WEB-BASED ENGINEERING DESIGN AGENTS

An apparatus and method are provided for collaboratively generating characteristic data regarding at least one characteristic of a component. A querying ontological data structure is provided for structuring characteristic data transmitted across the network. A querying communicator which is connected to the network generates and structures based upon the querying ontological structure a first query which regards a first characteristic of the component and wherein the first query is to be sent across the network. The first component characteristic communicator which is connected to the network receives via the network the generated first query from the querying communicator. A first component characteristic determinator which is connected to the first characteristic communicator determines first characteristic data regarding the first characteristic of the component based upon the first query. The first characteristic communicator structures the determined first characteristic data based upon the querying ontological data structure and communicates the determined first characteristic data via the network. The system allows for a secure and standardized mechanism for computer engineering models to collaborate over a network in order to analyze engineering issues.