Patent attributes
A metadata database management system (300), comprising a metadata database (305) and a knowledge manager (310), for dynamically coupling to a database system (315). The metadata database (305) provides a single knowledge repository for storing metadata assoicated with information sources (330), that provide information that is processed by inbound information processors (325) for storage in the database system (315); and metadata associated with information consumers (340), that provide information retrieved from the database system (315), and processed by the outbound information processors (335). The knowledge manager (310) is coupled to access the metadata database (305), and provides one or more metadata applications that selectively use the metadata in the metadata database (305) to manage a plurality of knowledge aspects of the database system (315), the information sources (325) and the information consumers (335).