Framework of naturEnv KBNet: A distributed multimedia knowledge system network.

摘要

The goal of this research is to establish a conceptual framework of NaturEnv KBNet, a network of multimedia knowledge systems on nature and environmental fields, and to study how components in this framework facilitate the system integration and knowledge reasoning. The framework provides an integrated environment for people to use services from any available NaturEnv KBNet systems and to collaboratively design the NaturEnv multimedia knowledge bases as well via the Internet. Many enabling technologies, such as multimedia, communication, Internet, and World Wide Web, have been applied for establishing the NaturEnv KBNet framework.;The design of the framework is based on the client/server and the Internet networking model. A novel communication protocol, Knowledge Base Transmit Protocol (KBTP), has been developed for this framework to communicate between clients and servers or between servers and servers. Several on-demand software agents have been developed and used conjunction with the client programs (web browsers) to interact with servers in NaturEnv knowledge systems. In addition, there is a central site in KBNet to register the information of all the KBNet sites with cataloging and search functionality.;The research work has been partially implemented as a limited function prototype for demonstration and feasibility testing purposes. The coral reef multimedia knowledge base has been applied to the system as an example.