Handle System: DOI Technical Infrastructure

1. Handle System: DOI Technical Infrastructure Corporation for National Research Initiatives Larry Lannom December 10, 1997

2. chapter1.pdf Internet Naming Resources on the NetThe Problem http://www.acme.com/chapter1.pdf www.acme.com CNRI 12-10-97

3. Naming Service Name = Value(s) 10.123/xyz = http://www.acme.com/chapter1.pdf http://www.acme.com/chapter1.pdf Internet Internet Naming Resources on the NetThe Solution CNRI 10-3-97

4. Naming Service Name = Value(s) 10.123/xyz = http://www.acme2.com/chapter1.pdf http://www.acme2.com/chapter1.pdf Internet Internet Naming Resources on the NetThe Solution CNRI 12-10-97

5. CNRI Handle System • Distributed and Scalable • Enforces unique names • Enables association of one or more typed values, e.g., URL, with each name • Optimized for speed and reliability • Provides infrastructure for application domains, e.g., digital libraries, electronic publishing….

6. Handle System Initiatives • DOI (Digital Object Identifier) • Library of Congress • NCSTRL (Networked Computer Science Technical Reports Library) • DTIC (Defense Technical Information Center) • USIA (U.S. Information Agency)

7. Handle Format 10.15678/279dt8 Naming Authority Item ID (any format) Suffix Prefix In use, a Handle is an opaque string.

8. Handle Data type Handle data URL http://www.loc.gov/..... loc.ndlp.amrlp/123456 URL http://www.loc2.gov/.. Extensible Data Types RAP XYZ loc/repository 1001110011110 Handles Resolve to Typed Data

9. Client LHS LHS LHS LHS LHS Handle System is a collection of Handle Services loc.ndlp.amrlp/123456 HS #1 HS #2 HS #n HS #n HS #n HS #3 each of which consists of one or more Handle Servers URL URL which may be replicated http://www.loc.gov/..... http://www.loc2.gov/..... Handle Resolution GHS

10. Web Browser GHS LHS LHS LHS LHS LHS GHS LHS LHS LHS LHS LHS Handle Clients Web Browser Handle Resolution Handle Administration Handle System

11. Web Browser HTTP Redirect HTTP Get GHS Handle Data LHS LHS LHS Resolve Handle LHS LHS GHS LHS LHS LHS LHS LHS Handle Clients Web Browser Handle Resolution Handle Administration http://dx.doi.org/10.1015/123456 Proxy Web Server Handle System

12. Web Browser Handle Data Resolve Handle GHS LHS LHS LHS LHS LHS GHS LHS LHS LHS LHS LHS Handle Clients Browser Extension Web Browser Handle Resolution Handle Administration hdl:10.1015/123456 urn:hdl: 10.1015 /123456 Handle System

13. Web Browser Admin Forms Web Server GHS LHS LHS LHS LHS LHS GHS LHS LHS LHS LHS LHS Handle Clients Web Browser Handle Resolution Handle Administration HTTP Handle Admin API Handle System

14. Web Browser Handle Administration embedded in another process Handle Resolution embedded in another process GHS LHS LHS LHS LHS LHS GHS LHS LHS LHS LHS LHS Handle Clients Web Browser Handle Resolution Handle Administration Handle System

15. Resolution API (Client Library) • Specification • Library of C functions for handle resolution • ~ 50 functions, e.g., hdl_get_data, hdl_synch_query • MAN pages with a few examples • Released with a number of testing utilities (char based) • Licensed, but free. • Used by CNRI • proxy server • browser extensions • caching server • various CNRI prototype projects

16. Administrative API • Specification • Python implementation • MAN pages with many examples • not yet separately licensed • Used by CNRI • admin web forms • batch input jobs • various custom utilities

17. Road Map • Administrative API => C • Simplified interfaces, e.g., fewer parameters • Object Request Broker (ORB) • More utilities

18. Handles and WWW Syntax • Handle System is usable from within the WWW, but is not an extension or subset of it • When used as a UR*, Handles will conform to standard UR* syntax • Current clients use hex encoding to carry UR* excluded characters • Handle System compatible with UTF-8 for internationalization

19. Open Systems • Open resolution and administrative APIs • Open specifications • www.handle.net, www.doi.org • Local resolution systems