Intelligent Matching and Retrieval for Electronic Document Manipulation

Summary

ABSTRACT

The paper presents a new system for automatic matching of bibliographic data corresponding to items of full textual electronic documents. The problem can otherwise be expressed as the identification of similar or duplicate items existing in different bibliographic databases. A primary objective is the design of an interactive system where matches and near misses are displayed on the user's terminal so that he can confirm or reject the identification before the associated full electronic versions are located and processed further.

Introduction

There is no doubt that ‘electronic publishing’ and other computer based tools for the production and dissemination of printed material open up new horizons for efficient communication. The problems currently faced by the designers of such systems are enormous. One problem area is the identification of duplicate material especially when there is more than one source generating similar documents. Abstracting is a good example here. Another problem area is the linkage between full text and bibliographic databases.

As part of its attempt to establish collaboration between different countries, the European Economic Community initiated the DOCDEL programme of research and a series of studies such as DOCOLSYS which investigate the present situation in Europe regarding document identification, location and ordering with particular reference to electronic ordering and delivery of documents.

The majority of DOCDEL systems likely to be developed fall under one of the following areas:

1. (a) Delivery from computer-based systems

2. (b) Delivery from non-computer based systems

3. (c) Electronic publishing

4. (d) On-demand publishing