Database design development : i-LINK, an integrated messaging framework

For many people, online communication has meant a plethora of communication media - emails, instant messages, blogs, etc. Often this has led to clustered desktop displays and ineffective integration between communication media. Software development teams are adversely affected by the lack of integration between applications. When project managers, software developers and clients come together to work on one or more projects, certain communication and managerial considerations and requirements become apparent. A server-based Integrated Messaging Framework (IMF) provides all communication media messages with a common messaging format. i-LINK, an intelligent client application uses IMF to send, receive, log, and store messages from different communication channels. There are contrasting database models from which to choose when designing the IMF data model (i.e.: flat file, relational, object oriented, objected relational). However, the IMF was designed using a relational data model due to the stability it offered, the protection provided through referential integrity and constraints, as well as other unique benefits. When considering the services that IMF is designed to provide, certain existing messaging standards are conceptually useful to analyze before designing the IMF data model. The RFC 2778 provides a universal Instant Messaging (IM) data model which can be mapped to provide such services as presence and instant messaging. Microsoft Outlook, a Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI), presents a data storage mechanism. The IMF database model integrates concepts from existing messaging standards and refines the integration of different communication media while acting as a central repository.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Chahine, Pamela Michel, 1979-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• George A. Kocur.

• Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/30136

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/30136