Multitarget/multiprotocol client application for search and retrieval of bibliographic records
| Published date | 01 June 2012 |
| Pages | 351-366 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471211241636 |
| Date | 01 June 2012 |
| Author | Miroslav Zarić,Danijela Boberić Krstićev,Dušan Surla |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Multitarget/multiprotocol client
application for search and
retrieval of bibliographic records
Miroslav Zaric
´
Department of Computing and Automation, Faculty of Technical Sciences,
Novi Sad, Serbia, and
Danijela Boberic
´Krstic
´ev and Dus
ˇan Surla
Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Sciences,
Novi Sad, Serbia
Abstract
Purpose – The aim of the research is modelling and implementation of a client application that
enables parallel search and retrieval of bibliographic records from multiple servers. The client
application supports simultaneous communication over Z39.50 and SRW/SRU protocols. The
application design is flexible and later addition of other communication protocols for search/retrieval
is envisioned and supported.
Design/methodology/approach – Object-oriented approach has been used for modelling and
implementation of client application. CASE tool, Sybase PowerDesigner, supporting Unified Modelling
Language (UML 2.0), was used for modelling. Java programming language and Eclipse environment
were used for implementation.
Findings – The result of the research is a client application that enables parallel search and retrieval
of multiple Z39.50 and SRW/SRU servers. Additionally, the application supports conversion from
type-1 query language, defined by Z39.50 standard, to CQL query language required for
search/retrieval from SRW/SRU servers. The application was verified by performing parallel search
and retrieval from several publicly accessible Z39.50 and SRW/SRU servers.
Research limitations/implications – The application supports only the use of bib-1 attribute set
for type-1 queries created according to Z39.50 standard. Hence, only such queries can be converted to
CQL notation. The use of other attribute sets is not supported.
Practical implications – The client application is integrated into the BISIS software system,
version 4. This enables the cataloguing of bibliographic records retrieved over Z39.50 and SRW/SRU
protocol.
Originality/value – The contribution of this work is in client application architecture that enables
parallel communication with multiple servers, which can use different communication protocols,
Z39.50 or SRW/SRU. Search/retrieval from servers using some other protocol is also supported. This
can be achieved by adding new classes that implement protocol specification, and classes for query
transformation into notation required by that new protocol, if required.
Keywords Retrieval of bibliographic records,Java, BISIS, Parallel search, Z39.50,SRW/SRU,
Information retrieval, Bibliographies,Computer software
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
The results presented in this paper have been obtained during the development of
BISIS library information system[1] (Konjovic
´and Surla, 2004). This system has been
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
Application for
search and
retrieval
351
Received September 2010
Revised November 2010
Accepted December 2010
The Electronic Library
Vol. 30 No. 3, 2012
pp. 351-366
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640471211241636
in development since 1993, and has been released in several major versions. Version 3
of BISIS system, completely developed on Java platform, introduced the search
capabilities, enabling search to be performed on network of libraries using the BISIS
system. For that purpose, special client module has been developed, based on
experience of Electronic Business using eXtensible Markup Language (ebXML)[2].
Search/retrieval functions were implemented through exchange of XML documents
that adequately represented queries and search results. Client module and
communication protocol have been described in details in (Zaric
´, 2006).
The current, fourth version of the BISIS system, is completely based on XML
technologies. As part of this version, the subsystem for circulation, i.e. for tracking use
of library material and work with clients has been developed. More details about this
subsystem model, as well as implementation details are given in papers (Tes
ˇendic
´et al.,
2009; Milosavljevic and Tesendic, 2010). A new editor for maintaining library material
is also a part of this system. More details about its development can be found in papers
(Dimic
´and Surla, 2009; Dimic
´et al., 2010). Indexing and search of library records is
implemented by using Lucene[3] engine. Description of text server (search engine) is
given in paper (Milosavljevic
´et al., 2010). Alongside this editor, a separate web
oriented editor has been developed for processing bibliographic records in UNIMARC
format. This editor is presented in paper (Belic
´and Surla, 2008). Conversion of
bibliographic records from BISIS system to MARC21 format is described in paper
(Rudic
´and Surla, 2009).
Since there is a high demand for interoperability between different library
information systems, XML editor for search and retrieval of bibliographic records,
using Z39.50 protocol[4], has been developed for BISIS system. Different models for
achieving such interoperability have been presented in paper (Alipour-Hafezi et al.,
2010). Another system with similar functionalities, compared to BISIS, is described in
(Evans and Sian, 2007). XML Editor can be used as a standalone component that would
provide interoperability on the client side in systems based upon those models.
Detailed description of this XML editor is presented in paper (Boberic
´and Surla,
2009). The XML editor client application was used as a starting point for upgrades
presented in this paper. Currently a fourth version of the BISIS system also still
contains the old communication module for backward compatibility.
Z39.50 was one of the first standards used to define the set of services for search and
retrieval. This standard defines communication between client and server, and does
not specify implementation details for a client or server application. This standard
introduces an abstract model for search and retrieval, by defining abstract search
prefixes. These prefixes are independent of specific system implementation.
Additionally, this standard defines data format used for data interchange between a
client and a server. The standard is based upon Open Systems Interconnection Basic
Reference Model (OSI) model. Z39.50 represents application level protocol as defined in
OSI model. Z39.50 requires that lower levels of OSI model provide reliable, fully duplex
binary transport protocol (like TCP). Abstract Syntax Notation One – ASN.1[5], is
used to specify the content of data packages. Protocol uses binary communicatio n and
data serialization is performed according to Basic Encoding Rules (BER)[6].
The invention of the internet has given rise to the vast number of new technologies.
The binary nature of Z39.50 protocol has made it quite difficult to adopt those new
technologies. SRW/SRU[7] is a relatively new standard, and its aim was to overcome
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