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Interactive Query and Search in Semistructured Databases

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The World Wide Web and Databases (WebDB 1998)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 1590))

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Abstract

Semistructured graph-based databases have been proposed as well-suited stores for World-Wide Web data. Yet so far, languages for querying such data are too complex for casual Web users. Further, proposed query approaches do not take advantage of the interactive nature of typical Web sessions–users are proficient at iteratively refining their Web explorations. In this paper we propose a new model for interactively querying and searching semistructured databases. Users can begin with a simple keyword search, dynamically browse the structure of the result, and then submit further refining queries. Enabling this model exposes new requirements of a semistructured database management system that are not apparent under traditional database uses. We demonstrate the importance of efficient keyword search, structural summaries of query results, and support for inverse pointers. We also describe some preliminary solutions to these technical issues.

This work was supported by the Air Force Rome Laboratories and DARPA under Contracts F30602-95-C-0119 and F30602-96-1-031.

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© 1999 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Goldman, R., Widom, J. (1999). Interactive Query and Search in Semistructured Databases. In: Atzeni, P., Mendelzon, A., Mecca, G. (eds) The World Wide Web and Databases. WebDB 1998. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1590. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/10704656_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/10704656_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-65890-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-48909-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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