Service-oriented architectures promise easier integration of functionality in the form of web services into operational systems than is the case with interface-driven system-oriented approaches. Although the Extensible Markup Language (XML) enables a new level of interoperability among heterogeneous systems, XML alone does not solve all interoperability problems users contend with when integrating services into operational systems. To manage the basic challenges of service interoperation, we developed the Levels of Conceptual Interoperability Model (LCIM) to enable a layered approach and gradual solution improvements. Furthermore, we developed methods of model-based data engineering (MBDE) for semantically consistent service integration as a first step. These methods have been applied in the U.S. in collaboration with industry resulting in proofs of concepts. The results are directly applicable in a net-centric and net-enabled environment.

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Western philosophy of science has been heavily influenced by the idea that substantials are the main carriers of knowledge. Objects and their attributes and their relations to other objects dominate the world of knowledge representation. Processes play a subordinated role as they are merely seen as the things that create, change, or destroy objects. A recent study has shown that this view is dominant in modeling and simulation as well. The paper presents the (semi-) formal method developed in the doctoral study and its application to conceptual modeling techniques as they are taught in M&S education. The result shows that objects and relations are well captured, but that processes can be used as an alternative viewpoint as well. Using a process driven viewpoint opens new conceptual insights. We show that using the formal method allows to extend legacy conceptual methods to address these new aspects as well. INTRODUCTIONComputer simulations are programs and as such they are influenced by computer engineering methods and tools. Due to their discrete nature, digital computers are closely connected with the idea of finite state machine, which are abstracts machines that can be in one of several finite states. In order to change the state, an event occurs that changes the states. Several useful modeling techniques have been developed in the recent years, and we will have a look at a selected subset in this paper, but we will also show that the entity or the state machine or the substantial is in the canter of all these methods while the events or processes always play a secondary role: the state is, the process or event only exist to change the state. This idea is deeply rooted in Western philosophy, going back Plato and to Aristotle (350BC). In their philosophy, they postulated that substantials are the essence of what is real. What is can be described by properties and relations. As properties and relations can change, processes can be associated with such changes, but a process that doesn't change anything is meaningless. A process can also not create something out of nothing. Processes are agents of change, and the substantials are what are changed, and ultimately substantials are describing what is real. Reality is captured in matter and as such timeless. Processes change matter, but not reality. Aristotle used these basic ideas to constitute the beginnings of classification schemes to categories things and applying scientific methods to gain new knowledge. Ontology describes things and properties and how they are related. Substance has primacy over processes.Only recently, the possibility to look at substantials and processes as different sides of the same coin has been discussed. Process philosophy states that processes have primacy over substantials, as a current stat is just a configuration of the underlying process, and while the processes endure, the substantials are changed by them (Rescher 1996).The perspective of processes having primacy over substance allows for many interesting new perspectives, often ...

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