Efficient Evaluation of Path Algebra Expressions

Efficient Evaluation of Path Algebra Expressions

In this paper, an efficient system for finding answers to a given path algebra expression in a directed acylic graph is discussed more particulary, in a multimedia presentration graph. Path algebra expressions are formulated using revised versions of operators next and until of temporal logic, and the connected operator. To evaluate queries with path algebra expressions, the node code system is proposed. In the node code system, the nodes of a presentation graph are assigned binary codes (node codes) that are used to represent nodes and paths in a presentation graph. Using node codes makes it easy to find parent-child predecessor-sucessor relationships between nodes. A pair of node codes for connected nodes uniquely identifies a path, and allows efficient set-at-a-time evaluations of path algebra expressions. In this paper, the node code representation of nodes and paths in multimedia presentation graphs are provided. The efficient algorithms for the evaluation of queries with path algebra expressions are also provided.