CAREER: Evolving Heterogeneous Autonomous Databases

Web上数据库的异构、自治和高度动态特性使得大多数传统的数据管理技术无效。因此，在这种环境中，随着相关信息的发展，及时了解相关信息需要大量的人力。本研究的目标是开发、实现和评估异构、自治和动态环境中的数据管理方法。数据更改的历史记录是这个项目的主要焦点。开发了有效地发现、存储、浏览和查询更改的方法。与传统的数据库技术形成鲜明对比的是，这些方法尽量充分利用数据中的结构，而不要求数据遵循固定的结构或模式。教育部分包括重新设计目前的数据库课程；开发有关XML、相关Web技术和半结构化数据的新课程；并尝试教学工具，如程序解剖教学（使用大型程序的源代码作为研究相关主题的锚点）。除了研究生之外，本科生也参与到系统原型的研究中来，这反过来也会从他们的努力中受益。总之，本研究将通过开发处理Web数据库的异构、自治和动态特性的方法，为Web带来数据库技术的好处（例如，更快、更容易和更精确的信息访问）。http://www.cs.umd.edu/~chaw/

The heterogeneous, autonomous, and highly dynamic nature of databases on the Web renders most traditional data management techniques ineffective. Consequently, keeping abreast of relevant information as it evolves in this environment requires a large amount of human effort. The goal of this research is to develop, implement, and evaluate methods for data management in a heterogeneous, autonomous, and dynamic environment. The history of changes made to data is the major focus of this project. Methods for efficiently discovering, storing, browsing, and querying changes are developed. In sharp contrast to traditional database techniques, these methods try to make the best possible use of the structure in data without requiring data to conform to a fixed structure or schema. The educational component includes redesigning the current database curriculum; development of new courses on XML, related Web technologies, and semistructured data; and experimenting with pedagogical tools such as teaching by program dissection (the use of the source code of a large program as an anchor for studying related topics). In addition to graduate students, undergraduate students are involved in research by working on the system prototype, which in turn benefits from their efforts. In summary, this research will bring the benefits of database technology (e.g., faster, easier, and more precise information access) to the Web by developing methods that cope with the heterogeneous, autonomous, and dynamic nature of Web databases. http://www.cs.umd.edu/~chaw/