Title: Web%20Standards%20and%20the%20HyLiFe%20Project%20(including%20authentication%20and%20distributed%20searching)
1Web Standards and the HyLiFe Project(including
authentication and distributed searching)
- Brian Kelly Email Address
- UK Web Focus B.Kelly_at_ukoln.ac.uk
- UKOLN URL
- University of Bath http//www.ukoln.ac.uk/
UKOLN is funded by the British Library Research
and Innovation Centre, the Joint Information
Systems Committee of the Higher Education Funding
Councils, as well as by project funding from the
JISCs Electronic Libraries Programme and the
European Union. UKOLN also receives support from
the University of Bath where it is based.
2UK Web Focus / W3C
- UK Web Focus
- JISC funded post based at UKOLN (Bath Univ)
- Advises UK HE community on web issues
- Represents JISC on W3C
- W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)
- International consortium, with headquarters at
MIT, INRIA and Keio University (Japan) - Coordinates development of web protocols
- Four domains
- Architecture Technology Society
- User Interface Web Accessibility
3What Are Your Interests?
- What interests do you have in web standards and
technologies?
4Contents
- Introduction
- Web Standards Overview
- Web Standards
- Data Formats
- Transport
- Addressing
- Metadata
- Distributed Searching
- Authentication
- Deployment Issues
- Questions
- Aims of Talk
- To give brief overview of web architecture
- To describe developments to web standards
- To review emerging developments with metadata,
distributed searching and authentication - To briefly address implementation models
5Standardisation
- Proprietary
- De facto standards
- Often initially appealing (cf PowerPoint, PDF)
- May emerge as standards
HTML extensions PDF and Java?
- W3C
- Produces W3C Recommendations on Web protocols
- Managed approach to developments
- Protocols initially developed by W3C members
- Decisions made by W3C, influenced by member and
public review
PNG HTML Z39.50 Java?
- ISO
- Produces ISO Standards
- Can be slow moving and bureaucratic
- Produce robust standards
- IETF
- Produces Internet Drafts on Internet protocols
- Bottom-up approach to developments
- Protocols developed by interested individuals
- "Rough consensus and working code"
HTTP URNwhois
PNG HTML HTTP
6The Web Vision
- Tim Berners-Lee's (and W3C's) vision for the Web
- Evolvability is critical
- Automation of information management If a
decision can be made by machine, it should - All structured data formats should be based on
XML - Migrate HTML to XML
- All logical assertions to map onto RDF model
- All metadata to use RDF
- See keynote talk at WWW 7 conference at ltURL
http//www.w3.org/Talks/1998/0415-Evolvability/sl
ide1-1.htmgt
7Web Protocols
- Web initially based on three simple protocols
- Data FormatsHTML (HyperText Markup Language)
provides the data format for native documents - AddressingURLs (Uniform Resource Locator)
provides an addressing mechanism for web
resources - TransportHTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
defines transfer of resources between client and
server
Transport HTTP
8HTML History
Dilemma Proprietary extensions cause
problems. But experiments are needed
- HTML 1.0 Unpublished specification.
- HTML 2.0 Spec. based on innovations from NCSA
(forms and inline images!) - HTML 3.0 Proposed spec. (renamed from
HTML).Very comprehensive Failed to complete
IETF standardisation Little implementation
experience - Proprietary Introduction of proprietary HTML
elements by Netscape and Microsoft - HTML 3.2 Spec. based on description of mainstream
innovations in marketplace - HTML 4.0 Current recommendation
1992
1994
1995
1997
1998
9HTML 4.0, CSS 2.0 and DOM
- HTML 4.0 used in conjunction with CSS 2.0
(Cascading Style Sheets) and the DOM provides an
architecturally pure, yet functionally rich
environment
- HTML 4.0 - W3C-Rec
- Improved forms
- Hooks for stylesheets
- Hooks for scripting languages
- Table enhancements
- Better printing
- CSS 2.0 - W3C-Rec
- Support for all HTML formatting
- Positioning of HTML elements
- Multiple media support
- DOM - W3C-Rec
- Document Object Model
- Hooks for scripting languages
- Permits changes to HTML CSS properties and
content
- CSS Problems
- Changes during CSS development
- Netscape IE incompatibilities
- Continued use of browsers with known bugs
10HTML Limitations
- HTML 4.0 / CSS 2.0 have limitations
- Difficulties in introducing new elements
- Time-consuming standardisation process (ltABBREVgt)
- Dictated by browser vendor (ltBLINKgt, ltMARQUEEgt)
- Area may be inappropriate for standarisation
- Covers specialist area (maths, music, ...)
