Harp: a distributed query system for legacy public libraries and structured databases

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of a digital library is to facilitate users easy access to enormous amount of globally networked information. Typically, this information includes preexisting public library catalog data, digitized document collections, and other databases. In this article, we describe the distributed query system of a digital library prototype system known as HARP. In the HARP project, we have designed and implemented a distributed query processor and its query front-end to support integrated queries to preexisting public library catalogs and structured databases. This article describes our experiences in the design of an extended Sequel (SQL) query language known as HarpSQL. It also presents the design and implementation of the distributed query system. Our experience in distributed query processor and user interface design and development will be highlighted. We believe that our prototyping effort will provide useful lessons to the development of a complete digital library infrastructure.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: User interface management systems (UIMS)

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL

General Terms:
Design, Languages

Keywords:
Internet databases, digital libraries, interoperable databases