Patent ID: 7613728

Claim:
A computer system configured to manage a metadata database and at least one information database, wherein the at least one information database is configured to receive information from at least one information source and configured to provide information to at least one information consumer, and wherein the metadata database stores metadata associated with data stored in the at least one information database, stores metadata associated with the at least one information source, and stores metadata associated with the at least one information consumer, and wherein the computer system includes a knowledge manager in communication with the metadata database and comprises a plurality of metadata applications for managing a plurality of knowledge aspects of the at least one information database, for accessing at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database, and for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one of a plurality of knowledge aspects of the at least one information database, the plurality of metadata applications comprising: a data model manager using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one data model of the at least one information database and presenting the at least one data model in graphical form; a data dictionary manager using the at least some of the metadata to generate and manage at least one data dictionary of the at least one information database, wherein the data dictionary manager accesses metadata stored in a knowledge entity and a data dictionary portion of the metadata database; a knowledge entity manager using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one knowledge entity of the at least one information database and using the at least some of the metadata to structure a relationship of the at least one knowledge entity; a data mapper using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one data mapping of the at least one information database based on one of an information source, an information source provider, and an information consumer; and a change manager using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one change associated with the at least one information database, wherein the change manager accesses metadata stored in a change management portion of the metadata database, wherein one or more of the data model manager, the data dictionary manager, the knowledge entity manager, the data mapper, and the change manager are stored on an application server.