/[gzz]/manuscripts/storm/short-paper.rst
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revision 1.25 by hemppah, Fri May 30 14:07:23 2003 UTC revision 1.26 by tjl, Fri May 30 15:33:16 2003 UTC
# Line 180  are also less comprehensible for humans. Line 180  are also less comprehensible for humans.
180  However, Storm is able to address both downsides by  However, Storm is able to address both downsides by
181  simple cryptographic techniques.  simple cryptographic techniques.
182    
183    .. pointers
184    
185  One of the key innovations in storm is the use  One of the key innovations in storm is the use
186  of *pointer blocks*  of *pointer blocks*
187  to build mutable documents on top of  to build mutable documents on top of
188  the lowest-layer append-and-delete-only model.  the lowest-layer append-and-delete-only model.
189  A pointer block is simply a storm block which says  A pointer block is simply a storm block which says
190  ``The identifier X points to document Id, overriding  "The identifier X points to document Id, overriding
191  the previous pointer blocks a, b`` and contains  the previous pointer blocks a, b" and contains
192  a digital signature of the above information.  a digital signature of the above information. The pointer Id
193    contains the public key used for signatures --- this allows
194    only the originator of the document to validate new versions.
195    A suitable user interface around pointers allows the user to
196    still see old-style file names, but with the file names attached
197    to his/her person, not to a particular computer.
198    
199    
200  ..          storing  ..          storing
201              documents on the desktop and publishing and retrieving              documents on the desktop and publishing and retrieving
# Line 198  a digital signature of the above informa Line 206  a digital signature of the above informa
206  .. part of the web -- URN scheme (so far experimental,  .. part of the web -- URN scheme (so far experimental,
207     targetting registration):     targetting registration):
208    
 XXX Cryptic - need UI  
209    
210  We are using an experimental URN namespace  We are using an experimental URN namespace
211  (Uniform Resource Name, a persistent kind of URI)  (Uniform Resource Name, a persistent kind of URI)
212  and are preparing the registration  and are preparing the registration
213  of a real namespace with IANA.  of a real namespace with IANA.
214  The URN is constructed analogously to a DATA URI (RFC XXX)  The URN is constructed analogously to a DATA URI (RFC XXX)
215  from the hash and the content-type.  from the hash of the block content and the MIME content-type,
216    for example ``urn-...XXX``.
217    
218  ..  Our system implements append-and-delete-only  ..  Our system implements append-and-delete-only
219      storage; past versions of documents are stored      storage; past versions of documents are stored
# Line 215  from the hash and the content-type. Line 223  from the hash and the content-type.
223  Interfacing  Interfacing
224  ===========  ===========
225    
226  On the user level, Storm could be used as a  ..  On the user level,
227    ..  Even without user interface changes,
228    
229    At the moment,
230    Storm can be used as a
231  replacement for both file names and HTTP URLs  replacement for both file names and HTTP URLs
232  as document identifiers.  as document identifiers.
233    The downside is the long, cryptic URIs which
234    would ideally be handled through some user interface changes.
235    
236    
237  .. accessible through Java library or http gateway:  .. accessible through Java library or http gateway:
238    
# Line 256  to Storm, giving the user a list of all Line 271  to Storm, giving the user a list of all
271  stored on their local hard disk, and allowing them  stored on their local hard disk, and allowing them
272  to conduct searches over the titles of all documents  to conduct searches over the titles of all documents
273  published on the network.  published on the network.
274    For HTML, the Storm server is also able to insert links
275    to all other documents referred to by the same pointer,
276    i.e. links to *alternate* or *earlier* versions of the document.
277    
278    
279  Conclusions  Conclusions
# Line 276  through an HTTP gateway. Line 294  through an HTTP gateway.
294    
295  XXX Chief contributions of storm: pointers, ...??  XXX Chief contributions of storm: pointers, ...??
296    
297    XXX Authentication, user management needs work
298    
299  .. A next step will be  .. A next step will be
300     WebDAV support, allowing many more systems to     WebDAV support, allowing many more systems to
301     save data in Storm.     save data in Storm.

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