Contact Point:

Michal Batko ( )

Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic
  

Technical Contact Points:

Michal Batko ( ) and David Novak ( )
  

Type of Software:

STABLE PROTOTYPE 
  

Descriptive Keywords:

Metric Similarity Search Implementation Framework (MESSIF), similarity search, metric space, data structures, index structures, distributed data structures, structured peer-to-peer networks, implementation platform.
  

Potential Use and Applications:

Number of researchers has recently focused on indexing and searching using the metric space model of data. The implementation framework called MESSIF eases the task of building metric-based similarity-searching prototypes. It provides a number of modules from storage management to automatic collecting of performance statistics.
  

General description:

The similarity search has become a fundamental computational task in many applications. One of the mathematical models of the similarity – the metric space – has drawn attention of many researchers resulting in several sophisticated metric-indexing techniques. An important part of a research in this area is typically a prototype implementation and subsequent experimental evaluation of the proposed data structure. Individual structures are often based on very similar underlying principles or even exploit some existing structures on lower levels. Therefore, the implementation calls for a uniform development platform that would support a straightforward reusability of code. Such a framework would also simplify the experimental evaluation, make the comparison fairer and thus the results would be of greater value. The Metric Similarity Search Implementation Framework (MESSIF) pursue the following objectives:

· to provide basic support for the indexing based on metric space – let developers focus on the
higher-level design

· to create a unified and semi-automated mechanism for measuring and collecting statistics

· to define and use uniform interfaces to support modularity and thus allow reusing of the code

· to provide infrastructure for distributed processing with focus on peer-to-peer paradigm – communication support, deployment, monitoring, testing, etc.

· to support complex similarity search in multi-metric spaces

For more details see the following paper:

Batko M., Novak D. and Zezula P. 2007. MESSIF: Metric Similarity Search Implementation Framework. In C. Thanos and F. Borri (eds.), DELOS Conference 2007. Working Notes. Pisa (Italy), 13-14 February 2007. DELOS Network of Excellence. 11-23.
  

Technical description:

The MESSIF is implemented as a collection of cooperating Java 6 packages. The MESSIF networking operates over the standard internet or intranet using the family of IP protocols. Individual peers are identified by the IP address plus a port number. The entire communication is based on messages using the TCP and UDP protocols.

For more details see the following paper:

Batko M., Novak D. and Zezula P. 2007. MESSIF: Metric Similarity Search Implementation Framework. In C. Thanos and F. Borri (eds.), DELOS Conference 2007. Working Notes. Pisa (Italy), 13-14 February 2007. DELOS Network of Excellence. 11-23.
  

Required User Skills:

Java programming (J2SE v5.0 and higher) skills needed to build new indexing structures. No additional skillsare required to use already created structures with included clients (after reading documentation).
  

Pre-Requisites for Installation:

Hardware: Any computer that canrun applications inJava Runtime Environment; distributed index structures need several computers (peers) connected with TCP/IP network and at least one UDP and one TCP port available (not blocked by firewall).

Software: Java Runtime Environment version 5.0 or higher; MESSIF; Any index structure built for MESSIF
  

Conditions of Use:

Contact the authors.