COLLABORATION OF PLURAL DATABASES BY INTERACTION THROUGH UNIVERSAL INDEX

For integrating diverse databases, a server and universal index are provided to support a lexicon of variable definitions and formatting information. Subscribing databases establish equivalences between local variables and variables in the universal index, either directly or with translation such as a format conversion. For managing qualifying, preliminary processes can analyze database schema and stored variable values to assess likely matches between variables and universal definitions in the lexicon, presented tentatively to the local operator for approval or rejection. Matches can become approved for use in interaction with other subscribing databases. Processes enable the universal lexicon to be revised, e.g., expanded when a variable does not appear to match an existing definition. The universal index server can function as a data intermediary, or as a source of index definitions. Databases can indicate their compliance with the index during transmission of variable data referenced to index definitions.