Project  MOSAIC

MOSAIC Consortium
Architectural
Document

1 Introduction 1.1 Scope
1.2 Definitions, Acronyms and Abbreviations
1.3 Applicable Documents
1.4 Reference Web Sites and Documents
1.5 Document Structure

2 System Overview

3 System Design Guidelines

4 Network Infrastructure, Inter-Operability gateway 4.1 Distributed Database, Metadatabase, Search Engine & Agent, Multilingual & Interoperability
4.2 Cultural On-Line Browser 5 CSC Components Description 5.1 CSC Organisation, Publishing Team, Promotion & Advertising
5.2 Basic Services & Thematic Forum (Services)
5.3 Archiving Tool (Tools)
5.4 Application & Market Products
5.5 Virtual Exhibitor (Tools)
5.6 Authoring Tool (Tools)
5.7 Training Room (Infrastructures)
5.8 Video Conference (Infrastructures)
5.9 Virtual Theatre, Workshops (Infrastructures)
5.10 CyberCafé & Workshop(Infrastructures)

6 Configurations List

7 Coverage Matrix

1 Annex 1 : Networking Software products 1.1 Windows NT Server 4.0
1.2 Internet Information Server
1.3 Index Server

1.3.1 Indexing SQL Server
1.3.2 Index Server: Basic Querying Features
1.3.3 Index Server: Basic Indexing Features

1.4 Microsoft Message Queue Server
1.5 Transaction Server
1.6 Networking
1.7 Microsoft Exchange Server.

1.7.1 Messaging Foundation
1.7.2 Connectivity and Co-existence

1.8 Proxy Server
1.9 Site server

1.9.1 Improved integration
1.9.2 Expanded functionality
1.9.3 Search

1.10 Deliver
1.11 Push
1.12 Analysis
1.13 Microsoft SQL Server 2 Reference Tools 2.1 Reference tools for the MOSAIC components
2.2 Software interfaces for existing areas
2.3 Software Areas covered by new tools for MOSAIC
2.4 New Software Areas covered by existing tools for MOSAIC

[AD 1]	WORK PACKAGE 1100: Survey on the State of the Art http://mosaic.infobyte.it/project/project.html
[AD 2]	WORK PACKAGE 1400: Target Users Profile Specification http://mosaic.infobyte.it/project/project.html
[AD 3]	WORK PACKAGE 1500: Requirements Definition Document http://mosaic.infobyte.it/project/project.html
[AD 4]	WORK PACKAGE 1600: Technical Note on Application Reuse http://mosaic.infobyte.it/project/project.html

1.4 Reference Web Sites and Documents

ATM technology	http://www.infowin.org/ACTS/ANALYSYS/PRODUCTS/THEMATIC/ATM/ http://www.atmforum.com ftp://ftp.atmforum.com/pub
ADSL technology	http://www.adsl.com
ISDN technology	Simple introduction to ISDN http://www.isdntek.com/net.htm
Telecommunication Carrier	http://www.ascend.com
Videoconferencing	http://www.de.infowin.org/ANALYSYS/PRODUCTS/HANDBOOK/handbook.html specific for video conferencing: http://www.de.infowin.org/ANALYSYS/PRODUCTS/HANDBOOK/acts_hb_3.3.html
Publishing Team Guidelines for the Web Design	http://www.de.infowin.org/ANALYSYS/PRODUCTS/HANDBOOK/acts_hb_5.html
Security of Infrastructures	http://www.megaitalia.it

1.5 Document Structure

2. System Overview

local USER	Applications	Tele-conference, object manipulation, smart card, ecash, Search&Retrieval, data entry, network navigation, IT-services Access to physical space: Training Room, Video Conference, Virtual Theatre, Multimedia Room, CyberCafé, Marketing Area, Workshop
	Network Access	Internal Network Services and External Front-end

Figure 2 : Mosaic Network general overview

 

 

Figure 3 : CSC Network Infrastructures

 

Purpose

The requirements that the component implement are:

• NE1.INF Distributed co-operative applications shall be defined using different services useful for network communication. Specific context dependent services shall be based upon a set of different generic services like: X.400.
  The letter is mailed using : FTP, WWW , Telnet, DNS, SMTP , MIME
• NE2.INF Distributed applications shall use different transport protocols ...: X.25, IP, Fibre distributed data interface (FDDI), Frame relay, ADSL or asymmetrical digital subscriber line
• NE3.INF The infrastructure network shall support and use: Satellite communication, Mobile communication
• NE4.INF The infrastructure network shall support and use basic services as: Internet telephony, Teleconferencing , WWW and Internet, Mbone, Basic services
• NE5.INF Infrastructure, equipment, machinery and communication facilities shall contain : sharing system, multiple processors, support many users, high-priority users can run on a faster node, continuous access to data using single-node failure, hardware redundancy, nodes dedicated to applications or activities, flexible allocation of nodes, incremental growth
• NE6.INF Information stored in the data base will be managed by RDBMS with parallel server functions shall be supported for Information Retrieval in all European languages

Function Server

• Data exchange between different CSCs
• Data exchange between CSC and remote client stations
• Management off all the services installed in the CSC (security, telepay, videoconference …)
• Exchange server
• Proxy server
• Site & system management server
• SNA & SQL server
• Archive data by using RDBMS in the ODBC and Corba standard
• Services and technologies supported by National Providers as Internet, ISDN, ATM, ADSL
• PBX connection
• High quality telephony
• File transfer
• Fax exchanges
• LAN interconnection
• Leased circuit back-up
• Internet access
• Satellite set top box
• Network services offered to the others CSC servers
• Remote Database access
• Links to others data banks
• Network services as internet, fax, mail
• Management of CSC local area network and external providers

Function Client

This component supply the following functionality:

• allows the communication on network using the following services and protocols : FTP, WWW, Telnet, DNS, SMTP, MIME
• use of the existing network technologies: Internet, ISDN

To easily access to the data:

• the queries can be activated in natural language using a common thesaurus to translate them in universal language
• the component support the existing standards (CIMI ...)
  the component allows also the query results editing and link management

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  Client Station:

  LAN of PC with CPU Pentium MMX and Hard Disk, Keyboard and Mouse, Multimedia kit (CD-ROM reader IDE, Audio card, 2 Speakers), SVGA card, Monitor, LAN Card (to connect a LAN in a CSC), Windows95 Operating System, Internet Browser, Plug-in, Antivirus (Refere to Infrastructures)

  Client Home:

  PC with CPU Pentium MMX and Hard Disk, Keyboard and Mouse, Multimedia kit (CD-ROM reader IDE, Audio card, 2 Speakers), SVGA card, Monitor, Modem, Windows95 Operating System, Internet Browser, Plug-in, Antivirus

  Server Station
  PC:

  Multiprocessor PC and Hard Disk, Keyboard and Mouse, Multimedia kit (CD-ROM reader IDE, Audio card, 2 Speakers), SVGA card, LAN Card, Digital VideoCamera (for teleconferencing), Back-up unit device

  WindowsNT 4.0 Operating System
  Database Server: Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Proxy Server, Web Server: Internet Information Server

  Workstation UNIX

  Multiprocessor workstation, Keyboard and Mouse, Ethernet Card, Router (able to connect in ISDN ...), Digital VideoCamera (for teleconferencing), Back-up unit device

  UNIX Operating System, Database Server, Web Server, Database

  Network components

  Concentrator, Router (able to connect in ISDN at 64kbit...), Modems, security s/w

  If an ISDN network is available, one need:
  

  • an ISDN card
  • one computer LAN
  • an IP-Router box (e.g. Ascend box Pipeline 50 for 2 ISDN B-channels for minimum configuration) in a LAN with several workstations.

  ISDN Interface:
  ISDN is used to provide a solution for the interconnection of remote local area networks. It offers a cheaper option than leased lines, and a much better performance than the analogue telephone.

  Example of interconnection between CSCs:
  

   

  The router is used to dial up and route data across the ISDN only when there is data needing to be sent. This therefore avoids a permanent connection between the two LANs.

  The speed of remotely accessing the Internet via the PSTN, even using high-speed modems, does not match the speed of access with the ISDN. Compression of data achievable with modems is also available with ISDN lines. In particular, the ISDN is used to connect to an ISP (Internet Service Provider) at high speeds, but at a reasonable cost. This is essential as it allows the user to gain access to the full benefits of the WorldWide Web (including pictures, sounds and application programs).

  Example of remote user connection: (the figure shows a LAN (CSCs) and a remote user that connect ISDN)
  

   

  For more details see [AP 4] Technical note on Application Reuse pag. 22 – 36

  Reference Tools

  Refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse)
  Processing/IPO
  Performances

  The user will work on an abstract level where he/she uses TCP/IP. The upper three layers are IP-based. On the transport layer one can use the different network technologies:

  Application-Layer Services-Layer Communication-Layer -------------- IP-based ------------- Transport-Layer: ATM ISDN ADSL Internet (no dedicated line), (Satellite)

  Only general remarks are possible, because the costs depend from:

  • location
  • application
  • time
  • additional requirements

  ATM (for technical information see http://www.atmforum.com and ftp://ftp.atmforum.com/pub)

  most expensive concerning basic hardware and infrastructure costs and communication costs. In the easiest case one needs an ATM-Card at each workstation. But it can also be necessary to set up an ATM-network, and then it strongly depends on the applications. For high end ATM one need glass fiber infrastructure which is normally not available.
  A calculation for communication costs needs to be done for every point-to-point connection and is by itself very expensive, because there is not one provider for the direct connection from point-to-point. Even the distance between two points is not an indicator for the communication costs.

  The budget can differ from some ten thousands ECU to a million and more ECU.

  ISDN (for simple introduction to ISDN see http://www.isdntek.com/net.htm)

  ISDN is a versatile telephone line connection that provides for higher Internet access speeds than conventional 28.8 Kb/sec analog modems carried over normal dial-in telephone lines. ISDN carries voice and data simultaneously over a single copper wire pair. It links directly into the switched telephone network and thus can make connections anywhere in the world, providing both ends have ISDN-compatible equipment. Under the right conditions, it serves as a bandwidth building block used to construct virtual circuits from 128 Kb/sec to 1,544 Kb/sec.

