Research On LOM-Based Resource Retrieval Agent System

From the 1990's, with the development of the Internet and WWW technology, learning based on Internet has become more and more popular, which led to two important research directions: one is focused on the construction of learning resources in the Internet, the other is focused on the retrieval of the learning resources in the Internet. However, learners are often confronted with some serious problems when using learning resources in the Internet. These problems should besolved as quickly as possible. The main problems are as follows:1. Learning resources can not be located quickly and accurately when they are retrieved in the Internet;2. Too many redundant results are brought after retrieving;3. Retrieval results cannot match with the learning level of the learner's;4. Individual learner cannot be provided with user interface that corresponds to his characteristics of learning.The main causes leading to the problems are:1. There are not unified standards for the learning resources in the Internet;2. There are many limitations in the existing retrieval systems3. Personalization is not considered when providing user interfaces.In order to resolve all above problems, some organizations began to do something. They tried to address the problems from two aspects: One task is to establish unified standards for the learning resource in the Internet, the other is to design and implement more effective retrieval systems for learning resources in the Internet.Based on the standard of LOM (Learning Object Meta-data), a model is constructed by usingagent technology derived from the distributed artificial intelligence, which is called model of Resource Retrieval Agent System based on the standard of LOM (LRRAS). In the paper, the function of each module is discussed as well as the way of communication and collaboration between these modules in LRRAS. The design and construction of the Resource Retrieval Agent are given more detailed descriptions, which is the core part of the LRRAS. And this part is the focus of this paper. Based on LOM standard and agent technology, LRRAS can retrieve learning resources in the Internet quickly, accurately and effectively.The whole thesis is divided into seven parts: 1. The background, content, and significance of the present research; 2. The theoretical and technical basis of the present research, including learning theories, agent theories, agent technology and XML, etc.; 3. Introduction of the present research and applications of LOM standard and a resource management model based on LOM; 4. Discussion of LRRAS model, including system structure, function modules, communication and cooperation model. 5. The design and implementation of Resource Retrieval Agent in LRRAS, including its function structure and retrieval algorithm; 6. The implementation and analysis of the prototype system of LRRAS; 7. Conclusion.