Topic map design patterns provide a means of communicating the ways in which common information representation problems can be addressed using topic maps. By combining topic map design patterns and Published Subject Identifiers, a design pattern can also enable greater interoperability of topic maps by introducing common ontologies.
Topic map design patterns can be developed in a modular manner, with one pattern making use of one or more other patterns. Modular designs can aid interoperability still furhter as applications aware only of the lower-level patterns would still be able to intepret at least some of the semantics of the higher-level patterns.
Creating and using patterns need not limit choice, patterns can be used to codify the different ways of approaching a particular problem and can make it easier to compare the trade-offs made in approaches
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