- Application-specific (ltSTUD-NUMgt)
- HTML is a display (output) format
- HTML's lack of arbitrary structure limits
functionality - Find all memos copied to John Smith
- How many unique tracks on Jackson Browne CDs
11XML
- XML
- Extensible Markup Language
- A lightweight SGML designed for network use
- Addresses HTML's lack of evolvability
- Arbitrary elements can be defined
(ltSTUDENT-NUMBERgt, ltPART-NOgt, etc) - Agreement achieved quickly - XML 1.0 became W3C
Recommendation in Feb 1998 - Support from industry (SGML vendors, Microsoft,
etc.) - Support in Netscape 5 and IE 5
12XML Concepts
- Well-formed XML resources
- Make end-tags explicit ltLIgt...lt/LIgt
- Make empty elements explicit ltIMG .../gt
- Quote attributes ltIMG SRC"logo" HEIGHT"20"
- Use consistent upper/lower case
- Valid XML resources
- Need DTD
- XML Namespaces
- Mechanism for ensuring unique XML elements
- lt?xmlnsFOO"http//foo.org/1998-001"
prefix"i"gt - ltPgtInsert ltiPARTgtM-471lt/iPARTgtlt/Pgt
13XML Deployment
- Ariadne issue 15 has article on "What Is XML?"
- Describes how XML support can be provided
- Natively by new browsers
- Back end conversion of XML - HTML
- Client-side conversion of XML - HTML / CSS
- Java rendering of XML
- Examples of intermediaries
See http//www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue15/what-is/
14XLink, XPointer and XSL
- XLink will provide sophisticated hyperlinking
missing in HTML - Links that lead user to multiple destinations
- Bidirectional links
- Links with special behaviors
- Expand-in-place / Replace / Create new window
- Link on load / Link on user action
- Link databases
- XPointer will provide access to arbitrary
portions of XML resource - XSL stylesheet language will provide
extensibility and transformation facilities (e.g.
create a table of contents)
ltcommentary xmllink"extended" inline"false"gt
ltlocator href"smith2.1" role"Essay"/gt
ltlocator href"jones1.4" role"Rebuttal"/gt
ltlocator href"robin3.2" role"Comparison"/gt
lt/commentarygt
15XML Update
- Data / Schemas
- XML-Data Submitted to W3C Jan 98 (Obsolete?)
- Document Content Description Submitted Aug 98
- XSchema Independent effort
- Programming Interface
- DOM level 1 W3C Recommendation, May 98
- Style Presentation
- CSS level 2 W3C Recommendation, May 98
- Extensible Style Language Working Draft, Aug 98
- Relationship to Other Resources
- XLink , XPointer Working Drafts, Mar 98
- XML Namespaces Working Draft, Aug 98
- Query Languages
- XML Query Language Submitted to W3C Aug 98
- XQL Independent effort
16Addressing
- URLs (e.g. http//www.bristol-poly.ac.uk/depts/mu
sic/) have limitations - Lack of long-term persistency
- Organisation changes name
- Department shut down or merged
- Directory structure reorganised
- Inability to support multiple versions of
resources (mirroring) - URNs (Uniform Resource Names)
- Proposed as solution
- Difficult to implement (no W3C activity in this
area)
17Addressing - Solutions
- DOIs (Document Object Identifiers)
- Proposed by publishing industry as a solution
- Aimed at supporting rights ownership
- Business model needed
- PURLs (Persistent URLs)
- Provide single level of redirection
- Pragmatic Solution
- URLs don't break - people break them
- Design URLs to have long life-span
- Further information
- ltURL http//www.ukoln.ac.uk/metadata/resources/ur
n/gt - ltURL http//hosted.ukoln.ac.uk/biblink/wp2/links
.htmlgt
18Transport
- HTTP/0.9 and HTTP/1.0
- Design flaws and implementation problems
- HTTP/1.1
- Addresses some of these problems
- 60 server support
- Performance benefits! (60 packet traffic
reduction) - Is acting as fire-fighter
- Not sufficiently flexible or extensible
- HTTP/NG
- Radical redesign using object-oriented
technologies - Undergoing trials
- Gradual transition (using proxies)
- Integration of application (distributed
searching?)
