Otto Wüst

Senior Consultant
Oracle Corporation
CUIDADO Meeting – Paris, March 2003

xAgenda
– Recent work
– XDB/MEDEE Strategy
– Planning
– Open Issues
– Conclusion
WP 2.3 Objectives Remainder

xDesign + implement data structures best

suited to the content based retrieval and
processing needs of CUIDADO
xTimely completion of agreed deliverables:
– D2.3.1: Storage and parser components for first
application prototypes (COMPLETED FEB 02)
– D2.3.2: “Database components and technology for
storage and retrieval of audio descriptors“
xNew deliverable comprising former D2.3.2 and
D2.3.3
Summary of tasks performed during
last months
xContribution to the re-specification process
xAnalysis of MEDEE subsystem requirements
xUnitary MPEG-7 approach and concept
testing
xStudy and specification of the most
appropriate and beneficial usage of the
standard XDB features for the project
xIntegration of Sound Palette off-line
xSolving particular DB install and setup issues
Global approach for D2.3.2

xNOV-2002: Consensus for MPEG-7 based storage of

descriptors (and descriptions)
– Choice of direct storage of XML vs mapping of the XML-
Schema into relational tables.
– Standard MPEG-7 XML-Schema provides precise definition
of
xDescriptor data types
xOptional vs. mandatory descriptions
xEtc.
xUse of standard Oracle XDB – XML database features
– where possible
xSpecific adaptations/tuning required to provide a
consistent and fully functional MPEG-7 layer at
database level
 WP-2.3 Current Architecture

SP Off-line SP On-line Other APPS

ODBC / JDBC / Native

pl/sql Layer
Oracle 9iR2

MEDEE Layer

Other DB
XDB Elements
Oracle XDB – XML Layer

xProvides the XML framework used by CUIDADO

apps.
xAllows structured and/or unstructured storage of XML
xChoice of structured storage
xRegistration of MPEG-7 XML-Schema
– Mapping of MPEG-7 Schema types to object-relational
types stored in the database
xXML documents parsed at insertion-time stored in the
object-relational structures
xEfficient retrieval using Xpath
xNot only textual indexes, also numerical and specific
functional indexing
Mpeg-7 specific Layer: MEDEE

xBuilt on top of the Oracle XDB

xMpeg7 specific DB level functionalities
– Reference management
– Term Reference management
– Child Node management
– Relation management
– Full text searches
– Classification Schemes
– Simple type extractions
xDependencies
– SONA XML output not fully defined
– More clear definition of some of the detailed requirements
The database as an integration layer

xUse of pl/sql in order to facilitate integration

– Readable from multiple platforms
– Access through multiple standard interfaces
xJava -> JDBC
xC/C++ -> ODBC, OCI, OCCI
xStorage of the elements in Mpeg-7 compatible
XML
xSound Palette off-line and on-line can
efficiently re-use common functionalities at a
database level
xIntegration example: Sound Palette off-line
MEDEE – Generic approach

xUsage of the ODCI functional index mechanisms

xCreate parallel structures that are automatically
maintained at insertion/update/delete time and used
for:
– Indexing purposes
– Maintaining and granting MPEG-7 consistency

– Fast Recursive queries

– Searching through references

=> CONSTITUTE A GENERIC APPROACH

xAlready tested at a unitary level
MEDEE – Development
x Principal development focus: Use MEDEE in Sound
Palette Application Prototypes
– Start with Audio descriptions = description of segments
x Semantic
x Pitch
– Based on concepts contained in
x ConceptCollections
x SemanticDescription
– Concept labels are defined as Terms in Classification
Schemes.
x Expected Results
– First demo of the SP offline Sample Browser
– Identification of development and integration costs
– Aid for determining a more detailed planning and the
definitive implementation strategy
MEDEE – Development strategy
x “Extreme Programming” approach
– Short development cycles of bits of final functionalities,
based on example use cases (requires the XML examples)
– Integration into Sound Palette
– Testing -> will give any feedback on the development
x Example: Development of Concept Collection
(already planned and agreed)
– Produce sample XML files
– Write MEDEE level implementation for
1.BrowseConceptNoRecursionNoRelations
2.BrowseConceptWithRelations
3.Etc…
– In almost parallel make development of pl/sql layer for the
functions above
– Integration into Sound Palette.Testing. Feedback.
WP2.3 Other Relevant Issues

xDirect Involvement of Oracle XDB

Development team
xContacts with XDB and interMedia product
management teams established
xFirst specific dissemination activities of the
WP2.3
– Oracle Technology Network Public (IT
professionals) meeting in Barcelona MAR-2003
xPresentation of XDB features
xSpecial presentation of CUIDADO project
WP2.3 Planning

xDevelopment of modules
– Strategy and approach fully agreed by IRCAM Online
Systems, Creamware and Oracle
– First calendar to be presented by Pascal Mullon TODAY
xConstraint: Oracle is low on remaining resources
– Should reach to cover reference MEDEE implementation
although precise scope must be set
– Development will have to stop when resources have been
fully consumed
– Priorities need to be set accordingly, so that MUST-HAVE
modules can be available by the end of Oracle’s
contribution
– Close monitoring enabled with coordinator
xPending agreement on the development scope
WP2.3 Open Issues

xFunctional: Still not fully closed dependencies

– Scientific modules: Complete definition of the MPEG-7
elements and schemas to be used
– MPEG-7 / MEDEE analysis. Some functionalities still to be
defined at a very low level of detail.
xImplementation: Scope not precisely determined
– Unexisting full list of functions that require development
– Development cost unknown
– Request for a centralized repository of valid example XML
documents
xWP Management: Partners low on development
resources
– Specially Oracle is low on remaining WP2.3 resources
– Development priorities set accordingly to this constraint
WP2.3 - Conclusion

xA complete solution has been analyzed and defined

xAn important part is supplied by appropriately using
standard database features
– Keep maintenance costs low
xSpecific required extensions have been precisely
identified
xSolution for implementation of extensions seems to
be clear
xDevelopment strategy/approach defined
xSome open issues at low level of detail
xScope problem must me closed
xRisk of partners low on remaining resources
– Development priorities set accordingly to this constraint