Object Database

Varouhakis V., Fiolitaki A. & Psarakis K. (2010), "Digitizing of icons and relics from the monasteries of Gonia, Chania and Preveli, Rethymnon and the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Ceramics from the Prefecture of Chania"

by Vassilis Varouhakis

Varouhakis V., Fiolitaki A. & Psarakis K. (2010), "Digitizing of icons and relics from the monasteries of Gonia, Chania and Preveli, Rethymnon and the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Ceramics from the Prefecture of Chania" in Andrianakis M. & Tzachili I. (eds.) Archaeological work in Crete 1: proceedings of the 1st meeting, Rethymnon, 28-30 November 2008, Rethymnon, 803-813 / Βασίλης Βαρουχάκης, Αναστασία Φιολιτάκη & Κωνσταντίνος Ψαράκης (2010), ‘Ψηφιοποίηση των εικόνων και κειμηλίων των Μονών Γωνιάς Χανίων και Πρέβελη Ρεθύμνου και της βυζαντινής και μεταβυζαντινής κεραμικής Νομού Χανίων στο Ανδριανάκης Μ. & Τζαχίλη Ι. (επιμ.), Αρχαιολογικό έργο Κρήτης 1 : πρακτικά της 1ης συνάντησης, Ρέθυμνο, 28-30 Νοεμβρίου 2008, Ρέθυμνο, 803-813.

The period from July to December 2007 the 28th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquites, in collaboration with the Labortory... more The period from July to December 2007 the 28th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquites, in collaboration with the Labortory of DML and the Centre for Technological Research of the TEI (Technological Education Institute) of Crete, conducted a broad program of recording and digitizing the icons and relics of the Gonia Monastery in Chania and Preveli Monastery in Rethymnon, and the Byzantine & Post-Byzantine pottery of the Prefecture of Chania. The project was included by the Region of Crete in the EU program "Information Society". During the program, two Microsoft Access databases, one for the two monasteries and one for the ceramics, were designed and used for the recording of data. Both of the monasteries had a large collection of icons and old printed books, in addition to fine work and textile relics. As for the pottery, the most representative part from the workshops of the Ephorate and the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Collection of Chania was that of the Castel Selino fortress in Paleochora, rich in numbers, decoration and style variety. besides access to the general public through the internet, this massive registration offered new and improved conditions for research and publication on a large piece of cultural heritage.

OMS Java: Providing Information, Storage and Access Abstractions in an Object-Oriented Framework

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. OOIS 2001: pp. 25-34

In this paper, we present the main objetcives and components of the OMS Java data management framework. We argue that... more In this paper, we present the main objetcives and components of the OMS Java data management framework. We argue that developers of modern information systems require high-level application programming interfaces, storage platform independence and support for universal client access. We describe how the OMS Java framework provides three levels of abstractions - storage, information and access in order to realise these objectives. We then present each of these layers in turn - starting with the information abstractions which lie at the core of the system and then going on to the storage and access layers.

The Case for Object Databases in Cloud Data Management

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. ICOODB 2010: pp. 25-39

With the emergence of cloud computing, new data management requirements have surfaced. Currently, these challenges are... more With the emergence of cloud computing, new data management requirements have surfaced. Currently, these challenges are studied exclusively in the setting of relational databases. We believe that there exist strong indicators that the full potential of cloud computing data management can only be leveraged by exploiting object database technologies. Object databases are a popular choice for analytical data management applications which are predicted to profit most from cloud computing. Furthermore, objects and relationships might be useful units to model and implement data partitions, while, at the same time, helping to reduce join processing. Finally, the service-oriented view taken by cloud computing is in its nature a close match to object models. In this position paper, we examine the challenges of cloud computing data management and show opportunities for object database technologies based on these requirements.

Database-Driven Web Mashups

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. ICWE 2008: pp. 162-174

In most web mashup applications, the content is generated using either web feeds or an application programming... more In most web mashup applications, the content is generated using either web feeds or an application programming interface (API) based on web services. Both approaches have limitations. Data models provided by web feeds are not powerful enough to permit complex data structures to be transmitted. APIs based on web services are usually different for each web application, and thus different implementations of the APIs are required for each web service that a web mashup application uses. We propose a database-driven approach to web mashups that supports integration at the database level and enables mashup developers to work with a uniform abstract model and have direct access to powerful features of database systems. We describe how we have implemented this approach based on an object-oriented database system with a rich object model and a generic proxy mechanism for data integration and synchronisation.

Role-Based Modelling of Interactions In Database Applications

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. CAiSE 2006: pp. 63-77

Modern information systems interact with a wide variety of users ranging from people with specific roles in business... more Modern information systems interact with a wide variety of users ranging from people with specific roles in business processes to end-users who access information in various ways and in different environments. Therefore, an application has to adhere to a well defined security policy on one hand and be highly adaptable to context on the other. We have extended the OM data model, with its rich support for role modelling, with concepts for modelling interactions between users and applications. In this paper, we show how the resulting interaction model can be used for role-based access control, as well as for modelling interactions in context-aware applications.