19Metadata
- Metadata - the missing architectural component
from the initial implementation of the web
- Metadata Needs
- Resource discovery
- Content filtering
- Authentication
- Improved navigation
- Multiple format support
- Rights management
20Metadata Examples
- DSig (Digital Signatures initiative)
- Key component for providing trust on the web
- DSig 2.0 will be based on RDF and will support
signed assertion - This page is from the University of Bath
- This page is a legally-binding list of courses
provided by the University - P3P (Platform for Privacy Preferences)
- Developing methods for exchanging Privacy
Practices of Web sites and user - Note that discussions about additional rights
management metadata are currently taking place
21RDF
- RDF (Resource Description Framework)
- Highlight of WWW 7 conference
- Provides a metadata framework ("machine
understandable metadata for the web") - Based on ideas from content rating (PICS),
resource discovery (Dublin Core) and site mapping
(MCF) - Applications include
- cataloging resources resource discovery
- electronic commerce intelligent agents
- digital signatures content rating
- intellectual property rights privacy
- See ltURL http//www.w3.org/Talks/1998/0417-WWW7-
RDFgt
22RDF Model
RDF Data Model
- RDF
- Based on a formal data model (direct label
graphs) - Syntax for interchange of data
- Schema model
PropertyType
Resource
Value
Property
page.html
Cost
0.05
Cost
ValidUntil
page.html
0.05
11-May-98
PropObj
InstanceOf
Value
Property
ValidUntil
PropName
Note names may change before release of W3C
recommendations
11-May-98
Cost
23RDF Example
- Example of Dublin Core metadata in RDF
- ltrdfRDF xmlnsrdf"http//www.w3.org/TR/WD-rdf-s
yntax"xmlnsdc"http//purl.org/dc/elements/1.0/
"gt - ltrdfRDFgt
- ltrdfDescription RDFHREF"page.html"gt
- ltdcCreatorgtJohn Smithlt/dcCreatorgt
- ltdcTitlegtJohns Home Pagelt/dcTitlegt
- lt/rdfDescriptiongt
- lt/rdfRDFgt
24Browser Support for RDF
Trusted 3rd Party Metadata
- Mozilla (Netscape's source code release) provides
support for RDF. - Mozilla supports site maps in RDF, as well as
bookmarks and history lists - See Netscape's or HotWired home page for a link
to the RDF file.
Embedded Metadata e.g. sitemaps
Image from http//purl.oclc.org/net/eric/talks/www
7/devday/
25RDF Conclusion
- RDF is a general-purpose framework
- RDF provides structured, machine-understandable
metadata for the Web - Metadata vocabularies can be developed without
central coordination - Role for eLib projects in defining schemas?
- RDF Schemas describe the meaning of each property
name - Signed RDF is the basis for trust
26Distributed Searching
- Distributed searching important for the DNER
(Distributed National Electronic Resource)
http//prospero.ahds.ac.uk8080/ahds_live/
AHDS prototype provides cross-searching using
Z39.50
ROADS prototype provides cross-searching using
whois
27Distributed Searching Issues
- Providing access to resources by software rather
than by humans raises several issues - Loss of visibility of service / value-added web
services - Possible performance problems
- Information overload
- Finding the service
- Solutions
- Giving visibility and pointers in results sets
- Service metadata
- Service only available for cross-searching by non
AC.UK users outside peak hours - Need for agreed metadata standards (profiles,
rights issues, )
28Collection Description Work
- Collection Description Group
- UKOLN involvement in producing list of attributes
for collection level description (in the library,
museum, archival sense), which includes databases
of Internet resource descriptions such as SOSIG. - Work of interest to clumps and hybrid libraries.
- WG membership Dan Brickley (ROADS), Andy Powell
(ROADS), Matthew Dovey (Music Online, MALIBU),
Verity Brack (RIDING), Dennis Nicholson
(BUBL/CAIRNS) and David Kay (FD) - See ltURL http//www.ukoln.ac.uk/metadata/cld/gt
- Collection Description eLib supporting study due
out in Oct. Will define attribute set (cf Dublin
Core)
29Relevant Protocols
- Number of formats and protocols could be used to
implement distributed searching - Z39.50ISO standard. Well-known in library
world, but heavy-weight - whoisLightweight IETF standard. Used in
several ANR gateways, but not widely deployed - LDAPLightweight version of X.500 directory
service. - HTTP/NG?Opportunity to develop new solution
using object-oriented technologies based on above
experiences?
30Protocols Collections
- Which formats and protocols are relevant to
collection descriptions for use by software
developers? - XML
- Structured data formats should be based on XML -
W3C - RDF
- All metadata applications should be based on RDF
- W3C - IETF WebDav
- Requirement for distributed authoring include
author metadata and collection definitions.
31IETF WebDav
- WebDav
- Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning
- An IETF Application Area
- Relevant proposals
- "WebDAV Advanced Collections Protocol"
- "Requirements for Advanced Collection
Functionality in WebDAV " - "Requirements for DAV Searching and Locating"
- See ltURL http//www.ietf.org/html.charters/webda
v-charter.htmlgt and ltURL http//www.ietf.org/ids.
by.wg/webdav.htmlgt
32How Metadata Could Be Used
- Database Description
- Music resources, including ...
