Beyond Handles: The Digital Beyond Handles: The Digital Object ArchitectureObject Architecture

James M. ErwinJames M. Erwin

Defense Technical Information CenterDefense Technical Information Center

29 January 200329 January 2003

“The two truly transforming things, conceivably, might be in information technology and information operation and networking and connecting things in ways that they function totally differently than they had previously. And if that's possible, what I just said, that possibly the single-most transforming thing in our force will not be a weapon system, but a set of interconnections and a substantially enhanced capability because of that awareness.”

Secretary Rumsfeld - Aug 9, 2001

Defense TransformationDefense Transformation

Platform-CentricInformation Advantage

Net-CentricInformation AdvantageInformation

Quality Content AccuracyCompleteness Timeliness Relevance

• Local • Global• Regional

61 el. Theater

8GHz MBR

169 el. 7GHz MBT

44/20

256 element

TPA484 element

RPA

Net-Centric OperationsThe Way Ahead

Source: Margaret Myers, Principal Deputy OSD DCIOSource: Margaret Myers, Principal Deputy OSD DCIO

3

Platform-CentricPlatform-Centric Net-CentricNet-Centric

Traditional stove-pipe approach Traditional stove-pipe approach v.v. Fused information available on the Net Fused information available on the Net

Net-Centric OperationsNet-Centric Operations A Fundamental ShiftA Fundamental Shift

533AF78533

Source: Margaret Myers, Principal Deputy OSD DCIOSource: Margaret Myers, Principal Deputy OSD DCIO

System-Centric, “Stovepipe” Architecture System-Centric, “Stovepipe” Architecture ProblemsProblems• Pre-web, client/server, terminal/mainframe paradigm Pre-web, client/server, terminal/mainframe paradigm

– Content is typically application specific and relies on specific Content is typically application specific and relies on specific systems systems and platformsand platforms to provide access, to provide access, accessaccess controlcontrol, and presentation, and presentation

– Content is often not visible to the web, i.e. “Deep Web” problemContent is often not visible to the web, i.e. “Deep Web” problem

• Content lacks flexibility and extensibility. Difficult to to do Content lacks flexibility and extensibility. Difficult to to do versioning, dynamic creation, appropriate disseminations, and versioning, dynamic creation, appropriate disseminations, and support intra/inter-organizational reuse or value-addingsupport intra/inter-organizational reuse or value-adding

• Content quickly becomes unauthoritative as it is downloaded and Content quickly becomes unauthoritative as it is downloaded and reusedreused– OutdatedOutdated– InsecureInsecure

• Architecture lacks coherent Architecture lacks coherent preservation strategypreservation strategy

What are the Characteristics of a Net-What are the Characteristics of a Net-Centric Information Space?Centric Information Space?• Content is:Content is:

– PersistentPersistent– Visible Visible – AuthoritativeAuthoritative– ExtensibleExtensible– Reusable Reusable – Interoperable across platformsInteroperable across platforms

• Content supports:Content supports:– Dynamic relationshipsDynamic relationships– Value addingValue adding

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Digital Object ArchitectureDigital Object Architecture

• Network paradigmNetwork paradigm– Content is Content is notnot application specific and does not rely on specific application specific and does not rely on specific

systems and platformssystems and platforms to provide access, to provide access, accessaccess controlcontrol, and , and presentationpresentation

– Content can easily be made visible to the webContent can easily be made visible to the web

• Content is flexible and extensibleContent is flexible and extensible– Lends itself to versioning, dynamic creation, appropriate Lends itself to versioning, dynamic creation, appropriate

disseminations, and intra/inter-organizational reusedisseminations, and intra/inter-organizational reuse– Supports the establishment of content relationshipsSupports the establishment of content relationships– Is networkable across system/organizational boundariesIs networkable across system/organizational boundaries– Content remains authoritative as it is accessed and reusedContent remains authoritative as it is accessed and reused– Supports coherent preservation strategiesSupports coherent preservation strategies

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Digital Object Architecture ComponentsDigital Object Architecture Components

RepositoriesRepositories Contain digital objectsContain digital objects Are, themselves, digital objectsAre, themselves, digital objects Repository Access Protocol (RAP)Repository Access Protocol (RAP) Platform independentPlatform independent

Handle SystemHandle System Persistent identificationPersistent identification Distributed ArchitectureDistributed Architecture

Digital ObjectsDigital Objects Persistently identifiedPersistently identified Self containedSelf contained

- Self describedSelf described- Self awareSelf aware

Integral access controlIntegral access control ExtensibleExtensible

Resource DiscoveryResource Discovery Search enginesSearch engines DatabasesDatabases Digital informationDigital information Digital objectsDigital objects

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Digital ObjectsDigital ObjectsContent-centric, instead Content-centric, instead of, System-centricof, System-centric

Handle - Hamlet

HandleHandle

Type - textType - text

ServletServlet

AttachmentsAttachments

Data ElementsData Elements

Content Type Disseminators

HandleHandle

Type - audioType - audio

ServletServlet

AttachmentsAttachments

Data ElementsData Elements

HandleHandle

Type - movieType - movie

ServletServlet

AttachmentsAttachments

Data ElementsData Elements

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Digital Object Example: Federal Digital Object Example: Federal Management RegulationManagement Regulation

Handle - FMR

Content Type DisseminatorsVersion disseminations

Data ElementsData Elements

HandleHandle

Type - FMRType - FMR

ServletServlet

AttachmentsAttachments

Version 1Data ElementsData Elements

HandleHandle

Type - FMRType - FMR

ServletServlet

AttachmentsAttachments

Version 2

HandleHandle

Type – FMRType – FMR

ServletServlet

AttachmentsAttachments

Data ElementsData Elements

Version 3

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Digital Object ChainingDigital Object Chaining

Handle - German Summary of Hamlet

Content Type Disseminators

Hamlet - TextHamlet -

German SummaryHamlet - Summary

Data ElementsData Elements

HandleHandle

Type - TextType - Text

ServletServlet

AttachmentsAttachments

Data ElementsData Elements

HandleHandle

Type - SummaryType - Summary

ServletServlet

AttachmentsAttachments

HandleHandle

Type – German tr.Type – German tr.

