Middleware for Distributed Data Management
Alvaro A. A. Fernandes · 2008
The widespread availability of data resources, and of the infrastructure with which to access them, creates many research opportunities. However, such access is seldom unimpeded. There are impediments stemming from conflicts in the infrastructure itself, in the representations used, and in interpretation. Among the many possible responses to these conflicts, one that is particularly promising from an end-user viewpoint relies on middleware for distributed data management. This chapter characterises the kinds of problem that can inhibit data sharing and analysis, describes how these problems are being addressed and how far the state of the art is from definitive solutions. The goal of the chapter is to introduce and motivate the notion of Web- and Grid-based middleware solutions for reconciling conflicts and removing impediments to effective and efficient access to and use of autonomous, heterogeneous, distributed data resources.