( )Engineering Information Abstracts Part II 127

is to provide inter-database access: the capability of evaluatingglobal queries that require access to multiple data sources.This paper compares three common relational multidatabaseapproaches: the federated approach, the gateway approach,and the middleware approach from the perspective of globalquery performance. In particular, we examine their architec-tural impact on the applicability of pipelined query processingtechniques and load balancing. We present a performancecomparison based on a detailed simulation. The study suggeststhat the middleware approach, which is the most cost-effectivesolution among the three, provides better or comparable per-

Ž .formance to the other two approaches. Author abstract 13Refs. In English EI Order Number: EIP98044167449Keywords: Distributed database systems; Data acquisition;Relational database systems; Pipeline processing systems;

Ž .Query languages; Storage allocation computer ; Computersimulation

Title: INTERNET: GLOBAL INFORMATION SUPERHIGH-WAY FOR THE FUTURE

( )Author s : Hura, Gurdeep SinghCorporate Source: Nanyang Technological Univ, Singapore,SingaporeSource: Computer Communications v 20 n 16 Jan 1998. p1412-1430 CODEN: COCOD7 ISSN: 0140-3664Publication Year: 1998Abstract: The information revolution is bringing people ofdifferent backgrounds from around the world into a globalinformation superhighway. The Internet provides a globalplatform connecting thousands of networks around the world.There is a variety of information available on the Internet forthe users. It has been considered as a forum for users to shareworldwide information resources. The resources are so vastthat many of us really cannot grasp or understand the Internetfully. It has become a ‘global information library’ which allowsthe users to participate in the group discussion, search for anyinformation, start any discussion with others and so on. It canbe considered as a hybrid environment of postal services,citizen’s band radio, libraries and neighborhood community

Žcenters where we ‘we’ is mainly used in this paper in its. Žgeneric form can spend time with our friends ‘our’ is also

. Ž .mainly used generically . Internet users Internauts sharejokes, gossip in on-line conferences and join special groups tokeep abreast of their specific interests. The main objective ofthis tutorial is to discuss various services on the Internet, theirimplementations, various Internet tools, and interconnectionto the Internet. Other important issues like the Internetaddressing, domain name system, IP addressing, etc. are dis-cussed in detail in order to understand some design concepts.A brief list of the different types of browsers for differentplatforms is given. A discussion on future of the Internet isgiven via different advances and tools defined to provide

Žsecurity, interconnectivity and other related issues. Author.abstract 14 Refs. In English EI Order Number:

EIP98044167826Keywords: Wide area networks; Data communication systems;Information services; Database systems; Data acquisition; On-

line systems; Network protocols; Online searching; Telecom-munication networks

Title: INTERNET - SERVICES, FACILITIES, PROTOCOLSAND ARCHITECTURE

( )Author s : Hunt, RayCorporate Source: Univ of Canterbury, Christchurch, NewZealandSource: Computer Communications v 20 n 16 Jan 1998. p1397-1411 CODEN: COCOD7 ISSN: 0140-3664Publication Year: 1998Abstract: Why the ongoing surge in Internet popularity? Thesimplest explanation is that there is nothing else like it. Localarea networks enable data exchange only with a select set ofother users. The Internet is the largest wide area data networkin existences - there are nearly 12 million hosts and over 250000 web sites covering 83 countries. Currently there are around40 million users which is expected to grow to 100 million bythe year 2000. The Internet can now support storage, search-ing and transmission of full multimedia data including audio,video, formatted documents as well as conventional data. TheInternet allows local and wide area users to communicate withmore people, in more ways and provides access to the largestrange of database servers in the word. The growth in demandfor Internet access has been accompanied by the developmentof an ever-growing range of client-server tools and GUIsŽ .graphical user interfaces . This tutorial paper discusses anumber of the pertinent issues relating to the protocols,

Žarchitecture, services and facilities of the Internet. Author.abstract 25 Refs. In English EI Order Number:

EIP98044167825Keywords: Wide area networks; Telecommunication services;Network protocols; Computer architecture; Data communica-tion systems; Interactive computer systems; Data recording;Data acquisition; Database systems; Information services

Title: SOFTWARE USAGE METRICS FOR REAL-WORLDSOFTWARE TESTING

( )Author s : Ryan, LindaCorporate Source: Aqueduct Software, Menlo Park, CA, USASource: IEEE Spectrum v 35 n 4 Apr 1998. p 64-68 CODEN:IEESAM ISSN: 0018-9235Publication Year: 1998Abstract: Deciding when a product is ready for release ismade easier by a package that automatically collects datafrom beta testers so developers can know exactly who hastested which features on what platforms. This dilemma can besolved by using an effective process for product testing and byestablishing precise metrics that will create a high degree ofcertainty that the application will perform as intended, and befree from errors that will cause users to reject it. Some toolscan be applied when external users test a software product toincrease an organization’s confidence when making the re-lease decision. In English EI Order Number: EIP98044167749Keywords: Computer software selection and evaluation; Com-puter aided software engineering; Program debugging; Dataacquisition; Data reduction; Computer operating systems; Userinterfaces; Quality assurance