ServletServlet

AttachmentsAttachments

Data ElementsData Elements

Content Type Disseminators

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RepositoriesRepositories

Repository2

RAP

Client

Repository1

RAP

Client

RAP

Also include contentdisseminations

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Client

Repository A

Repository B

Digital Object ArchitectureDigital Object ArchitectureR

eso

lve

r

Client

Repository 1

Repository 2

Enhanced Handle ServiceEnhanced Handle Service

Re

solv

er

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Digital Object Architecture Business Case Digital Object Architecture Business Case • Provides useful, Provides useful, authoritativeauthoritative, visible, and dynamic access to , visible, and dynamic access to

informationinformation– Encourages the innovative, value-added, dynamic and, therefore, Encourages the innovative, value-added, dynamic and, therefore, effective effective

useuse of digital information of digital information– Provides global Provides global visibility/coordinationvisibility/coordination over information over information– ControlsControls access to information access to information – ReusesReuses generated content, techniques, and disseminations generated content, techniques, and disseminations– PreservesPreserves information functionality information functionality – Discourages generation of multiple, and potentially different, versions of Discourages generation of multiple, and potentially different, versions of

informationinformation • Provides Provides interoperabilityinteroperability and platform independence and platform independence• Provides greater securityProvides greater security

– Supports real-time access control changesSupports real-time access control changes– Supports partial disseminationSupports partial dissemination

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What’s Been DoneWhat’s Been Done

• Handles:Handles:– Established Handles infrastructure - CNRIEstablished Handles infrastructure - CNRI

– Established DOIs, registry agencies, and transfer mechanisms for Established DOIs, registry agencies, and transfer mechanisms for the commercial publishing industry -- CNRI and DOI Foundationthe commercial publishing industry -- CNRI and DOI Foundation

– Implemented the DOD Handles Service and Handles Registry for Implemented the DOD Handles Service and Handles Registry for DTIC held unclassified/unlimited technical reports -- DTIC DTIC held unclassified/unlimited technical reports -- DTIC

• Digital Object Architecture:Digital Object Architecture:– Implemented a prototype Digital Object Repository, i.e. Defense Implemented a prototype Digital Object Repository, i.e. Defense

Virtual Library, for technical reports, photographs, sound files, and Virtual Library, for technical reports, photographs, sound files, and moving images -- DTIC and CNRImoving images -- DTIC and CNRI

– Successfully tested repository interoperability -- CNRI and Cornell Successfully tested repository interoperability -- CNRI and Cornell UniversityUniversity

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Real CapabilityReal Capability

• Handles:Handles:– Handles reference from STINETHandles reference from STINET

http://stinet.dtic.mil/str/index.html

– Handles reference from Naval Postgraduate SchoolHandles reference from Naval Postgraduate School http://library.nps.navy.mil/home/distance.htm

– Handles RegistryHandles Registry http://hdl.dtic.mil/wobin/WebObjects/Handles

• Digital Object ArchitectureDigital Object Architecture– Defense Virtual LibraryDefense Virtual Library

http://dvl.dtic.mil/

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What Needs to be DoneWhat Needs to be Done

• Implement an expanded Handles ServiceImplement an expanded Handles Service– Provide persistent identification of and access to public release and Provide persistent identification of and access to public release and

limited informationlimited information– Provide multiple Handle resolutionProvide multiple Handle resolution– Partnership with other government organizations to provide Partnership with other government organizations to provide

persistent identification of digital informationpersistent identification of digital information

Get persistent control over Get persistent control over government information!!!government information!!!

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What Needs to be DoneWhat Needs to be Done

• Implement Digital Object ArchitectureImplement Digital Object Architecture– Demonstrate capabilities and benefits of the Digital Object Demonstrate capabilities and benefits of the Digital Object

Architecture in a Architecture in a real worldreal world environment, e.g. R&D Life Cycle environment, e.g. R&D Life Cycle documents, conference proceedings, STI, complex documents, documents, conference proceedings, STI, complex documents, FMRs, Directives and Instructions, and FAR/DFARFMRs, Directives and Instructions, and FAR/DFAR

– Demonstrate integrated access to multiple information repositories Demonstrate integrated access to multiple information repositories – Develop robust, reusable access control disseminatorsDevelop robust, reusable access control disseminators– Develop digital object based preservation strategiesDevelop digital object based preservation strategies– Develop a metadata registry to support cross-repository information Develop a metadata registry to support cross-repository information

discoverydiscovery

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Interested in Partnering with DTIC?Interested in Partnering with DTIC?

• ContactContact– Jim Erwin - (703) 767-9180Jim Erwin - (703) 767-9180

– Barbara Nekoba (Handles) - (703) 767-8004Barbara Nekoba (Handles) - (703) 767-8004

– Steve Markheim (Digital Object Architecture) - 767-8053Steve Markheim (Digital Object Architecture) - 767-8053

• {jerwin; bnekoba; smarkhei}@dtic.mil{jerwin; bnekoba; smarkhei}@dtic.mil