Multi agent ontology mapping framework in the AQUA question answering system

This paper describes an ontology-mapping framework in the context of query answering (QA). In order to incorporate uncertainty inherent to the mapping process, the system uses the Dempster-Shafer model for dealing with incomplete and uncertain information produced during the mapping. A novel approach is presented how specialized agents with partial local knowledge of the particular domain achieve ontology mapping without creating global or reference ontology. Our approach is particularly fit for a query-answering scenario, where an answer needs to be created in real time that satisfies the query posed by the user.