Semantic Data Management for db4o

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. ICOODB 2008: pp. 21-38

Object databases such as db4o provide a very simple and effective way of making application objects persistent.... more Object databases such as db4o provide a very simple and effective way of making application objects persistent. However, they offer limited support for high-level database application programming in terms of facilities for the management of complex interrelated collections of data objects over long periods of time. Concepts of semantic data models such as role modelling, and associations are lacking and this results in a new impedance mismatch between the program and data models of the application. To address this problem, we have developed a semantic data management layer for db4o which supports role modelling, associations and a declarative query language.

Using Object Variants to Support Context-Aware Interactions

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. AEWSE 2007

We discuss the need to extend general models and systems for context-awareness to include adaptation of interactions... more We discuss the need to extend general models and systems for context-awareness to include adaptation of interactions to context. Our approach was motivated by our experiences of developing mobile applications based on novel modes of interaction. We describe how we were able to support context-aware interactions using an object-oriented framework that we had already developed to support context-aware web applications.

Dynamic Metamodel Extension Modules to Support Adaptive Data Management

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. CAiSE 2010: pp. 363-377

Databases are now used in a wide variety of settings resulting in requirements which may differ substantially from one... more Databases are now used in a wide variety of settings resulting in requirements which may differ substantially from one application to another, even to the point of conflict. Consequently, there is no database product that can support all forms of information systems ranging from enterprise applications to personal information systems running on mobile devices. Further, domains such as the Web have demonstrated the need to cope with rapidly evolving requirements. We define dynamic metamodel extension modules that support adaptive data management by evolving a system in the event of changing requirements and show how this technique was applied to cater for specific application settings.

An Infrastructure for Reactive Information Environments

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. WISE 2005: pp. 347-360

We introduce the concept of reactive information environments and a general infrastructure for experimentation with... more We introduce the concept of reactive information environments and a general infrastructure for experimentation with such systems. Its asynchronous state-based processing model is described along with the architectural requirements and main components of our infrastructure. These include a general context engine coupled together with a web publishing platform. An application for a public news service is used to motivate the requirements, explain the processing model and show how an application is implemented using the platform.

An Object-Oriented Version Model for Context-Aware Data Management

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. WISE 2007: pp. 398-409

Context-aware computing is a major trend in mobile computing, pervasive computing and web engineering. Several models,... more Context-aware computing is a major trend in mobile computing, pervasive computing and web engineering. Several models, frameworks and infrastructures have been developed to represent, process and manage context. While most of these approaches support the adaptation of application logic based on context, the requirements of context-aware systems in terms of data management have received little attention. This is most apparent in the field of web engineering as many web sites are data-intensive and require context-dependent content adaptation to support internationalisation, personalisation and multiple channels. We present a version model featuring alternative versions for context-aware data management and query processing that has been integrated in an object-oriented database system. Finally, we also describe the implementation of a mobile tourist information system based on this system.

Java Framework for Database-Centric Web Site Engineering

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. WebE 2001: pp. 42-49

We present a database-centric approach to web site development in which both application and web content data are... more We present a database-centric approach to web site development in which both application and web content data are managed by a database. The development process is based on three main stages of information modelling, document content design and presentation specification. A Java framework based on the OMS object-oriented data management system has been developed to support the development life cycle from rapid prototyping through to operation. We describe how the framework supports access from heterogeneous clients and how it has been extended to include a web content manager.

OMS Pro 2.0 Introductory Tutorial

by Michael Grossniklaus

Tutorial, Global Information Systems Group, ETH Zurich (2003)

A Flexible Object Model and Algebra for Uniform Access to Object Databases

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. ICOODB 2010: pp. 55-69

In contrast to their relational counterparts, object databases are more heterogeneous in terms of their architecture,... more In contrast to their relational counterparts, object databases are more heterogeneous in terms of their architecture, data model and functionality. To this day, this heterogeneity poses substantial difficulties when it comes to benchmark or interoperate object databases. While standardisation proposals have been made in the past, they have had limited impact as neither industry nor research has fully adopted them. We believe that one reason for this lack of adoption is that these standards were too restrictive and thus not capable of dealing with the heterogeneity of object databases. In this paper, we propose a uniform interface for access to object databases that is based on a flexible object model and algebra.

Supporting Different Patterns of Interaction Through Context-Aware Data Management

by Michael Grossniklaus

J. Web Eng. 7(3): pp. 200-219 (2008)

Ubiquitous and mobile computing often introduce novel modes of interaction with different interaction patterns than... more Ubiquitous and mobile computing often introduce novel modes of interaction with different interaction patterns than those typical of traditional desktop applications. Therefore, there is a need to extend general models and systems for context-awareness to include adaptation of interaction styles to context. We present an object-oriented data management system that supports context-awareness through a notion of multi-variant objects and describe how it was used to implement context-aware interaction patterns. Our approach was motivated by our experiences of developing a mobile application that offered an interface based on a set of interactive paper documents alongside a regular web interface and we use this example to explain the issues and our solution in detail.

