Query Answering System as a Tool in Incomplete Distributed Information System Optimization Process

We assume there is a group of connected distributed information systems (DIS). They work under the same ontology. Each information system create its own knowledgebase. Values of attributes in information system S form atomic expressions of a language used for communication with others. Collaboration among systems is initiated when one of them (called a client) is asked to resolve a query containing nonlocal attributes for S. In such case, the client has to ask for help other information systems to have that query answered. As the result of its request, knowledge is extracted locally in each information system and sent back to the client. The outcome of this step is a knowledgebase created at the client site, which can be used to answer given query. In this paper we present a method of identifying which information system is semantically the closest to client.