InfoSleuth

Abstract

The goal of the InfoSleuth project at MCC is to exploit and synthesize new technologies into a unified system that retrieves and processes information in an ever-changing network of information sources. InfoSleuth has its roots in the Carnot project at MCC, which specialized in integrating heterogeneous information bases. However, recent emerging technologies such as internetworking and the World Wide Web have significantly expanded the types, availability, and volume of data available to an information management system. Furthermore, in these new environments, there is no formal control over the registration of new information sources, and applications tend to be developed without complete knowledge of the resources that will be available when they are run. Federated databaee projects such as Carnot that do static data integration do not scale up and do not cope well with this ever-changing environment. On the other hand, recent Web technologies, based on keyword search engines, are scalable but, unlike federated databases, are incapable of accessing information based on concepts. In this experience paper, we describe the architecture, design, and implementation of a working version of InfoSleuth. We show how InfoSleuth integrates new technological developments such as agent technology, domain ontologies, brokerage, and internet computing, in support of mediated interoperation of data and services in a dynamic and open environment. We demonstrate the use of information brokering and domain ontologies as key elements for scalability.

APRON: an agent‐based specification and procurement system for construction products

“…The APRON prototype is modelled using the established mediation/wrapper methodology, that was used in the InfoSleuth prototype (Bayardo et al , 1996) and the SEEK prototype (O'Brien, 2003). The final prototype comprises a software middle layer between the semi‐structured repositories of construction products and the end‐user applications utilised in specification and procurement.…”

Application of Mobile Agents in Mobile Data Access Systems

“…A work closely related to our research is the InfoSleuth project (Bayardo et al, 1997). The InfoSleuth addresses dynamic information integration and sharing problems in an open environment, the Internet, by using the agent-oriented design and ontology technology.…”

Simulation for Generate Efficient Evaluation Plans with Materialized Views

“…The problem of using materialized views to answer queries [1] has recently received considerable attention because of its relevance to many data-management applications, such as information integration [2,3,4] , data warehousing [5] , web-site design [6] , and query optimization [7,8] . Our paper focuses in particular on one application, query optimization in presence of materialized views.…”