Transient hypergraphs for citation networks

摘要

While the graphic nature of cocitation networks suggests that hypertext would be an appropriate implementation methodology, there may be problems with respect to database update, node duplication, and definition of cocitation structures. These problems can be overcome if the hypertext system supports transient hypergraphs. Transient hypergraphs are generated dynamically in response to a user query and exist only for the duration of a query or query session. The system dynamically generates nodes of sets of links by type and by type-value. The user selects elements from these sets and, in response, the system composes nodes and instantiates links to create transient hypergraphs. The platform selected in this project for the development of such a system is the relational database model. The prototype system is implemented in INGRES on a SUN 4/280 using a SUN 3 workstation for the hypertext interface.