this paper is a structured view accompanied by guidelines for how interoperability can be achieved on the model level today.