Project Title:

Viewcache: An Incremental Database Access Method for Distributed Library Systems

07.06-3759
Viewcache: An Incremental Database Access
	Method for Distributed Library Systems
Advanced Communications Technology, Inc.
1209 Goth Lane
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Hyunchul Kang  (301-384-3759)
GSFC -- NAS5-30265

Abstract:

	 One of the problems facing NASA today is to provide scientists efficient access
to a large number of distributed databases. A pointer-based, incremental database
access method, Viewcache, provides such an interface for accessing distributed data
sets and directories.Phase I proved the suitability of Viewcache by means of a demonstration
employing three astrophysics databases (IRAS, IUE, and Einstein) and a master directory.
The compactness of the pointer structures formed during database browsing and the
incremental access method allows searching and inter-database cross-referencing with
no actual data movement between database sites. Once the search is complete, the
set of collected pointers indicating the desired data is cached. Extending Viewcache
to include spatial access methods for accessing image data sets was shown to be very
useful. It eased query formulations by referring directly to the image and provided
efficient search for objects contained within a two-dimensional window.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Application: Viewcache will be a stand-alone software product
running on personal computers, work stations, and mainframes. It will provide an
inexpensive access to heterogeneous and distributed databases.