  ISDN has three channels: two 64 Kb/sec B data channels and one 16 Kb/sec signaling D channel. All three channels can carry data, but only the 64 Kb/sec channels carry the B designation for bearer channel. For high-speed data transfer, the two B channels can be coupled via software for transmission in the same direction, and provide 128 Kb/sec data transfer. The D channel can carry X.25 packet data, but this is an auxiliary use of that channel; its main purpose is to carry dialing and incoming call information.

  ISDN offers several advantages to business users:

  • High speed data transmission at significantly lower cost (both recurring and installation charges) than a dedicated fractional T-1 line of equivalent bandwidth
  • Access (or connection time) from 0.1 to 0.5 seconds, in contrast with the typical 15 seconds associated with analog dial-up modem connections.
  • The newer ISDN modems also include ports for attaching analog modems, fax machines, and telephones, which is ideal for small businesses because you can use one 64 Kb/sec channel for Internet data access (or other data transfers), and the other for phone and fax, instead of obtaining two or more separate phone lines, an inconvenient and costly option. Each channel can even have its own telephone number.
  • Compared with analog lines, ISDN is relatively immune to noise, weather, and other signal impediments. Over-all line failures and outages in heavy storms are of course still possible.

  The hardware and communication costs depend on the bandwidth needed. If 64kb/sec are sufficient one has the costs for one call, if 2Mb/sec are necessary one has the costs for 32 calls. Also the necessary hardware has to be taken into account.

  Two diagrams for network connections (as an example with ISDN) are given in the following:

  

  Figure 1 Lan-to-Lan Access (figure from http://www.ascend.com)

  The Pipeline 50 connects to a central site over an ISDN BRI line. Multiprotocol routing and bridging allows remote users to simultaneously access corporate resources.

  

  Figure 2 Internet access (figure from http://www.ascend.com)

  The Pipeline 50 connects remote users to the Internet over an ISDN BRI line. At speeds up to 512 kbps, it's a breeze to download high-resolution graphics and video clips or to just simply surf the Internet.

  ISDN can be used in Europe. ISDN is not available at every location in the world. Thus here are great dependencies from the location of a CSC.

  ISDN is used to provide an alternative solution for the interconnection of remote local area networks. It offers a cheaper option than leased lines, and a much better performance than the analogue telephone:

  (for more details see [AP 4] Technical note on Application Reuse pag. 22 – 36)

  ADSL (See the site: http://www.adsl.com)

  The UT-MediaNet system supports DMT (Discrete Multi-Tone) ADSL modems. The technology delivers digital streams up to 8 Mbit/s to the end users. The distance limit between local exchange and customer premises modems, however, is about 6 km with 1.5 Mbit/s channels and 4 km with 5 Mbit/s streams. The highest data rates can be obtained with copper pair distances around 2.5 km.

  In the ADSL network architecture, the application data flow, encapsulated via AAL5 or AAL1 into ATM cells, is transported by the broadband switching network. The traffic is routed to the appropriate ADSL line termination port on the basis of the appropriate VPI/VCI contained in the ATM cell headers. The ADSL interface module terminates the ATM and the adaptation layer protocols and sends the user data over the copper wire using CAP or DMT modulation.

  At the customer premises, the ADSL unit receives and decodes the application data, providing proper user interfaces towards the customer’s PC or Set Top Box. Both ATM Forum 25 Mbit/s and Ethernet 10BaseT user interfaces are currently available, depending on the supported services (SDVB, VoD or fast Internet access).
  The 768 kbit/s return channel can be used as a return channel for interactive services or as a separate data path for bi-directional applications.

  In the general architecture, user signalling is carried transparently by the access network and it is interpreted by the ATM switch, which is in charge of creating and releasing the ATM connections with the service providers.

  ADSL product line

  The ITALTEL equipment which realises the ADSL access network is based on the Multiservice Peripheral Module (MPM), an advanced multiservice node which can manage ADSL lines as well as Passive Optical Networks. The MPM module can be configured for a broad range of applications, from a small number of ADSL interfaces (up to 100) to the largest configuration, serving several thousands of broadband users. The users can be broadband users only or they can also have POTS or ISDN services. In this latter case, the ADSL modem frame houses the POTS/ISDN splitters necessary to extract the narrow-band traffic towards the narrow-band switch.

  (for more details on ASDL technology refer to [AD 4] "Technical note on Application Reuse" pag. 20 – 21)

  Internet

  can be realized via every telecommunication system. It is recommended to use ISDN, but not necessary. The infrastructure costs are the same like for ISDN point-to-point connection, but the communication costs are less, because only the connection to the next Internet service provider need to be taken into account. Costs depend whether one has a dedicated line or a call line. Internet, because it does not use normally a dedicated line, is the cheapest solution. But it depends on the application. A general recommendation can not be made.

  Security

  Concerning the aspect of security the ACTS project INFOWIN has presented within a handbook on Communication Services: (http://www.de.infowin.org/ANALYSYS/PRODUCTS/HANDBOOK/handbook.html).
  The chapter for security you will find under: http://www.de.infowin.org/ANALYSYS/PRODUCTS/HANDBOOK/acts_hb_3.5.html

  Service management Performance:

  Performance Hierarchical Caching	Firewall Security Dynamic Packet Filtering	Easy Management Internet Service Management (Intuitive GUI-based tool)
  Distributed Caching with CARP Cache Arrays FTP Caching	Reverse Proxy/Virtual Hosting Server Proxying	Web Administration Command Line Administration with Scripting
  40% Better Performance HTTP 1.1 Support	Real Time Alerts and Logging VPN Support	Array Administration Configuration Backup and Restore
  SOCKS Support

  Data Structure

  Support all current network protocols, including TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, NetBEUI, AppleTalk, DLC, HTTP, SNA, PPP, and PPTP. And, for client compatibility, it's the most flexible network operating system available, working with a wide variety of client operating systems such as Microsoft Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT Workstation, IBM OS/2r and Macintosh.

  Quality

  The aspect of quality for the different network technology solutions concerns jitter, delay, and bandwidth. Best quality is given by ATM, followed by ISDN and ADSL. Internet is the worst solution concerning quality.

  ISDN allows users to benefit from high-quality voice transmission, with a bandwidth of 7 kHz or more being available. This requires the user to purchase a specific handset or other equipment which can be PC-based.

  This high-quality telephony mode can also be used by radio broadcasters for, e.g. concert transmission, and videoconferencing.

   

   

  4.1 Distributed Database, Metadatabase, Search Engine & Agent, Multilingual & Interoperability

  Purpose

  The Distributed Database shall

  • DD1.FUN establish a common framework for searching
  • DD2.FUN manage the co-ordination of distributed databases
  • DS1.FUN relay the query to several other information sources
  • DS2.FUN select relevant archives
  • DS3.FUN select folder servers
  • DS4.FUN integrate the results
  • DS5.FUN present the results

  • DS6.FUN The field searches shall be supported
  • DS7.FUN The search shall locate web documents
  • DS8.FUN The search shall locate real objects
  • DS1.SER Advertisements shall be carried along with content

  The Distributed Database shall

  • DD1.SER provide a central search utility
  • DD2.SER provide browsing facilities
  • DD3.SER support query broadcast
  • DD4.SER provide access to several collection data
  • DD5.SER provide direct connection to collections databases
  • DD6.SER provide a common thesaurus
  • DD7.SER provide query term translation
  • DD8.SER support authoring of query results
  • DD9.SER support editing of query result
  • DD10.SER support link management
  • DD11.SER support existing standards (CIMI ...)

  The requirements that the component implement are:

  MD1.FUN The metadatabase shall maintain records for multiple agencies
  MD2.FUN Input into meta-database shall be enabled
  

  The metadatabase shall:
  MD3.FUN admit management of records
  MD4.FUN have functions as middleware between user client and distributed servers
  MD5.FUN use of Z39.50
  MD6.FUN able to retrieve information, hours, costs and accessibility to museums, archaeological areas, etc...
  MD7.FUN able to give a complete set of information about museums and galleries, on the administrative as well as on a very specialised scientific level
  MD8.FUN have a Work arts catalogue
  MD9.FUN able to Locate artwork
  MD10.FUN retrieve works and know their technical-administrative characteristics
  MD11.FUN be a multimedia trans-European database to manage and locate artwork; creation of digital museums
  MD12.FUN have images of art-works in high-resolution mode in the most compatible and efficient way (from the point of view of speed and cost)
  MD13.FUN have the possibility to correlate information from more data base or images of different historical ages (evolution in time) or in space (pictorial schools, imitations, attributions, etc...)
  MD14.FUN The have data on the "recent" work (e.g., when did the institution obtain it)
  MD15.FUN have File-types, historical data availability: these information should be furnished:

  • site
  • contents
  • eventually, photographic image (for antique documents to be examined directly on the original)
  • bibliographic data: publications made with references to the art work and to the author
  MD16.FUN correct linguistic references and multilingual access
  MD17.FUN have high level search facilities - Keyword searching separated for different MM types
  MD18.FUN have easy reusability of data for research
  MD19.FUN be able to update of catalogues
  MD20.FUN guarantee authenticity
  MD21.FUN have the possibility to advertise merchandise products through a multi-media database
  MD22.FUN display basic information on property rights and acquisition modalities (e.g. auction dates)
  MD23.FUN allow for simultaneous parallel searching of diverse servers
  MD24.FUN A knowledgebase co-ordinates distributed search of diverse servers
  MD25.FUN The knowledgebase recognises the relevant servers

  The metadatabase shall:
  MD1.COP transmit intellectual property fairly
  MD2.COP transmit intellectual property securely
  MD3.COP apply a standards system for sales modalities
  MD4.COP support licensing transactions
  MD5.COP support Inter-operability with unrelated IPR databases
  MD6.COP support Inter-operability with new security-based technologies

