Retrieving information in topic maps: the case of TM4L

ABSTRACT

Recent approaches to enhancing the quality of Web searches are based on associating metadata with the resources on the Web. Various metadata standardization initiatives have been created, including Dublin Core, and more recently the Semantic Web standards. Topic Maps are a Semantic Web technology for semantic annotation of resources, involving topics, their associations, and their occurrences. We have created TM4L, an environment for building, maintaining, and browsing Topic Mapbased, ontology-aware e-learning repositories. However, in large topic maps it is often more convenient for the users to search for needed information by querying the topic map as opposed to browsing it. In this paper we discuss the design and implementation of a Query plug-in for the TM4L Editor. We propose a generic Topic Map Query-By-Example framework based on the Tolog query language. The goal is to provide an efficient, user-friendly interface where the user can specify search queries by filling in predefined query templates and perform the specified queries on the topic map.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.3 Information Search and Retrieval
          Subjects: Query formulation

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Languages, Management

Keywords:
Tolog, e-learning, information retrieval, semantic web, standards, topic maps