Information Flow in Logical Environments

TL;DR

This paper extends the theory of information flow to arbitrary logical environments, providing a semantic framework for understanding information transfer in distributed systems like ontologies and databases.

Contribution

It generalizes the existing channel theory of information flow from a specific logical environment to a broad, semantic-oriented class called logical environments.

Findings

Generalizes information flow theory to arbitrary logical environments

Provides a semantic framework for distributed system integration

Enhances understanding of information transfer in ontologies and databases

Abstract

This paper describes information flow within logical environments. The theory of information flow, the logic of distributed systems, was first defined by Barwise and Seligman (Information Flow: The Logic of Distributed Systems. 1997). Logical environments are a semantic-oriented version of institutions. The theory of institutions, which was initiated by Goguen and Burstall (Institutions: Abstract Model Theory for Specification and Programming. 1992), is abstract model theory. Information flow is the flow of information in channels over distributed systems. The semantic integration of distributed systems, be they ontologies, databases or other information resources, can be defined in terms of the channel theory of information flow. As originally defined, the theory of information flow uses only a specific logical environment in order to discuss information flow. This paper shows how information flow can be defined in an arbitrary logical environment.