  MD7.COP Creator shall load the work on to the server
  MD8.COP Creator shall add the name to the work loaded on to the server
  MD9.COP Creator shall add the identity to the work loaded on to the server
  MD10.COP Creator shall add the price per copy to the work loaded on to the server
  MD11.COP The client server will can download the work from the server
  MD12.COP The client server shall provide an e-cash account for the work
  MD13.COP The relevant databases for the search shall have to be selected. The window on the left hand side of the mask shall show all the different databases that can be searched and selected into the window on the left.
  MD14.COP The search criteria shall be determined in the following screen. The search attributes that shall be selected depend on the definitions laid down in the metadata databases. In the Attributes list box the user shall find the different definitions. These attributes can then be combined using Boolean logic in order to make the query more precise.
  MD15.COP After a successful query the user shall view a list of results. Here short descriptions of the queried cultural objects are given. The window on the bottom of the interface shows the number of records found in each selected database.
  MD16.COP The electronic image of the queried object shall be viewed in different renditions
  MD17.COP This interface shall show how the descriptions of the objects might change according to the various types of objects searched
  MD18.COP The user shall have the possibility to view the retrieved object in full screen size
  MD19.COP This screen shot depicts the starting of a new search using a subject heading term for the query ('Gotik'). The small window appearing in the near centre of the screen shows that the display of records resulting from the query should be restricted in number (4) and that not more than 50 corresponding GRS (Generic Record Syntax) elements should be displayed
  MD20.COP Again a list of resulting records, this time limited to the pre-determined amount, together with a short object description will be displayed
  MD21.COP These records shall be viewed in different renditions, as well
  MD22.FUN The metadatabase shall display basic information on property rights and acquisition modalities (e.g auction date)
  MD23.FUN The metadatabase shall allow for simulatneous parallel searching of diverse servers
  MD24.FUN A knowledgebase co-ordinates distributed search of diverse servers
  MD25.FUN The knowledgebase recognises the relevant servers

  The requirements that the component implement are:

  • MI1.FUN The Multilingual Inter-operability shall have the possibility to query any information world-wide independent of language knowledge
  • MI2.FUN The Multilingual Inter-operability shall get results in the user's native language
  • MI3.FUN Have multimedia products in a multi-lingual format and in addition derived products which are linguistically correct
  • MI4.FUN The Multilingual inter-operability shall have :
  • multilingual presentation
  • individual archives and catalogues
  • standardisation
  • correct linguistic references
  • MI5.FUN The multilingual inter-operability shall use standards for Computer Interchange of Museum Information (see http://www.cni.org/pub/CIMI)
  • MI6.FUN The multilingual inter-operability shall manage the Cultural heritage information by using existing standards
  • MI7.FUN The multilingual inter-operability shall have the following features :
  • Information on charging protection and efficient control of intellectual property rights and copyright
  • Education in cross media publishing
  • Support in cross media publishing
  • Conversion facilities for different MM types
  • Compression and decompression tools
  • Services of the "Cultural Heritage Information Provider" (high quality colour prints, 3d digital or solid models) ; an international data interchange on special technical problems and
  • devices (e.g. light, humidity) ;...
  • MI8.FUN The multilingual query shall pre-process the user's query
  • MI9.FUN The multilingual query shall receive a list of matching terms in the source language
  • MI10.FUN The multilingual query shall translate the list of matching terms into a list of terms in the user's language
  • MI11.FUN The multilingual query shall display the list on the user's interface
  • MI12.FUN The system shall allow a thesaurus matching
  • MI13.FUN The system shall allow a thesaurus translation
  • MI14.FUN The system shall use a multilingual thesaurus

  Function Server

  The distributed database has the following functions:
  1. Support existing standards as CIMI …
  2. Support link management

  The Metadatabase, Search Engine & Agent has the following functionality:
  1. retrieve the information, hours, costs and accessibility to museums, archaeological areas ...
  2. a work arts catalogue
  3. locate the artworks
  4. update the catalogue links
  5. the access to the client is done by using a proper interface (form)

  This Multilingual & Interoperability the following functionality:
  1. access to query any information world-wide independent of language knowledge
  2. get queries results in user’s native language
  3. have multimedia products in a multi-lingual format
  4. have inter-operability using standards CIMI
  5. a thesaurus function for matching and translation

  Function Client

  The distributed database has the following functions:

  1. search client part to connect with the server
  2. a central search utility
  3. possibility to access to several data collection

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  H/W: Server, LAN
  S/W: CIMI server, CIMI client, Local database, standards ODBC, CORBA refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse) pag. 46 - 47

  Reference Tools

  Refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse)

   

   

  Processing/IPO Performances

  

  

  The Entities Relation diagrams shows the CIMI database structure

   

  With reference to the figure 4:
  The metadatabase maintains records for multiple agencies. It permits the input and management of metadata records and functions as middleware between the user client and the distributed servers. What makes possible this uniform information search and retrieval is the use of a common protocol (Z39.50). In the basic search and retrieval model the user can search just one pre-selected server at a time.

  A user client part contain the software to connect with the CSC sever. The server has a specific part to communicate with any of the remote database to connect with. Each remote database has a part to interface with the structure of its database.

  Data Structure

  Refer to the [AD 3] Requirements Definition Document, Annex 1: The CIMI profile
  Refer to the [AD 3] Requirements Definition Document, Annex 2: Metadata Categories

  Quality

  Refer to the [AD 2] Target User Profile Specification, paragraph 3.2.4

  Figure 4 : Architecture of a Search&Retrieval System based on Z39.50 where distributed searching is possible (CIMIzit current model)

  The present CIMIzit model allows for simultaneous parallel searching of diverse specialised servers. Before starting the search process the user has to determine which servers he/she wants to search for information.

  

   

  4.2 Cultural On-Line Browser

  Figure 5 : The Cultural On-line Browser Interface

  

  
  

  Figure 6 : The Cultural on-line Browser Client software layers

  Cultural on-line Browser
  Commercial Browsers
  CIMI client	Plug-ins
  Operating System

   

  Purpose

  The requirements that the component implement are:

  The Cultural on-line Browser shall

  • CB1.FUN have an easy and low-cost navigational access, which allows the interchange of information among educational and art institutions and the hyper-media navigation in different kind of work of art and history.
  • CB2.FUN have a trans-European framework for ‘virtual’ access to museums, art galleries
  • CB3.FUN provide an access by appropriate links to other works of the same author
  • CB4.FUN allow multimedia debates on different topics:
  • CB5.FUN be able to retrieve administrative data such as opening hours, costs and accessibility to museums, archaeological areas
  • CB6.FUN be able to perform hyper-media navigation and surfing directly from home providing basic information
  • CB7.FUN be able to access from home to prepare a guided tour.
  • CB8.FUN have the ability to buy products highly informative to illustrate the contents in detail,
  • CB9.FUN have a national and trans-European platform for presentation, promotion and advertising,
  • CB10.FUN allow the data retrieve without damage the material filed while maintaining a high consultation level. Reduce the research time and allow a free hyper-textual
  • CB11.FUN manage the remote services requested of the duplication and research type
  • CB12.FUN support in structured electronic indexing of different media types (books, off-line media - like CD-ROM, on-line media - like URLs, data bases).
  • CB13.FUN allow comprehensive interchange and co-operation between libraries and cultural heritage centres (e.g. information on books on exhibition or collection topics)
  • CB14.FUN be to acquire high quality images,
  • CB1.COP have complete information on juridical and organisational matters and copyrights and ownership (IPR) management/accounting. Watermarking of images
  • CB15.FUN have the possibility to advertise their products (through a multi-media database) and electronic sales
  • CB16.FUN be able to find interlocutors
  • CB17.FUN All the examples of graphic user interfaces for distributed search shall be based on the layout presented in the ongoing work of the CIMI Z39.50 Interoperability Testbed. These interfaces will have to be adapted to MOSAIC needs.
  • CB18.FUN The user interface shall allow thematic search. The main mandatory fields that must be managed are : time period, location,. Meta-data kind (type of artwork, author,..).
  • CB19.FUN After a successful query a list of matching records shall be displayed. The related images are shown in thumbnail format, the local number is given and a short description of the retrieved object is attached to it. A mouse click on the underlined record number allows the user to retrieve more information on this record.
  • CB20.FUN This screen shot shall show the mask presenting more detailed information on the retrieved record. On the bottom of the screen shall be found the URLs linking to the display of the different rendition sizes of the image.
  • CB21.FUN The retrieved image might, as well, be viewed in full screen size.
  • CB22.FUN Support of different data structures for presenting and exchanging information

  Function Server

  This component supply the following functionality’s:
  1. Receive the clients query request and activate them (Query engine)
  2. CIMI query engine

  Function Client

  This component supply the following functionality’s:
  1. an easy hyper-media navigation and surfing access in different kind of art work and history showing to the users a graphical interface with a geographical approach based on the layout of the CIMI Z39.50 Inter-operability test-bed
  2. access to appropriate links to other works of the same author
  3. thematic queries
  4. multilingual approach
  5. temporal approach
  6. multimedia debates on different cultural topics
  7. retrieve of generic information such opening hours, costs and accessibility to museums, meteo news, cultural events...
  8. the possibility of guided tours
  9. the possibility to buy products by electronic sales
  10. the possibility to acquire high quality images
  11. respect of the existing juridical and copyrights law with management of IPR
  12. watermarking of images
  13. advertising of cultural products
  14. display of the matching records

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  H/W: PC Clients
  S/W: The client station has to be equipped by a multimedia kit, Plug-in, CIMI Clients

  Reference Tools

  Cultural On-Line Browser

  Processing/IPO Performances

  It accept the following inputs from the user

  • themes: to activate the geographical interface and the thematic queries on given period of time
  • news: to access to same useful internet links to access to information
  • events: where the CSC publishing team inserts the cultural events regarding the CSC, or other initiative inserting useful web links
  • marketing: where the CSC publishing team inserts info for the advertising & promotion of the CSC activities
  • CIMI resources: to connect at the CIMI sites and retrieval services
  • other search engines: where it is possible to find link to other search engines to the cultural heritage on the web
  • meteo/tourist: links to meteo information provider and tourist information sources

  The results are displayed on geographic map or in text format. The geographical query could be activated by using the map interface choosing the country of interest

  Data Structure

  Z39.50 standard, HTML data formatting, internal data structure, latitude and longitude

  Quality

  Refer to the [AD 2] Target User Profile Specification, paragraph 3.2.4

   

   

  5. CSC Components Description

  
  

  5.1 CSC Organisation, Publishing Team, Promotion & Advertising

  Figure 7 : CSC Organisation

  

   

  Figure 8 : CSC Organisation Tools Infrastructures

  

   

  Purpose

  The requirements that the component implement are:

  CO1.INF The CSC organisation shall foreseen the following profiles:

