On Heterogeneous Database Retrieval: A Cognitively Guided Approach

Ramayya Krishnan (), Xiaoping Li, David Steier and Leon Zhao ()
Additional contact information
Ramayya Krishnan: The Heinz School, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
Xiaoping Li: AT&T (China) Company, Bright China Chang An Building, Number 7 Jianguomen Nei Avenue, Beijing 100005 PRC
David Steier: Scient Incorporated, 1 Market Street, San Francisco, California 94105
Leon Zhao: Department of Management Information Systems, Eller College of Business and Public Administration, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721

Information Systems Research, 2001, vol. 12, issue 3, 286-301

Abstract: Retrieving information from heterogeneous database systems involves a complex process and remains a challenging research area. We propose a cognitively guided approach for developing an information-retrieval agent that takes the user's information request, identifies relevant information sources, and generates a multidatabase access plan. Our work is distinctive in that the agent design is based on an empirical study of how human experts retrieve information from multiple, heterogeneous database systems. To improve on empirically observed information-retrieval capabilities, the design incorporates mathematical models and algorithmic components. These components optimize the set of information sources that need to be considered to respond to a user query and are used to develop efficient multidatabase-access plans. This agent design, which integrates cognitive and mathematical models, has been implemented using Soar, a knowledge-based architecture.

Keywords: Global Query Optimization; Heterogeneous Database Systems; Information Integration; Maximal Objects; Soar-Based AI Systems; Universal Relational Model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/isre.12.3.286.9711 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:orisre:v:12:y:2001:i:3:p:286-301

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Information Systems Research from INFORMS Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Asher ().