A Directed Recursive Hypergraph Data Model for Representing the Contents of Multimedia Data

This paper proposes a data model incorporating the concepts of directed graphs, recursive graphs, and hypergraphs in order to represent the contents of multimedia data. In the proposed data model, an instance is represented with a directed recursive hypergraph. This graph is called an instance graph. A collection of instance graphs is managed as a graph named a collection graph. A shape graph, which represents the structure of a collection graph, is also introduced. An operation rewriting collection graphs is introduced to manipulate the collection graphs. This operation enables users to make recursive queries, and specify regular expressions on paths. This paper presents an illustrative example, and the formal definition of the proposed data model. This paper clarifies that the depth of the edges of an instance graph can indicate whether the instance graph can be divided, or not. The consideration on the management of shape graphs is also presented. Moreover, it is clarified that the operation can he converted into the datalog program extended for treating complex values.