  • CSC director
  • Marketing Director
  • Curator
  • Operative staff (researchers, system administrator, network manager, multimedia operator, tutor ,VR navigator, publishing team,....)
  CO2.INF the CSC organisation shall foreseen three directive profiles: the CSC director, the Marketing Director and the Curator
  CO3.INF The CSC director shall be responsible of all the CSC activity
  CO4.INF The Marketing Director that has in charge to increase the number of users and the supplied services of the CSC
  CO5.INF The Curator that shall have in charge the two following tasks :
  • manage the temporary and permanent aspects to better answer to the user requests and their needs
  • assure the respect of the local laws for the public fruition of the services and the infrastructures
  CO6.INF The Operative staff shall have in charge to perform all the CSC activities
  CO7.INF It shall be produced a status progress report to inform the Mosaic organisation of problems, risks analysis and business plan

  The CSC management
  CO8.INF shall guarantee the utilisation of CSC profits to promote the cultural wealth
  CO9.INF guarantee the management of the rental contract, the clients relationships, the fees gathering from the sites open to the public
  CO10.INF guarantee the Mosaic agreements in the area of responsibilities
  

  The Publishing Team
  PT1.FUN shall maintains the CSC operativity
  PT2.FUN analyse the users access permission to the services of the CSC
  PT3.FUN analyse the Tools, Services and Forum access to produce statistics
  PT4.FUN acquire and elaborate raw multimedia data as images from scanner, sounds, video, text.
  PT5.FUN manage the selling of images via on-line sale service in respect of current regulations and within agreements of IPR
  PT6.FUN manage the home page for institutions, museums ... linked to the CSC or hosted by the CSC
  PT7.FUN manage the use of CSC infrastructures and workshop organisation
  PT8.FUN manage the production and diffusion of promotion and advertising materials
  PT9.FUN create new products to be introduced in the market
  PT10.FUN support the curator during the creation of new exhibitions

  The Promotion and Advertising
  PA1.FUN shall promote events to publicise the Mosaic activities and its CSCs
  PA2.FUN shall prepare sites to present Mosaic and its activities
  PA3.FUN shall prepare advertising materials to promote Mosaic activities and the CSCs
  PA4.FUN activity shall be based on a marketing approach with the main goal to assure services to a well defined list of clients. The promotion activities shall use both traditional and technological approach
  PA5.FUN activity shall promote initiatives prevalently on the network using tool able to stimulate the audience of a large public. The network shall assure the primaries services for the advertising (virtual show in VRML and documents on internet)

  Function Server

  The CSC organisation supply the following functionality:
  1. CSC director is responsible of all CSC activity
  2. Marketing director having in charge the goal to increase the CSC activity
  3. Curator having in charge to manage temporary and permanent aspects of the CSC (from a cultural point of view) and assure the respect of local laws
  4. Operative Staff having in charge to assure the operativity of the CSC. The Operative Staff shall be composed by Executors and a Publishing team (researchers, editors, graphics, programmers, system manager and educators)

  The Publishing Team shall supply the following functionality:
  1. maintain the CSC operativity
  2. manage the users access permission
  3. produce statistics on Tools, Services and Forum access
  4. elaborate raw data (images, text, sound) to produce multimedia products
  5. produce and disseminate advertising material
  6. support the curator during new exhibition creation
  7. support to visitors in infrastructures

  The Operative Staff shall supply the following functionality:
  1. manage and the security of all the infrastructures
  2. manage the operativity of the air conditioning system
  3. activate the simultaneous translation service
  4. assure all the services in the CSC

  The Promotion and Advertising supply the following functionality:
  1. promote events to publicise Mosaic activities and its CSC
  2. prepare sites to present Mosaic and its activities
  3. prepare advertising material to promote Mosaic and its activities
  4. marketing approach for promotion prevalently on network

  Function Client

  1. Help desk to towards admitted peoples in the CSC
  2. Localise the data
  3. Thematic forum management and request management

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  • Human resources: CSC director, Marketing director, Curator, Operative Staff i.e. Executors and Publishing team (researchers, editors, graphics, programmers, system manager and educators)
  • Technical resources: Marketing Products (See [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse), Graphics PC, Multimedia PC, Scanners, Printers, External memory storage (disk array), Tape unit for back-up, LAN network, CD-ROM mastering unit

    Reference Tools

    Refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse) S/W: Telepay, Watermarking tools, Image Encription, IEAK, Flashpix, Lightscape, Macromedia Flash2, Macromedia Shockwave, VRML-Editor, HTML-Editor, Dynamic HTML-Editor, Kudo Image Publisher, DynaWeb, Dynatext, Turist Tutor, ModelMaker, 3DRAW, MicroScribe 3D, Cyberware 3D scanner

    For the security aspects, the products of MegaItalia cover all the most important issues: access check, fire check, acoustic alarms, videocameras … (see http://www.megaitalia.it)

    Processing/IPO Performances

    The CSC organisation shall be structured as in the following:

    1. CSC director is responsible of all CSC activity. He manages all the CSC activities, the Marketing director and Curator activity
    2. Marketing director having in charge the goal to increase the CSC activity with cultural events agreed together with the curator, the dissemination of brochures and gadgets. Its main target is to increase the economic revenue of the CSC activities, stipulates agreements with private users and institutions
    3. Curator has in charge the managing and the valorisation of cultural wealth; he shall increase the quality of the CSC activities and of all production like brochure and gadgets. He is the consultant from a "contents" point of view.
    4. Operative Staff shall be composed by Executors and a Publishing team (researchers, editors, graphics, programmers, system manager and educators) having in charge to assure the operativity of the CSC by performing all the managing and production activity in the CSC. The operative staff has in charge the logical organisation of the CSC, the managing of the production tools, the maintenance of the CSC.

    The Publishers Team is a part of the CSC Operative Staff.
    It is managed by the Curator. This team has in charge to operate with information technologies to maintain operative the CSC services (access permission, tools services and forum access, raw data elaboration to produce multimedia products, disseminate advertising material, support the curator for exhibition creation, management of the security of all the infrastructures. The security is a very important issue: the check of the access, the check of fire, )

    The Promotion & Advertising component has in charge to produce advertising material about the CSC and to promote its activities. By the information technologies could be produced gadgets (brochures, souvenirs, T-shirts, posters, documents, coupons, magazines...)

    Data Structure

    Raw data (images, audio, text), synthesis data for monitor & control and research

    Quality

    The people in the CSC organisation shall have appropriate experience in the field of Marketing, Cultural Wealth and Information Technology. Publishing Team Guidelines for the Web Design are under: http://www.de.infowin.org/ANALYSYS/PRODUCTS/HANDBOOK/acts_hb_5.html

     

    The security & control is a very important aspect in the managing of a CSC. The following diagram shows the main security aspect and the relationship as from some products distributed by MegaItalia (source: MegaItalia http://www.megaitalia.com).

    Figure 9 : Security & Control

    

     

    Figure 10 : Restoration & Conservation

    

    
    

    5.2 Basic Services & Thematic Forum (Services)

  Purpose

  The requirements that the component implement are:

  • BS1.ACM The accounting shall be managed by specific tools to control the user access permission. A secure electronic payment service shall be guaranteed by society enabled to interact electronically with the banking system
  • BS2.ACM The virtual shop shall be managed. The image below illustrates a flow example of this management. In this case from the shop holder point of view, to became a TELEpay user it is necessary to sign a contract with CREDIT which informs CINECA to create the virtual shop, then CINECA informs the Sì (Visa-Mastercard) society which assigns the POS code and, finally, the SSB entitles the shop to start.
  • SE1.FUN A tool for encryption of pix-maps shall be provided. Infact, it allows the scrambling of arbitrary areas of a picture. This method is also known as the marking of a picture with a digital scar. It is able to scramble arbitrary areas while leaving the image in a format which can still be imported by common viewers. The original data of the scrambled regions is appended to the image file. It can be restored using a software key which serve as a password. The tool has to provide several alternatives for substituting the scrambled area in the picture. They range from simple substitution with a black rectangle to more complex techniques
  • SE2.FUN The tool shall be designed for use in distributed environments in order to allow hierarchical access to image data
  • SE3.FUN The scrambled areas are embedded in the image file through the use of so called application extension blocks of the image format. To provide confident security, the substituted data will be DES-encrypted before being stored in the extension block. This allows the user to chose a key among 256 possible keys.
  • SE4.FUN The tool shall run under several O.S. using standard GIF and JPEG.
  • CP1.FUN The copyright label shall be perceptually invisible
  • CP2.FUN There shall not be loss of relevant information of the original data
  • CP3.FUN The retrieval of embedded copyright labels shall not need the original data
  • CP4.FUN It shall be compatible with JPEG/MPEG standards and shall be efficiently implemented in codecs at real-time
  • CP5.FUN the copyright label shall only be read by using a secret key
  • CP6.FUN the copyright label shall be robust against lossy compression, format conversions, low-pass filtering, colour reduction, and cropping
  • CP7.FUN It shall be repeated (redundant) labelling (to increase the robustness of the embedded label)
  • CP8.FUN hierarchical labelling (to track and identify copyright transaction chain)
  • CP9.FUN regional labelling (i.e. a label can be embedded within or outside a specific region of multimedia data)
  • CP10.FUN public copyright labelling (i.e. a label is embedded in such a way that anybody can read it without secret key)
  • CP11.FUN flexible adjustment between robustness, perceptual noticeability, and copyright label size
  • CP12.FUN various easy-to-use interfaces, including graphical user interfaces, (batching-oriented) commands, a simplified API, and a Wide World Web service
  • CP13.FUN an easy secret key management
  • CS1.FUN access control to prevent distribution of images to users without authorisation
  • CS2.FUN a system for copyright protection that protects the images from illegal copying after they have been received by the customer. A secure protocol to transfer data from the distributor to the user
  • CS3.FUN
  • A secure access system shall use the WWW for image distribution, the reference client used will be a navigator plug-in. Available services for the customer shall be:
  • decryption,
  • saving and printing of an image.
  • CS4.FUN For all services the client shall send a request to allow the server to register user’s activity. The public key has to be distributed to the server to establish an user account. All the messages from the security service plug-in to the server shall be signed with the private key of the user to accomplish irrefutability. Key exchange from the server to the client is secured by the encryption module with the user’s public key. Printing and saving of the picture by Browser Navigator itself shall be disabled by the plug-in. Every action of the user can only be performed by using the control panel of the plug-in.
  • TR1.FUN The training system shall use the World Wide Web technology for transmission and presentation of and interaction with sophisticated CBT courses. The CSC network will facilitate on-line access to training-courses, provide on and off line support for authoring and training as well as administration
  • TR2.FUN Training system shall support authors to produce cost-effective courseware of quality by co-operative editing of courseware between different authors, multiple use and re-use of proved material or templates and flexible configuration of courses. Through the intelligent success control the course could be adapted individually dependent on the user behaviour. Learners will have access to remote experts for consulting
  • TR3.FUN Each CSC shall offer its training facilities to registered users, it administrates access rights to courseware, assigns experts for consultation and helps the formation of virtual learning group. The CSC will be responsible for guaranteeing the quality of new courseware made available to the entire CSC by their local authors and it is the owner of a distinct subset of the distributed courseware domain.
  • TR4.FUN The training system shall combine the up to date CBT features with Internet technology to satisfy the important pedagogical and didactic demands with its concepts of modularity and adaptability. The quality of courseware production has to be improved by using small, self contained, easy to update courseware components

