Resource space model, its design method and applications

A resource space model (RSM) is a model for specifying, sharing and managing versatile Web resources with a universal resource view. A normal resource space is a semantic coordinate system with independent coordinates and mutual-orthogonal axes. This paper first introduces the main viewpoint and basic content of the RSM, and then proposes a four-step method for designing the logical-level resource spaces: resource analysis, top-down resource partition, design two-dimensional resource spaces, and join between resource spaces. Design strategies and tools include: reference model, analogy and abstraction strategy, resource dictionary, independency checking tool, and orthogonality checking tool. The study on using the RSM to manage relational tables shows that the RSM is also suitable for managing structured resources. Applications show that the RSM together with the proposed development method is an applicable solution to realize normal and effective management of versatile web resources. Comparisons show the differences between the proposed model and the relational data model. 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.