Visual Query Languages for Database Systems

多媒体、数字图书馆和电子出版等新技术需要大型数据库和强大的查询语言。这个项目研究了一个数据库管理系统，它支持元查询语言，用户可以用它来设计他们自己的可视化查询语言，以指定要检索的数据和显示格式。研究的理论方面解决了可通过提供查询评估引擎的仔细设计来评估能够以保证的时间复杂性进行评估的可视查询类别的特征。实际目标包括实施一个支持可视化查询的数据库管理系统，利用万维网传播结果，以及转让技术。该项目有很强的教育成分，寻求研究生和本科生的参与，并将原型纳入课堂，以反映当今计算机科学更具互动性和可视化的方面。可视化查询语言将是下一代声明式数据库接口的关键组件，因为它们利用用户的视觉感知来有效地传达信息。它们的成功实施将为数据库系统提供目前没有的基本能力。

New technologies such as multimedia, digital libraries, and electronic publishing require large databases and powerful query languages. This project investigates a database management system that supports a meta-query language with which users can design their own visual query languages to specify both the data to retrieve and the display format. Theoretical aspects of the research address the characterization of classes of visual queries that can be evaluated with guaranteed time-complexity by providing a careful design of the query evaluation engine. Practical goals include the implementation of a database management system supporting visual queries, the dissemination of results using the WWW, and the transfer of technology. The project has a strong educational component, seeking the involvement of graduate and undergraduate students and the inclusion of prototypes in the classroom so as to reflect the more interactive and visual aspects of today's computer science. Visual query languages will be key components of the next generation of declarative database interfaces because they take advantage of the user's visual perception to convey information efficiently. Their successful implementation will provide database systems with fundamental capabilities not currently available.