  The Forum shall:

  TF1.FUN have a number of active topics to guarantee several parallel debates
  TF2.FUN shown the list of messages with the newest on top for each topic
  TF3.FUN have the possibility to create new topics, sent message, reply to a message. Each user could be use its native language
  TF4.FUN have a browsing functionality
  TF1.OPE be created and managed by special users with the administrative tools

  Function Server

  The Thematic Forum supplies the following functionality:

  1. System administration function for the forum
  2. Forum topics and messages can be edited via the administrative tools
  3. The NetForum site can be administered by a site administrator
  4. Paper printing
  5. Photo quality reproduction
  6. 3D movie playing
  7. 3D object creation and showing
  8. digitalisation
  9. merchandising

  Function Client

  The Basic Services the following functionality:

  1. accounting management
  2. pix-maps encryption
  3. virtual-shop
  4. digital watermarking with invisible copyright label compatible with JPEG/MPEG standards and accessible by a secret key (more than one label could be impressed in the file to increase robustness of watermarking)
  5. training systems based on the World Wide Web technology

  The Thematic Forum supply the following functionality:

  1. Offering a number of active topics to have parallel debates
  2. Creating new topics, sent message, replay to a message
  3. Having browsing functionality

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  CSC Publishing Team Hardware/Software

  Reference Tools

  Telepay, Watermarking, HTML-Editor, paper printing, photo quality reproduction, 3D movie playing, 3D object creating and showing, digitalisation, merchandising, Netforum, Altavista Forum

  Refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse)

  Processing/IPO Performances

  The watermarking allows non visible label insertion on the image to guarantee the copyrights. The access to the label shall be possible after the digitisation of a secret key to enable the label reading/modification

  The Telepay service has the following dependencies:
  for the buyer:

  • download the plug-in from the SSB site http://telepay.ssb.net/adesione2/.The plug-in allows to exchange criptographed data on internet. A password avoid its improper use.
  • The payment are possible by the use of a VISA/MASTERCARD credit card. No additional cost are foreseen
  • Cost for each transaction
  
  for the seller:
  • Subscribe a contract with CINECA to open a virtual shop
  • has to be client of the Credito Italiano bank.
  • has a contract of physical POS with Credito Italiano
  • subscribe a contract of Virtual POS with Credito Italiano
  • Cost to set up the virtual shop
  • Cost to rent for a year a virtual POS

  The basic service shall allow paper printing in several formats, photo reproduction and elaboration, 3D object creation/modification and showing, image digitalisation

  Data Structure

  Intenal data for the thematic forum

  Quality

  Refer to the [AD 2] Target User Profile Specification, paragraph 3.2.4

   

   

  5.3 Archiving Tool (Tools)

  Purpose

  The requirements that the component implement are:

  The archiving tool shall

  • AV1.FUN should support documentation
  • AV2.FUN shall support administration
  • AV3.FUN speed up administration and documentation
  • AV4.FUN allow for parallel electronic documentation
  • AV5.FUN allow simultaneous scientific preparation
  • AV6.FUN be adaptable to museum size

  The archiving tool shall have the following functions in administration:

  • AV7.FUN Registration
  • AV8.FUN Inventory
  • AV9.FUN Deposit
  • AV10.FUN Taking Stock
  • AV11.FUN Conservation
  • AV12.FUN Assessment
  • AV13.FUN Insurance
  • AV14.FUN Packing
  • AV15.FUN Exhibition
  • AV16.FUN Loan
  • AV17.FUN Data Exchange

  The archiving tool shall have the following functions in documentation:

  • AV18.FUN Cataloguing
  • AV19.FUN Thesaurus
  • AV20.FUN Subject Cataloguing
  • AV21.FUN Literature
  • AV22.FUN AV-Media

  The archiving tool shall have the following functions for co-operation with other standard application:

  • AV23.FUN Processing of sound
  • AV24.FUN Processing of images
  • AV25.FUN Processing of films
  • AV26.FUN Scanning of diverse material
  • AV27.FUN Geographical Information Systems
  • AV28.FUN Work Flow Systems (document movement)
  • AV29.FUN Processing of Documents

  Function Server

  Gives support for the network management

  Function Client

  This component supply the following functionality:

  1. support to the documentation for cataloguing, thesaurus, subject cataloguing, literature
  2. support to the administration for registration, inventory, deposit, conservation
  3. support to the processing of sounds, images, films, documents

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  CSC Publishing Team Hardware/Software

  Reference Tools

  Refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse)
  IMDAS, DigitalBox, Highway, XML/SGML-Editor, NetForum, EmbARK, MCMS

  Processing/IPO Performances

  The archiving tools shall be used by the Publishing Team. They shall allow the raw data acquisition (their digitalisation by using scanners, their correction, organisation and storage on local databases. The archiving tool shall run on the Publishing Team Hardware/Software Platform

  Data Structure

  CIMI, Internal archive of the tool, CORBA and ODBC standards supported

  Quality

  Refer to the [AD 2] Target User Profile Specification, paragraph 3.2.4

   

   

  5.4 Application & Market Products

  Purpose

  The requirements that the component implement are:

  • GP1.FUN The graphic product shall be able to operate on images acquired from a large variety of devices such scanners and digital cameras (supporting the TWAIN interface)
  • GP2.FUN The graphic product shall have an enhanced user interface (easy zooming and scrolling of big images, continuous zooming…
  • GP3.FUN The graphic product shall have multiple layers management to allow the overlay of images, texts, graphics to add and remove views and eventually hide particulars
  • GP4.FUN The graphic product shall have a set of filters (at least image sharpening, distortions, colour correction ...)
  • GP5.FUN The graphic product shall allow digital watermarking (possibility to insert a not easy to see copyright signature detected and displayed by the tool)
  • GP6.FUN The graphic product shall be able to manage a large variety of images formats (at least gif, jpg, tiff, bmp, eps, pdf, png, pcx , ...)
  • GP1.OPE The graphic product shall be able to run on the most diffused operating systems like McIntosh platform and Apple system software, Pentium platform and Windows/Windows-NT system software.
  • VP1.FUN The video product shall have an editing functionality to display filmstrip with variable zooming and also showing single-frames.
  • VP2.FUN The video product shall have an intuitive interface with folders to organise materials, icons ..
  • VP3.FUN The video product shall have special effect (al least : twisting, zooming, rotation ...
  • VP4.FUN The video product shall have the possibily to support Apple QuickTime and Microsoft Video for Windows format or third-party compression format
  • VP5.FUN The video product shall have links to high end video equipment and it should support high quality audio (16-bit and 44 kHz) and shall support several frame/second editing (at least from 24 to 30 frame/second)
  • DA1.FUN The system shall acquire and manage complex data set coming from special acquisition equipment’s like HiRes colour scanners, 3D scanners, aero & satellite images, etc in order to provide images and models.
  • DA2.FUN The system shall exploit advanced stereoscopic techniques, in order to recover the 3-D shape of the imaged scene. Image features are localised on the available views and then a stereo-matching procedure is carried out, taking into account for the optical and geometrical parameters of the cameras.
  • AP1.FUN The application area shall support the following activities and services related to the museum needs
  • AP2.FUN Database Building for creating records, editing, deleting
  • AP3.FUN Information retrieval for accessing stored information
  • AP4.FUN Business Transactions for electronic data interchange
  • AP5.FUN Messaging for messaging services (e-mail, conferencing, document exchange)
  • AP6.FUN File Transfer for binary transfer (exchange of scientific data, data migration, media exchange)
  • AP7.FUN Document Handling for document processing (correspondence, co-operative publishing, research)
  • AP8.FUN Real-time Links machine-to-machine (interactive training, interactive exhibits, monitoring)
  • SH1.FUN In case there is no home page the consortium will provide one and introduce it in the on-line culture browser. With this action the museum improves its world visibility
  • PC1.FUN The multiple use of information needs to be supported by cross media publishing for the media print, CD-ROM, WWW, digital TV. Two labs are available, one for prepress and new media, the other for multimedia publishing.
  • CM1.FUN good readability of print media,
  • CM2.FUN good archiving and printing capabilities of PDF and SGML
  • CM3.FUN actuality and interactivity of HTML and XML documents
  • CM4.FUN good presentation quality of CD-ROM based multimedia applications (including embedded sound, video, and animation).
  • MU1.FUN
  • MU2.FUN The CD-Rom titles applications shall satisfy the standard requirements as stated in [WORK PACKAGE 1400 : Target User Profile Specification ]
  • MU3.FUN The main quality requirement for a good multimedia product, are
  • Easy consultation
  • Richness of functionality’s
  • Multi-lingual and correct lingual speaking
  • Quality of images, sounds and texts
  • Quality of scenario
  • Richness of materials
  • Guarantee the correctness of the multimedia information
  • Respect the IPR rules and copyright law
  • Balancing the multimedia information by emphasising the hyper-textual technologies
  • Clearly define the sources of the materials (images, text, video,..) and the related date
  • Subsets of a catalogue, showing only highlights might also be offered
  • Credits clearly mentioned
  • ID1.FUN The Web site should have features of versatility and flexibility for an easy approach and a quick upgrade
  • ID2.FUN it should be multi-lingual supports to read or retrieve information, not only in English but also in other languages.
  • ID3.FUN Create a virtual catalogue or show of the new event (temporary exhibition, workshops, cultural events, graphical interfaces in order to have an easy
  • ID4.FUN Guarantee the correctness of the information
  • ID5.FUN One current trendes is to sell space on home-page to others companies
  • ID6.FUN The search should not work only on text, but mainly by mean of geographic interfaces in order to have an easy and interactive approach
  • VR1.FUN The CSC shall support the production of VR Museums, Exposition in immerse environment, Virtual reality Universities for education on Cultural Heritage
  • VR2.FUN The main quality requirement for a good Virtual Reality application, are
  • Viewers can examine objects in the same ways as in the real world: by walking around and moving relative to the objects and also by manipulating objects to get a better look at them.
  • Objects can be selected and then acted upon. Depending on the current mode, the selected object can be:
  • Manipulated (e.g. rotated and moved)
  • Mutated
  • Mated another object (also known as crossover)
  • Saved to a file for future reference
  • Refined (re-rendered much larger and with higher grid resolution)
  • Make the shapes comprehensible (the two sides of each surface are differently coloured ...)
  • Create an higher resolution application able to represent and reconstruct a cultural theme :
  • application that bring together rare pieces, which one could not move: e.g. the complete works of major artists such as Raphael
  • or that sites which are too sensitive to sustain large crowds of visitors such as the Tomb of Nefertari or the cave at Lascaux.
  • for the sites and objects which have become ruins such as the Roman Forum, concerning the original state of which there are a series of competing theories.
  • Having the supervision and the certification of a scientific commission with a proven knowledge into the specific theme.
  • Use of infinite resolution techniques in order to increase the scientific value of the application
  • VD1.FUN The Video applications shall satisfy the existing industrial ‘de facto’ standards
  • VD2.FUN The Video applications shall satisfy the standard requirements as stated in [WORK PACKAGE 1400 : Target User Profile Specification]
  • VS1.FUN The production of virtual set for thematic television network channel
  • VS2.FUN The production of virtual set for publicity on TV network
  • DP1.FUN Production of posters, brochure, T-shirt for cultural heritage events or workshop
  • DP2.FUN Production of catalogues related to temporary or permanent expositions
  • CA1.FUN Management and selling of cultural heritage objects present into the catalogues linked to Mosaic