- Policy (Terms Conditions / Resource and
Service) - For licensing reasons, access is restricted to
authorised HEIs - For performance reasons, access restricted to UK
HEI between 9.00-17.00 - The service logo must be included in results set,
unless results only come from service - Permission for cross-searching restricted to
other eLib projects - You're only allowed to link to the main entry
point - Individual
- Give me HTML or PDF resources, not Word,
- I'm blind. Include ACSS in results and deliver a
sitemap - Client Software
- My browser doesn't support XML,so send me HTML
33Deployment Models
Explain database
- Today integration with cross-searching services
uses technologies such as CGI on top of HTTP. - It is difficult to provide rich functionality,
due to the simplicity of HTML and HTTP. - HTTP/NG may provide closer integration between
applications and the web. - NOTE need for open authentication system (public
key infrastructure / DSig?)
Z39.50 server
Loose integration
Web server
whois server
Centroids
RDFdefn.
RDFdefn.
Distributed Searching
Web Server
RDFdefn.
34What's Needed?
- In order to deploy distributed cross-searching in
an open, application-independent way we need - Metadata in a machine-readable format - RDF
- Syntax for describing the metadata - see RDF
pages at ltURL http//www.w3.org/RDF/gt - Language for processing metadata - see XML-QL, A
Query Language for XML at ltURL
http//www.w3.org/Submission/1998/12/gt - An open authentication infrastructure
- Issues
- Timescales Costs
- Software support Protocol support
- Short-term pragmatic solution vs long-term purer
solution
35Authentication
- Deployment of an open, scaleable, flexible
authentication system is difficult expensive - Current solutions include
- Server-based username and password schemes
- IP-based schemes
- Athens - Based on replicated Sybase application
See ltURL http//www.athens.ac.uk/gt - W3C DSig work - Digital Signatures Initiative.
See ltURL http//www.w3.org/DSig/gt - Other Public Key developments - e.g. reports of
Post Office involvement, statements from Tony
Blair, EU, .. - "In May 1998 the Commission published its
proposal for a "European Parliament and Council
Directive on a Common Framework for Electronic
Signatures" (COM(1998)297)."
36Certificates
http//www.verisign.com/
- Should we be looking into using
commercially-supported digital ids, such as
Verisign's? - Can purchase server ID for 349
- End user certificates available
37Browser Support
- Browsers such as IE provide support for
certificates - Use certificates to positively identify yourself,
certificate authorities andpublishers
Trust sites, people and publishers with
credentials issued by the following Certifying
Authorities
You have designated the following software
publishers and credential agencies as
trustworthy. Windows software can install
software .. certified by these publishers with
asking you first
38Using Digital Keys
Client
Server
Client initiates a connection
hello
Server responds, sending the client its digital
ID. The server might also request the client's
digital ID for client authentication.
ServerDigital ID
The client verifies the server's digital ID.
If requested the client sends its digital ID in
response to the server's request.
ClientDigital ID
- Diagram taken from a Versign White Paper
When authentication is complete the client sends
the server a session key encrypted using the
server's public key.
SessionKey
Once a session key is established,
securecommunications commence between client
server
39Authentication EU
- A search for "digital signature" at ltURL
http//www.open.gov.uk/gt provided interesting
hits - DTI Briefing Paper on "Encryption and Digital
Signatures" at ltURL http//www.dti.gov.uk/eurobr
ief/3encrypt.htmgt - European Internet Forum Policy Papers at ltURL
http//www.ispo.cec.be/eif/digitalgt - "Towards A European Framework for Digital
Signatures And Encryption" at ltURL
http//www.ispo.cec.be/eif/policy/97503toc.htmlgt - Will we see development of an open authentication
infrastructure funded through Fifth Framework? - See http//www.cordis.lu/fifth/src/comm.htm
40Further Information
- Further Reading
- Microsoft Security Advisor at ltURL
http//microsoft.com/security/gt - JISC Reports at ltURL http//www.jisc.ac.uk/pub/i
ndex.htmlissuesgt - WWW Security FAQ at ltURL http//www.w3.org/Securi
ty/Faq/gt
41Deployment Issues
- More sophisticated deployment techniques can be
adopted to overcome deficiencies in simple model
Original Model
Web server simply sends file to client File
contains redundant information (for old browsers)
plus client interrogation support
HTML resource
Web server
Sophisticated Model
HTML / XML / databaseresource
IntelligentWeb server
Client proxy
Server proxy
- Intermediaries can provide functionality not
available at client - DOI support
- XML support
- Format conversion
Example of an intermediary
42Conclusions
- To conclude
- Standards are important, especially for national
initiatives, such as eLib - Proprietary solutions are often tempting because
- They are available
- They are often well-marketed and well-supported
- They may become standardised
- Solutions based on standards may not be properly
supported by applications - Metadata is an important new protocol area
- Metadata work to support distributed searching is
beginning - Intermediaries may have a role to play in
deploying standards-based solutions
43Question Time