Unified Event Model for Object Databases

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. ICOODB 2009: pp. 113-131

Most object databases offer little or no support for event-based programming over and above what is provided in the... more Most object databases offer little or no support for event-based programming over and above what is provided in the programming language. Consequently, functionality offered by traditional database triggers and event-condition-action (ECA) rules has to be coded in each application. We believe that a notion of triggers should be offered by object databases to facilitate application development and a clear separation of concerns. We present a general and flexible event model that unifies concepts from programming languages and database triggers. We describe an implementation of the model and how it can support the requirements of a rich variety of applications.

OMSjp A Uniform JavaTM Interface to Heterogenous OMS Platforms

by Michael Grossniklaus

Technical White Paper, Global Information Systems Group, ETH Zurich (2005)

The research done in the field of object-oriented data management systems within the Global Information Systems Group... more The research done in the field of object-oriented data management systems within the Global Information Systems Group has lead to a number of implementations of the Object Model (OM) data model. The family of Object Model System (OMS) implementations comprises platforms implemented in Prolog, Java and C++. Rapid prototyping with these systems can only be achieved, if it is possible to move freely from one system to another. Therefore all implementations of the OM model share a common language for data definition, manipulation and querying. As OM standardises the way data is represented, the Object Model Language (OML) standardises the way in which to interact with data. What is missing is an Application Programming Interface (API) that defines how programmes can work with an OMS database.

Aural Interfaces to Databases based on VoiceXML

by Beat Signer

Beat Signer, Moira C. Norrie, Peter Geissbuehler and Daniel Heiniger, Proceedings of VDB6, 6th IFIP Workshop on Visual Database Systems, Brisbane, Australia, May 2002

As part of a general framework for the development of global information systems, we include support for the... more As part of a general framework for the development of global information systems, we include support for the development of aural interfaces. The framework uses an object-oriented database for the management of application, document content and presentation data. The access layer is based around an XML server and XSLT for document generation from default and customised templates. Specifically, aural interfaces are supported through a VoiceXML server that provides the speech recognition and synthesis mechanisms, together with XSLT templates for the generation of VoiceXML. In this paper, we describe the implementation of a generic voice browser for application databases as well as the development of a customised aural interface for a community diary managing appointments and events.

OMS Java: Providing Information, Storage and Access Abstractions in an Object-Oriented Framework

by Beat Signer

Adrian Kobler, Moira C. Norrie, Beat Signer and Michael Grossniklaus, Proceedings of OOIS'2001, 7th International Conference on Object-Oriented Information Systems, Calgary, Canada, August 2001

In this paper, we present the main objectives and components of the OMS Java data management framework. We argue... more In this paper, we present the main objectives and components of the OMS Java data management framework. We argue that
developers of modern information systems require high-level application programming interfaces, storage platform independence and support for universal client access. We describe how the OMS Java framework provides three level of abstractions – storage, information and access in order to realise these objectives. We then present each of these layers in turn – starting with the information abstractions which lie at the core of the system and then going on to the storage and access layers.

Java Framework for Database-Centric Web Engineering

by Beat Signer

Beat Signer, Michael Grossniklaus and Moira C. Norrie, Proceedings of WebE'2001, 4th Workshop on Web Engineering (in conjunction with 10th International World Wide Web Conference), Hong Kong, May 2001

We present a database-centric approach to web site development in which both application and web content data are... more We present a database-centric approach to web site development in which both application and web content data are managed by a database. The development process is based on three main stages of information modelling, document content design and presentation specification. A Java framework based on the OMS object-oriented data management system has been developed to support the development life cycle from rapid prototyping through to operation. We describe how the framework supports access from heterogeneous clients and how it has been extended to include a web content manager.

Paper-Based Mobile Access to Databases

by Beat Signer

Beat Signer, Moira C. Norrie, Michael Grossniklaus, Rudi Belotti, Corsin Decurtins and Nadir Weibel, Demo Proceedings of SIGMOD 2006, ACM International Conference on Management of Data, Chicago, USA, June 2006

Our demonstration is a paper-based interactive guide for visitors to the world’s largest international arts festival... more Our demonstration is a paper-based interactive guide for visitors to the world’s largest international arts festival that was developed as part of a project investigating new forms of context-aware information delivery and interaction in mobile environments. Information stored in a database is accessed from a set of interactive paper documents, including a printed festival brochure, a city map and a bookmark. Active areas are defined within the documents and selection of these using a special digital pen causes the corresponding query request along with context data to be sent to a festival application database and the response is returned to the visitor in the form of generated speech output. In addition to paper-based information browsing and transactions such as ticket booking, the digital pen can also be applied for data capture of event ratings and handwritten comments on events. The system integrates three main database components—a cross-media information platform, a content management framework for multi-channel context-aware publishing of data and the festival application database.