  Function Server

  This component supply the following functionality:

  1. Support the development of new products and applications
  2. Allow the updating of all the data bank contents
  3. Schedule the modification on the products

  Function Client

  This component supply the following functionality:

  1. tools for development of applications or raw data elaboration in the Mosaic CSC (an image processor, a video editor, a tool for formats and palettes conversion, 3D environment assembler)

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  CSC Publishing Team Hardware/Software

  Reference Tools

  Refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse)
  Equilibrium deBabelizer, MultiGenII, GameGen, Alias, Softimage, CosmoStudio, Oxygen, ClarusEon, Macromedia Director

  Processing/IPO Performances

  The Application & Market Products shall be used to: convert raw data to produce and elaborate graphic materials, video products, to manage the file transfert, to produce multimedia products on CD-ROMs, to create web sites, to create Virtual Reality applications by producing sophisticated 3D models, to create virtual sets and the Promotion & Advertising material for prochures, documentations, coupons, images, audio and video files

   

  Furthermore the creation of a virtual space dedicated to television production (virtual studio) can introduce actors or particular puppets (character animation) who in the three-dimensional synthetic dominion may present the line of products live on Internet (broadcasting) or on special television shows (debates, thematic spaces, ...) or create adverts, documentaries and anything else concerning the virtual content present in the Cultural Service Center.

  Another possibility is to allow the remote visitors to choose the camera/cameras position (through a booking) and to change the visual space to look for VIPs or particular circumstances characterizing the exposition space.

  Internet technology together with an eye on the CSC can allow to extend the entire initiative to the virtual public consequently increasing the number of spectators present. During this vision adverts may be placed on particular areas of the screen.

  Another aspect of the Internet site is made up of the multimedia management of the line of products which can open spaces for sales or communication through push technology of updating subjects selected for distributors or general public.

  

   

  The suggested approach for the derivated line production, can be mainly summarised as follows :

  • creation of the VR application
  • reuse of the VR application model and context for creation of new technological products (i.e. CD-ROM, VRML, Virtual Set, ....)
  • reuse of the VR contents to generate Video or animation for post-production
  • reuse of VR image or scenography to create products like posters, T- shirts, ...
  • reuse of VR application graphical design to create gadget

  In particular, for the technological point of view, we believe that the course to take is multiple:

  • related or new fascinating Virtual Reality application
  • divulge/promote WEB application
  • divulge/promote CD-ROM application
  • divulge/promote Virtual set application

  All of these technological derivated products can generate another series of promotional publicity (derived products: T-shirts, video,etc.) able to widely penetrate and attract the majority of people whereby the virtual reality audio-visual room can stupefy.

  Data Structure

  Internal data structures mainly based on the CORBA and ODBC standard

  Quality

  Refer to the [AD 2] Target User Profile Specification, paragraph 3.2.4

   

   

   

  5.5 Virtual Exhibitor (Tools)

  VEX is a tool that allows to plan, design and build an exhibition down to the last detail without actually moving or touching any of the exhibits. All that is required are images (slides, prints, etc.) of the items to be exhibited.

  

   

  It is made of several independent modules: the 3D VEX Modeler, the 3D VEX Picture Maker, the 3D VEX Expo Build, the 3D VEX Expo Print, the 3D VEX Show Module (see processing IPO for more details)

  VEX hardware requirements have been kept to a minimum in order to make the tool affordable to a wide variety of users. It runs on a Silicon Graphics O2 - the smallest and cheapest SGI graphic machine available today - or better.

  Purpose

  The requirement that the component implement are:

  The Virtual Exhibitor shall
  VE1.FUN give the possibility to construct and simulate in 3D, through VR technology, an exhibit space
  VE2.FUN have at least two main functionality : design and show
  VE3.FUN be able to edit simple 3D representation of the exhibition environment to be showed
  VE4.FUN be able to insert in the 3D representation lights, doors, windows, floors, walls, ceiling, objects
  VE5.FUN have an user friendly human/computer interface to create the 3D room representation
  VE6.FUN The human/computer interface of the 3D modeler shall have a window with a milli-meter grid on which it is possible to draw the 2D map of the room. The 2D map shall be scaled respect the real room

  The 3D modeler shall
  VE7.FUN have the Load command to load a previously created exhibition environment (by the use of more sophisticated 3D Modelling tools like Multigen, Alias ...)
  VE8.FUN have the Import Object function to load previously created 2D representation (to be used in the map) and 3D representation for the objects preview
  VE9.FUN be able to create the frames and pictures inserted in the 3D representation

  The 3D Picture Module shall
  VE10.FUN automatically generates the whole information necessary to implement the infinite resolution technique, starting from an high resolution image
  VE11.FUN accept images in standard formats like (tiff, jpeg, gif ...)
  VE12.FUN be able to define the picture frame
  VE13.FUN be able to define for each frame some attributes like size, number of level of resolution, multimedia information (audio description) ...
  VE14.FUN have the possibility to associate the multimedia information to each frame

  The Virtual Exhibitor Authoring System shall
  VE15.FUN shall have the possibility to use all the data created by the 3D modeler module and the 3D picture module and to check their interaction
  VE16.FUN be able to load the 3D room representation previously created and all the frames that to be placed
  VE17.FUN be able to render high realism by inserting and switching-on and orient many lights on a single picture
  VE18.FUN be able to render high realism applying the infinite resolution technique for the pictures visualisation
  VE19.FUN be able to load a 3D representation previously created by the Authoring System

  The Virtual Exhibitor Show System shall
  VE20.FUN be able to freely navigate inside the 3D representation and to use the multimedia associated to each picture
  VE21.FUN be able to correct manage the texture memory to optimise the performances.

  Function Server

  Support for

  1. access to archive and objects
  2. advertising on internet
  3. mastering CD-ROMs

  Function Client

  It allows you to:

  • build your own exhibit space or model the one you already have;
  • hang your paintings within the space by literally moving them with your hands;
  • watch the result in 3D, move the exhibits around and check whether the result is what is needed;
  • move and rearrange the paintings as many times as you wish;
  • print out a plan with measurements ready for the exhibition riggers;
  • feed it to a screen or any 3D peripheral and show your virtual exhibition directly to the public with unbeatable 3D realism and superior graphic quality

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  H/W minimal configuration:

  • O2 R5000SC 180 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 2GB Disk
  • OpenGL Graphical Library
  • Interface device
  • Virtual Exhibitor Application (VEX)

  H/W great configuration:

  • Onyx2 IR Deskside, 2xR10000, 64 MB texture Memory,
  • DG4-2, 64 MB memory, 4.5 GB HD, TAPE, CDROM, ASO
  • Additional 64MB texture Memory
  • First 256 MB memory
  • OpenGL Graphical Library
  • Interface device
  • Virtual Exhibitor Application (VEX)

  Access to the use of CSC organisation tools

  Reference Tools

  VR Exhibitor
  Refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse)

  Processing/IPO Performances

  The processing of the virtual exhibitor is done by the following modules:

  • The 3D VEX Modeler: allows to import a plan, build a perimeter, build and add walls, doors and windows. Optional: Internet (from 3D model to VRML), Objects Gallery, Textures.
  • The 3D VEX Picture Maker: allows to import pictures and build frames. Optional: Infobyte's exclusive PICTEL technology, the highest quality of interactive image rendering available today (thanks to its "infinite resolution" feature you will be able to come as close as you wish to the exhibited objects. For example, you will be able to see every minute detail of a painting - its surface texture, painting brushes - in ways that are often not allowed in reality for security reasons), Multi Layers, Multimedia.
  • The 3D VEX Expo Build: allows to place and move pictures. Optional: Lights.
  • The 3D VEX Expo Print: allows to print the entire exhibition and /or a single part of it.
  • The 3D VEX Show Module: allows the user to move freely in the environment as he/she would move in reality

   

   

  The virtual exhibitor tour shall allow the conversion of raw data (images, audio, texts) from local archive or internet to produce: CD-ROM, Virtual Reality showrooms, advertising materials, video files, models for virtual sets. The virtual exhibitor shall allow to refine and modificate the 3D models

  Figure 11 : Virtual Exhibitor Processing

  

  Data Structure

  Local database, ODBC and supported CORBA tool, Multilayer Images, Infinite resolution Manipulation

  Quality

  Infinite resolution algorithm (PICTEL). For more detail refer to: [AD 2] Target User Profile Specification, paragraph 3.2.4

   

