Hyper Model Management Systems

Abstract

In this paper we study the integration of Model Management and Hypertext systems toproduce a Hyper Model Management System (HMMS). Model Management Systems constitutea class of software that is designed to support the construction, storage, retrieval, anduse of models in the context of decision support systems (DSS). Hypertext systems allowusers to split information into data fragments which the user can browse to find informationby taking non-linear paths in computer based texts. It has been suggested that DSSsshould be conceived as environments which support decision making. We support the viewthat such environments can be readily provided for the subtask of model management byhypertext systems. The different kinds of model knowledge can be captured within differenttypes of nodes and the relationships among these can be maintained by hypertext links.In this paper we describe some aspects of model management where hypertext will havea significant impact. However, plain hypertext is ineffective in dealing with the dynamicnature of information in model management tasks where data is revised, models executed,and reports are created on the fly. Dynamic domains require dynamic hypertexts. In thispaper we also study the requirements for dynamic hypertexts. These can be satisfied withinthe class of generalized hypertext systems by using special hypertext nodes and links whichwe describe. We explore different architectures to integrate MMS and Hypertext systems toobtain HMMSs. This paper emphasizes the need for a shift to integrated Model Managementenvironments and proposes hypertext as an integrating technology.