Towards XML metamodel patterns for XML data modeling

XML, as an emerging industrial standard markup language, is very suitable for representing the metamodel that contains data structure, data element, relationship, rules etc. In this paper we will present a pattern-oriented approach for building metamodel and defining the basic elements of an XML metamodel pattern. We will also introduce some pattern examples, such as the embedding container, the self-embedding container, the link, and the Association. Finally we will define some rules on how to use those pattern examples. The use of pattern-oriented approach will simplify and speed up metamodeling.