  5.6 Authoring Tool (Tools)

  Purpose

  The requirements that the component implement are:

  the Authoring Tool shall
  AT1.FUN be able to construct multimedia documents in a structured form
  AT2.FUN be able possibility to store those documents on a database
  AT3.FUN be able to publish those documents on Web, CD-ROM and print media

  The module shall be able to
  AT4.FUN edit simple text documents
  AT5.FUN insert on them multimedia files.
  AT6.FUN designing a structure for the document
  AT7.FUN stores the documents in a object-oriented manner
  AT8.FUN permit to different users to access and modify the documents
  AT9.FUN answer queries for a specific item
  AT10.FUN access to the local database with the archiving tool in CIMI standard
  AT11.FUN publish the multimedia documents on different media

  Function Server

  Local Network connection management and access to remote archives

  Function Client

  This component supply the following functionality:
  1. allow to construct multimedia documents in a structured form
  2. allow document storing in a database
  3. allow to publish this documents on Web, CD-ROM and print media
  4. allow to edit simple text document

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  See the CSC Organisation, Publishing team office tools

  Reference Tools

  AltavistaForum, Macromedia Flash 2, Macromedia Shockwave, VRML-Editor, ASP, HTML-Editor, Dynamic HTML-Editor, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premier, BCSW, Active Server Page, CASUS, Oxygen

  Processing/IPO Performances

  They shall allow the creation of images, photo refinement, web sites, video in a personalised way

  Data Structure

  Internal data or market Databases, Models formats (Inventor …)

  Quality

  Refer to the [AD 2] Target User Profile Specification, paragraph 3.2.4

   

  5.7 Training Room (Infrastructures)

  

  Purpose

  The requirements that the component implement are:

  The Training room
  TR1.INF shall be equipped of suitable furniture (chairs, desk ...)
  TR2.INF shall be equipped of white-board and screen and data projector
  TR3.INF shall be equipped of a suitable computer stations for multimedia applications
  TR4.INF courses shall be done by a Tutor or by Video-Conference
  TR5.INF shall be guarantee a simultaneous language translation services

  Function Server

  The Training Room, Video Conference and Workshops supply the following functionality:
  1. equipped of suitable furniture, white-board, screen and data projector
  2. equipped of multi-media computer stations
  3. equipped of a simultaneous translation services
  4. guarantee sites for academic debates
  5. access to Universities or remote Databases on education programmes or Other Educational Institutions Public or Private

  Function Client
  1. Execute training session
  2. Allows debate between partecipants

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  Multimedia PC, Printer, White board, Projector, Forniture, Telephon, Learning materials
  Support of the others Infrastructures

  Reference Tools

  VIP, Tourist Tutor, Crystal-Eyes, Barcographics 808S

  Processing/IPO Performances

  Activate learning courses both with tutor or with remote connection. Creation of thematic session.

  Data Structure

  Didactic material on electronic format, CD-ROM, internet, Slides

  Quality

  The tutor shall have appropriate experience to perform course and training

   

  5.8 Video Conference (Infrastructures)

  

  Purpose

  The requirements that the component implement are:
  VC1.INF The system shall meet the needs of education, learning, workshop and training

  The Video Conference shall
  VC2.INF be able to connect several sites at the same time (multi-conference, point-to-point, point-to-multi-point)
  VC3.INF guarantee TV and ISDN connection
  VC4.INF be managed by a technical staff to control the direction and recording of the video-conference
  VC5.INF manage the booking and accounting service for the teleconference resources usage
  VC6.INF be guarantee a simultaneous language translation and the services to support public
  VC7.INF supply equipment to present documents, video and slides
  VC8.INF be used also for remote teaching

  Function Server

  Function Client

  The Video Conference supplies the following functionality:
  1. equipped of suitable furniture (chairs, desk ...) white-board, screen and data projector
  2. equipped of multi-media computer stations
  3. equipped of a simultaneous translation services
  4. guarantee sites for academic debates
  

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  PC with LAN connection, s/w for teleconference, projector, screen

  Reference Tools

  VIP, Tourist Tutor, Crystal-Eyes, Barcographics 808S, NetMeeting, InPerson

  Processing/IPO Performances

  ISDN-file transfer using the Euro File Transfer standard T.70 is regarded as a key functionality of videoconferencing systems. The ISDN file transfer is an efficient and fast solution compared with Internet, which is often blocked. All recommended systems offer ISDN file transfer between products of the same brand during the video session.

  The most important criteria for the exchange of documents are:

  • background transfer (files are transferred without interfering with video call)
  • scalability of bandwidth (n*64kbit/s) (bandwidth can be allocated according to the size of the file to be transmitted)
  • lossless compression (the compression of video images so that when they are reassembled at the receiver's end, any loss of data is virtually undetectable by eye)
  • security for access and transfer
  • simultaneous transfer of more than one data file
  • clipboard transfer for parts of files

  Concerning the aspect of Videoconferencing the ACTS project INFOWIN has presented within a handbook on Communication Services (http://www.de.infowin.org/ANALYSYS/PRODUCTS/HANDBOOK/handbook.html). The chapter for videoconferencing (mentioned as co-operative work, which is still more than videoconferencing) you will find under http://www.de.infowin.org/ANALYSYS/PRODUCTS/HANDBOOK/acts_hb_3.3.html

  Data Structure

  Used communication protocols

  Quality

  For more detail refer to: [AD 2] Target User Profile Specification, paragraph 3.2.4

   

   

   

  5.9 Virtual Theatre, Workshops (Infrastructures)

  Figure 12: Virtual Theatre plant

  

  Figure 13: Virtual Theatre plant

  

  Purpose

  The requirements that the component implement are:
  The Virtual Theatre shall have
  VT1.INF a large screen (several meters)
  VT2.INF some projectors to cover the whole screen surface
  VT3.INF projector able to support the graphic resolution and the output frequencies of the workstation
  VT4.INF an interface device used to create a physical connection between users and the computer through which they interact with the images displayed

  VT5.INF The interface device shall be easy to be used also by not skilled people present in the theatre

  The Virtual Theatre shall have
  VT6.INF a workstation able to reproduce the virtual environment movements at least at a speed of 15-20 frame/s
  VT7.INF an audio reproduction system able to integrate the graphic reproduction with sound
  VT8.INF a workstation with a specific tool to realise virtual exhibitions
  VT9.INF a simultaneous language translation service

  WS1.FUN The CSC shall guarantee sites for academic debates on thematic topics
  WS2.FUN The support services shall guarantee:

  • advertising
  • reception and secretariat
  • support materials (phones, PCs, Audio supports, videos)
  • restoration service
  • transports service
  • public relation support
  • publication of workshop abstract
  • simultaneous language translation service

  Function Server

  1. Direction Room service
  2. Manage the Network connection

  Function Client

  The Virtual Theatre supply the following functionality:
  1. have large screen and projector able to support the large output frequency of the workstation 2. have interface device to create interactivity between users and the computer 3. have an high fidelity audio reproduction system 4. equipped of a simultaneous translation services

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  Virtual Theatre minimal configuration (1 channel projection)
  Workstation:
  Onyx2 IR Deskside, 2xR10000, 64 MB texture Memory, DG4-2, 64 MB memory, 4.5 GB HD, TAPE, CDROM, ASO, Additional 64MB texture Memory, First 256 MB memory
  Projector:
  Video-Projector 1280x1024, Analogic card, Kit to mount the screen (eventually), Screen 2x1.5 m
  Stereo Glasses:
  Stereo Graphic Emitter, Stereo Graphic Cristal Eyes
  Other material:
  W113 interface, Alphanumeric terminal, Modem, Joystick, Amplifier, 2 Speakers, Continuity Group, Cables

  Virtual Theatre maximal configuration (3 channel projection)
  Workstation:
  Onyx2 IR 3-pipe 8xR10000, 1GB RAM, 6x64KB Texture Memory, 9GB HD
  Projector:
  Video-Projector 1280x1024, Analogic card, Kit to mount the screen (eventually), Screen 6x2 m
  Stereo Glasses:
  Stereo Graphic Emitter, Stereo Graphic Cristal Eyes
  Other material:
  W113 interface, Alphanumeric terminal, Modem, Joystick, Amplifier, 2 Speakers, Continuity Group, Cables

  Reference Tools

  VIP, Tourist Tutor, Crystal-Eyes, Barcographics 808S

  Processing/IPO Performances

  The operator shall activate the virtual application on the workstation. By interacting with the device interface (joystick, flybox …) he can shows different aspects and point of views of the reconstructed environment to the peoples present in the virtual theatre. To have a complete 3D vision peoples could use Crystal eyes (special glasses) that present images to the viewers in high-resolution, full-colour in a stereoscopic virtual world

  Data Structure

  Internal data of Virtual Reality Application

  Quality

  Refer to the [AD 2] Target User Profile Specification, paragraph 3.2.4

   

   

  Multimedia Room (Infrastructures)

  Figure 14 : Multimedia Room

  

  Purpose

  The requirements that the component implement are:

  The multimedia room shall
  MR1.INF be equipped by working stations able to run multimedia application
  MR2.INF support the vision of multimedia application developed in the world and not easily accessible in the market
  MR3.INF Have multimedia products in a multi-lingual format and in addition derived products which are linguistically correct

  The multimedia room shall
  MR4.INF give to the students the possibility to use tools not easily accessible on the market and to do training on the job introducing itself in the work market
  MR5.INF be rental to little company with the target to develop innovative products in cultural wealth field
  MR6.INF be rental to profit company for training of professional profiles
  MR7.INF have an help desk service to assure the use of new multimedia products
  MR8.INF have access to the local multimedia archive by a local area network

  Function Server

  1. connection to the LAN
  2. access to local and remote archives

  Function Client

  The multimedia room supply the following functionality:
  1. allow to connect several sites at the same time
  2. allow the TV and ISDN connection
  3. allow the booking and accounting services
  4. allow a simultaneous language translation
  5. equipped to present documents, videos and slides
  6. allow remote teaching

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  Multimedia PCs, Local area network, Network concentrator, Router, Modems, Commercial Internet Browsers, Telephonic line, Restoration Area

  Reference Tools

  Netscape Communicator, Internet Explorer

  Processing/IPO Performances

  The service use a local LAN and a server that contain the multimedia catalog. The user with a card can work in such a room and consultate the multimedia products

  Data Structure

  Local Databases

  Quality

  Refer to the [AD 2] Target User Profile Specification, paragraph 3.2.4

   

   

   

   

  5.10 CyberCafé & Workshop(Infrastructures)

  

  Purpose

  The requirements that the component implement are:

  The Cybercafé room shall:
  CC1.INF be equipped with N computer stations from which is possible access to Internet and E-mail service. The computer stations shall be equipped with the most diffused software Netscape, Explorer, FTP, Telnet ...
  CC2.INF have a restoration service to enjoy foods and drinks
  CC3.INF be allow to peoples that use restoration services
  CC4.INF be equipped with a telephone service

  CC5.INF The starting web site on a Cybercafé computer station shall be the CSC home page containing at least introductory information about the CSC activities, the partners and sponsors logo, their internet links ...
  CC6.INF The Cybercafé room shall have computer stations connected to a Network Concentrator
  CC7.INF The Network Concentrator shall be linked to a Router and a Modem shall be used if the telephonic line is not digital

  The Marketing area shall
  CC8.INF support the management of the promotion (show room, marketing exposition, advertising space,...).
  CC9.INF manage the selling of the derived products
  CC10.INF manage the advertising space renting and the promotion of new events.
  CC11.INF present the Mosaic project and the features of all the CSCs.

