Network application server using Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) to support distributed databases and 3D environments

Abstract

This thesis contributes to the US Navy forces maintaining information superiority in a Network Centric Warfare environment. This research develops an Extensible Markup Language XML-based Web Publishing Framework, which supports the Web Enabled Navy (WEN) architecture infrastructure. The Web application framework easily supports connections to multiple distributed databases and XML-based presentations, specifically three-dimensional (3D) simulations utilizing Extensible 3D (X3D) and Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML). This research evaluates and demonstrates the functionality of an XML-based Web Publishing Framework. The research demonstrates ability to connect to both XML and non-XML heterogeneous database systems and provides a framework for the distribution data across heterogeneous systems. The system supports usage in multi-tier network architecture. 3D modeling and simulations provide insights into operations that cannot be realized using standard two-dimensional (2D) renditions. The development of an application server to support 3D modeling and simulations for operational planning will provide the U.S. Navy a better way of realizing operational limits. This research addresses the Web publishing framework, which supports the development XML based data exchange, and the development of an βon the flyγ X3D simulation presentation. This research evaluated the functionality of an XML based Web framework, which allows for the separation between application programming and Web presentation. This incorporation of a Model, View, and Controller (MVC) design approach provides a clean separation between different components (logic, presentation, and data) of information and the programming functionality. The Web framework addressed ability to provide a framework for the distribution data across heterogeneous systems.