Advances in Web Semantics I: Ontologies, Web Services and Applied Semantic Web

The all pervasive web is influencing all aspects of human endeavour. In order to strengthen the description of web resources, so that they are more meaningful to both humans and machines, web semantics have been proposed. These allow better annotation, understanding, search, interpretation and composition of these - sources. The growing importance of these has brought about a great increase in research into these issues. We propose a series of books that will address key issues in web semantics on an annual basis. This book series can be considered as an extended journal published annually. The series will combine theoretical results, standards, and their realizations in applications and implementations. The series is titled “Advances in Web Sem- tics” and will be published periodically by Springer to promote emerging Semantic Web technologies. It will contain the cream of the collective contribution of the Int- national Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Web Semantics Working Group; WG 2. 12 & WG 12. 4. This book, addressing the current state of the art, is the first in the series. In subsequent years, books will address a particular theme, topic or issue where the greatest advances are being made. Examples of such topics include: (i) process semantics, (ii) web services, (iii) ontologies, (iv) workflows, (v) trust and reputation, (vi) web applications, etc. Periodically, perhaps every five years, there will be a scene-setting state of the art volume.

This book constitutes the first volume of a series of books focusing on the vital and ever-growing field of web semantics. The primary aim of the series is to investigate, present and promote core concepts, ideas and exemplary technologies for the next generation of semantic web research, stemming from both academia and industry. Topics covered will include process semantics, web services, ontologies, workflows, trust and reputation, and web applications.

The 14 papers in this volume, written by key scientists in the field, are preceded by an introduction written by the volume editors. The papers have been divided into three sections on Ontologies and Knowledge Sharing, Applied Semantic Web, and Web Services.