  Function Server

  1. Connection to the LAN
  2. Support to the marketing activities
  3. Support to electronic sales

  Function Client

  The Cybercafé supply the following functionality:

  1. disponibility of computers and the latest software products for internet surfing
  2. restoration, telephonic services

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  Multimedia PCs, Local area network, Network concentrator, Router, Modems, Commercial Internet Browsers, Telephonic line, Restoration Area

  Reference Tools

  Netscape Communicator, Internet Explorer, VIP, Tourist Tutor, Crystal-Eyes, Barcographics 808S

  Processing/IPO Performances

  Allows the connection to internet by using commercial browsers like Netscape, Explorer … The peoples in the CyberCafé could enjoy themselves by a restoration service. The CyberCafé can allow debates and socialisation between the present peoples. Allow workshops, meetings, information exchange, advertisement diffusion, brochures document disponibility, gadgets

  Data Structure

  Internal formats for Internet. Catalog of all the multimedia and Virtual Reality titles on the market

  Quality

  The connection to internet has to assure a good download speed. The ISDN technology should be used in the Cybercafé. For each item in the catalog a brief note on the quality contents shall be present

   

   

  5.10 Playroom (Infrastructures)

  

  Purpose

  The requirements that the component implement are:

  The Playroom shall:
  PL1.INF offer opportunities to entertain child and teenagers
  

  PL2.INF be managed by a specific operator that shall entertain boys, teenagers and shall assure their security
  PL3.INF offer the availability of computers, educational toys, jokes, lectures

  PL4.INF The playroom’s computer application shall have a simple human interface with large coloured buttons, big text and easy to see hypertext links
  PL5.INF The topics in the HTML pages shall contain arguments of general interest for children and teenagers
  PL6.INF The playroom’s internet services shall be equipped of special protection that operates quietly in background between Internet and children and shall carefully screening out user defined 'Words', 'Phrases' and content that are determined as inappropriate
  PL7.INF The Playroom shall have a simultaneous language translation service

  Function Server

  Function Client

  This component supply the following functionality:
  1. offer opportunities to entertain child and teenagers by employing specific operators that assure their security
  2. offer availability of computers, educational toys, jokes, lectures
  3. user interface of application offers large coloured buttons, big text and easy to see hypertext links
  4. the topics in html pages contains arguments of general interest for children and teenagers
  5. the play room supply a simultaneous translation service

  Resources (Hw/Sw)

  • Human resource a team of educators to guarantee the security and entertainment of children and teenagers in the Playroom
  • Hardware resources
  Multimedia PC, special application with easy to use and see interfaces (coloured and large buttons...), Television, Video recorder, Music, Educational toys, Chairs and fornitures

  Reference Tools

  VR Exhibitor, Refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse)

  Processing/IPO Performances

  The Playroom shall offer an opportunity to entertain child and teenagers. It shall offer the possibility to use computers, educational toys, lectures … A specific operator shall manage the children and shall assure their security

  Data Structure

  Internal data for the games

  Quality

  The specific operator s shall have experience to entertain children and teenagers

   

  6. Configurations List

  The CSC framework is depicted in the following figure. Three main areas has been identified: Database & Tools, Applications, Infrastructures & Device.

  Figure 15 : CSC framework

  

  Starting from the framework it is possible to configure the CSC configuration depending by following criteria:

  • local needs (thematic nature of the contents, type of exposition area, guideline of the institutional partners …)
  • expected quality
  • available budget

  Figure 16 : CSC configuration strategy

  

  
  The following table indicates for each Mosaic component the minimal technological segment configuration.

  Component	Minimal Technological Configuration
  Network Infrastructure & Inter-Operability Gateway	Resources: Server Minimal configuration System using an Intel Pentium or Digital Alpha processor Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition. 64 MB of memory 80 MB of available hard disk space (95 MB with books online) CD-ROM drive Networking Options The following networks are supported using native protocols: Microsoft Windows NT Server Microsoft LAN Manager Novell NetWare TCP/IP-based networks IBM LAN Server Banyan VINES Digital PATHWORKS Apple AppleTalk Clients supported: Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1 Microsoft Windows 95 Microsoft Windows for Workgroups Microsoft Windows NT Workstation Microsoft MS-DOS operating system
  Distributed Database, Metadatabase, Search Engine & Agent, Multilingual Interoperability	Resources: H/W: Server, LAN, S/W: CIMI server, CIMI client, Local database, standards ODBC, CORBA refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse) pag. 46 - 47
  Cultural on-line browser	Resources: H/W: PC Clients, S/W: The client station has to be equipped by a multimedia kit, Plug-in, CIMI Clients Reference tool: Cultural On-Line Browser
  CSC Organisation, Publishing Team, Promotion & Advertising	Resources: Human resources: CSC director, Marketing director, Curator, Operative Staff i.e Executors and Publishing team (editors, graphics, programmers, system manager and educators) Technical resources: Marketing Products (See [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse), Graphics PC, Multimedia PC, Scanners, Printers, External memory storage (disk array), Tape devices for back-up, LAN network, CD mastering unit General service: security (access check, fire check, acoustic alarms …), air conditioning system, simultaneous translation service Reference Tool: Telepay, Watermarking tools, Image Encription, IEAK, Flashpix, Lightscape, Macromedia Flash2, Macromedia Shockwave, VRML-Editor, HTML-Editor, Dynamic HTML-Editor, Kudo Image Publisher, Softquad Panorama Viewer, Dyna Web, Dyne Text,Turist Tutor, Model Maker, 3DRAW, Microscribe 3D, CyberWare 3D scanner
  Basic Services & Thematic Forum	Resources: CSC Publishing Team Hardware/Software Reference Tools: Refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse) Telepay, Watermarking, HTML-Editor, paper printing, photo quality reproduction, 3D movie playing, 3D objectcreating and showing, digitalisation, merchandising, Netforum, Altavista forum
  3Archiving Tool	Resources: CSC Publishing Team Hardware/Software Reference Tools: Refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse) IMDAS, DigitalBox, Highway, XML/SGML-Editor, NetForum, EmbARK, MCMS
  Application & Market Products	Resources: CSC Publishing Team Hardware/Software Reference Tool: Refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse) Equilibrium deBabelizer, MultiGenII, GameGen, Alias, Softimage, CosmoStudio, Oxygen, ClarusEon, Macromedia Director
  Virtual Exhibitor	Resources: H/W minimal configuration: O2 R5000SC 180 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 2GB Disk OpenGL Graphical Library Interface device Virtual Exhibitor Application (VEX) H/W massimal configuration: Onyx2 IR Deskside, 2xR10000, 64 MB texture Memory, DG4-2, 64 MB memory, 4.5 GB HD, TAPE, CDROM, ASO Additional 64MB texture Memory First 256 MB memory OpenGL Graphical Library Interface device Virtual Exhibitor Application (VEX) Reference Tools: VR Exhibitor, Refer to [AD 4] (Technical note on Application Reuse)
  Authoring Tool	Resources: CSC Organisation, Publishing team office tools Reference Tools: AltavistaForum, Macromedia Flash 2, Macromedia Shockwave, VRML-Editor, ASP, HTML-Editor, Dynamic HTML-Editor, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premier, BSSW, Active server Page, Casus, Oxygen, Virtual Plane
  Training Room	Resources: Multimedia PC, Printer, White board, Projector, Forniture, Telephon, Learning materials Reference Tools: VIP, Tourist Tutor, Crystal-Eyes, Barcographics 808S
  Video Conference	NetMeeting, InPerson
  Virtual theatre	Resources: Virtual Theatre minimal configuration (1 channel projection) Workstation: Onyx2 IR Deskside, 2xR10000, 64 MB texture Memory, DG4-2, 64 MB memory, 4.5 GB HD, TAPE, CDROM, ASO, Additional 64MB texture Memory, First 256 MB memory Projector: Video-Projector 1280x1024, Analogic card, Kit to mount the screen (eventually), Screen 2x1.5 m Stereo Graphic Emitter, Stereo Graphic Cristal Eyes Other material: W113 interface, Alphanumeric terminal, Modem, Joystick, Amplifier, 2 Speakers, Continuity Group, Cables Virtual Theatre maximal configuration (3 channel projection) Workstation: Onyx2 IR 3-pipe 8xR10000, 1GB RAM, 6x64KB Texture Memory, 9GB HD Projector: Video-Projector 1280x1024, Analogic card, Kit to mount the screen (eventually), Screen 6x2 m Stereo Glasses: Stereo Graphic Emitter, Stereo Graphic Cristal Eyes Other material: W113 interface, Alphanumeric terminal, Modem, Joystick, Amplifier, 2 Speakers, Continuity Group, Cables Reference Tools: VIP, Tourist Tutor, Crystal-Eyes, Barcographics 808S
  Multimedia Room	Resources: Multimedia PCs, Local area network, Network concentrator, Router, Modems, Commercial Internet Browsers, Telephonic line, Restoration Area Reference Tools: Netscape Communicator, Internet Explorer
  CyberCafé	Resources: Multimedia PCs, Local area network, Network concentrator, Router, Modems, Commercial Internet Browsers, Telephonic line, Restoration Area <