building a topic map repository xia lin drexel university philadelphia, pa jian qin syracuse...

Building a Topic Map Building a Topic Map RepositoryRepository

Xia Lin 

Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA

Jian Qin 

Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY

*Presented at Knowledge Technologies Conference, Seattle, Washington, March 2002

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

Current EnvironmentCurrent Environment

Topic map as a knowledge structure for content representation– The idea is easy to understand: TAO.– The standard has been established.– There is a great demand for a good content

representation structure and tools.

Topic maps are useful, but not practical … yet.– How many good and useful topic maps can you

find on the Web?

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

Issue 1: StandardsIssue 1: StandardsTopic maps are ISO standard -- ISO/IEC

13250:2000. XML Topic Maps(XTM) defines an

abstract model and XML grammar for topic maps. – XTM does not define topic maps at the

implementation level.– Each implementation may interpret XTM

differently or define their own “metadata” with the framework of XTM.

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

Issue 2: ImplementationIssue 2: ImplementationTopic Map implementation is hard.

– There are no “magic” solutions for content representation.

– It is labor-intensive and involves many manual activities to create a complete TAO.

– There are no good tools for topic map creation. – XML is not designed to let end-users work

directly on objects contained in a XML file.

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

Topic Map Repository Topic Map Repository Objectives

– to integrate disparate knowledge structures

– To facilitate the creation of topic maps

– to promote user interactions with knowledge structures for more effective searching, browsing, and navigation.

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

Features of the RepositoriesFeatures of the Repositories

A scalable and expandable architecture A neutral platform for integrating and displaying

multiple knowledge structures. The interoperability with other knowledge

repositories. Providing direct access to create, edit, and

personalize the “look and feel” of interfaces and topic maps (without knowing XML and XTM).

Directly linkage to the Web or designated Web sites to allow effective utilization of topic maps.

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

The architectureThe architecture

Knowledge Repository

topic maps

Topic maps

Topic Maps

MYSQL Database

XSLTXML Schema

Java Servlets/JSP Integrated Displays

Personal Customization tools

WrappersWrappersWrappers

Other Repositories

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

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S ta rtH e re

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X T M P ar s er . js p

C ateg o r y S etu p . jav a

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K N O W LE D G E C LA S S W E B S IT EW IT H X T M C O N V E R S IO N F U N C T IO N AL IT Y IN C O R P O R AT E D

X T MO u tpu t

X T MI n pu t

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KT2002 – Lin & Qin

XTM ImplementationXTM Implementation

XTM is too “flat”– There are no levels of topics defined.

Many topics are used to provide definitions and scopes of “content” topics. – No clear separation of metadata and data.

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

TAO EnhancementTAO Enhancement

T: Adding layers to topics.A: Defining specific association types

Parent-child Synonyms

O: Adding default occurrences Connect topics to search engines through pre-

defined search strategies.

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

Hierarchically-enhanced Hierarchically-enhanced Topic Map structuresTopic Map structures

Theme

Branch (category)

Topic

Knowledge Class (Topic map)

Topic …Topic …

(order)

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

Define A Search Strategy for Define A Search Strategy for each Topiceach Topic

“soft links”– Static urls are often broken after a while.– Links through search engines will often recover

it.– Links through search engines will also find new

relevant documents If the query link is appropriately constructed.

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

Some basic StrategiesSome basic Strategies

Search by the topic term alone Search with the term and a scope term Search with the term and all its synonyms Search with the term and all the terms in its upper

hierarchy Search with the term and all the terms in its lower

hierarchy Search with the term and all the sibling terms

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

System ManagementSystem Management

LoginAccess controlEditing toolMultiple display formatsImport/Export functions

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

System DemoSystem Demo

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

Future DevelopmentFuture Development

Multiple Knowledge Structures– Contains not only topic maps, but also

Thesauri Ontologies

– Cross-reference between topic maps.– Thesaurus-assisted topic map construction.

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

Future DevelopmentFuture Development

Visual Displays– Based on semantics– Based on co-occurrence frequencies

Integration with other systems

KT2002 – Lin & Qin

KT2002 – Lin & Qin