The Virtual Notebook System: Distributed Hypertext for Collaborative Research Frank M. Shipman, III, R. Jesse Chaney, G. Anthony Gorry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas Presented By: Ananda Man Shrestha Course: Hypertext (CPSC 610)

Introduction VNS : Virtual Notebook SystemVNS : Virtual Notebook System Prototype of an information integration and management environment for collaborative work.Prototype of an information integration and management environment for collaborative work. Designed to enhance information sharing among the members of scientific teams.Designed to enhance information sharing among the members of scientific teams. Electronic analog to scientist’s notebook.Electronic analog to scientist’s notebook.

Design Goals Support collaborative workSupport collaborative work –Concurrency control, privacy control, file sharing, group works etc Support heterogeneous computing environmentSupport heterogeneous computing environment –Different hardware and software platforms Facility to incorporate external information resources and applications.Facility to incorporate external information resources and applications. Early systems like NoteCards (Notebook System) and KMS (Knowledge Systems) lacked one or other aspects of above goals.Early systems like NoteCards (Notebook System) and KMS (Knowledge Systems) lacked one or other aspects of above goals.

VNS : Virtual Notebook SystemVNS : Virtual Notebook System Hypertext system implemented in Sybase.Hypertext system implemented in Sybase. Clear distinction between user interface and data access mechanism.Clear distinction between user interface and data access mechanism. Virtual Notebook System

Hypertext for VNS Constitutes multiple work group servers (WGSs) connected through a network.Constitutes multiple work group servers (WGSs) connected through a network. Local hypertext information managed in a relational database of WGS.Local hypertext information managed in a relational database of WGS. Sharing of information among WGS through hypertext.Sharing of information among WGS through hypertext.

VNS : Page Basic unit in hypertext – a page.Basic unit in hypertext – a page. Contains a title and information objects (text, images).Contains a title and information objects (text, images). Information objects on a page may be from multiple work group file servers.Information objects on a page may be from multiple work group file servers. Page contains modification control mechanism.Page contains modification control mechanism. Creating information objectsCreating information objects –using text editors –using snapshot tool –copying objects –creating links, reference to other pages in hypertext web.

VNS : Page ( Contd. )

VNS : Links

VNS : Attributes Items may have multipleItems may have multiple attribute/value tuples. attribute/value tuples. Attribute may be multi-valued.Attribute may be multi-valued. Attribute/value tuple isAttribute/value tuple is associated with creator. associated with creator.

VNS : Notebook Web of pages connected by links.Web of pages connected by links. User may share his notebook with other users if needed.User may share his notebook with other users if needed. VNS mail tool permits user to mail and receive pages of a notebook.VNS mail tool permits user to mail and receive pages of a notebook.

Database Manager All data in VNS are stored in relational database (Sybase) on a workgroup server (WGS).All data in VNS are stored in relational database (Sybase) on a workgroup server (WGS). Notebook page display steps:Notebook page display steps: –Hypertext program retrieves all information objects and links and creates window to display the page. –References to information objects on local WGS are directly accessed. –References to information objects on non-local WGS are resolved through mapping (object names - WGS) maintained by VNS.

Database Manager (contd.) DecentralizationDecentralization –Distributes processing load and disk utilization –Greater fault tolerance Functionalities provided by SybaseFunctionalities provided by Sybase –Remote procedure calls to other Sybase data-servers –Structured Query Language for searching power –Concurrency Controls –Locking mechanisms –Access controls

Information Resources Interfaces created to directly put information into notebook from standard UNIX resources ( , C Shell, Usenet etc)Interfaces created to directly put information into notebook from standard UNIX resources ( , C Shell, Usenet etc) Biomedical research information resources already integratedBiomedical research information resources already integrated –MedLine database (medical journals distributed by National Library of Medicine) –TexSearch database (data maintained in Texas Medical Center)

Information Resources ( Contd ) Future development plansFuture development plans –Scanning printed documents and images directly into hypertext. –Integrating with graphics packages and statistical packages. –Supporting audio, video and animations.

Navigation Filtering mechanismFiltering mechanism Hierarchical browsingHierarchical browsing

Navigation ( Filtering ) Filtering –Filters can be formulated as database queries for content and context. –Likely to use attribute/value tuples associated with all objects, pages and links.

Navigation ( Hierarchical browsing ) Hierarchical browsing.Hierarchical browsing. -Initially shows notebook users homepage title. -Choosing title with mouse will display another level of outlines. -A level of outline contains titles of destination pages of the links in the chosen pages.

Navigation (Contd.) Hierarchical browsingHierarchical browsing The Hierarchical Browser and a Notebook Page

Conclusion Though primarily designed for biomedical setting, it is well suited for any research environment.Though primarily designed for biomedical setting, it is well suited for any research environment. System designed to facilitate progression of VNS towards a general purpose system.System designed to facilitate progression of VNS towards a general purpose system.