UDC 621.395.74:651.55:681.32 XML Projects in Japan and Fujitsu’s Approach to XLink/XPointer VToshimitsu Suzuki VMasatomo Goto (Manuscript received June 2, 2000) The Extensible Markup Language (XML)1) is a markup language developed in response to a recommendation by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).2) It is a meta lan- guage used to make an information structure. XML’s original specification is the Stan- dard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).3) Now, XML is used not only as a format language but also as a framework in various areas beyond the SGML field. This paper describes the XML technology trends, the current state of XML technology, and some case studies in Japan and at Fujitsu. This paper also describes HyBrick,4) which is an XML/SGML browser that was demonstrated at SGML’97, and the XLink5)/XPointer6) technology. 1. Introduction verified through these experiments. The specification of XML has been in use by Up to now, XML has been related to infor- the W3C since 1996. XML version 1.0 was released mation technology (IT), and because of the IT as a W3C recommendation in February 1998. revolution it is becoming a secure part of the foun- XML is a meta language for marking up informa- dation of new IT systems. Last year, a lineup of tion. XML’s original specification is the Standard XML parsers and other XML basic software ap- Generalized Markup Language (SGML), which is peared, establishing a development environment used to mark up documents for archiving and re- for application software. In addition, the W3C is use. XML is used not only as a markup language determining XML-related peripheral specifica- but also as a framework in various areas beyond tions. The year 2000 is expected to be the year of the SGML field. full XML implementation. The use of XML is more advanced in the U.S. In 1997, Fujitsu Laboratories demonstrated and European countries because there is a much the world’s first XML/SGML browser, HyBrick, at larger body of text documents in those countries SGML’97 and published its first XML technical and it is easy to adapt the XML technology for the book. Since then, we have been committed to XML World Wide Web and its contents. In Japan, XML and its broad implementation. (HyBrick comes applications have been designed and developed, from work we started in 1994 to produce an orig- and newspapers and magazines have carried XML inal multimedia browser.) We have been seeking articles since the end of 1997. Last year, many to develop XML specifications both independent- experiments that demonstrated uses of XML, for ly and as a member of the World Wide Web example, in financial trading and EDI trading, Consortium (W3C) working group responsible for were conducted with the government of Japan. link specifications. This paper explains the cur- Although XML has yet to be applied to actual sys- rent status of XML in Japan and the activities, tems, various methods for its application are being study results, and future direction of Fujitsu and FUJITSU Sci. Tech. J.,36,2,pp.175-184(December 2000) 175 T. Suzuki et al.: XML Projects in Japan and Fujitsu’s Approach to XLink/XPointer Fujitsu Laboratories in this area. – XLink/XPointer/XML Base11)/XInclude12) for defining links, 2. XML and related work – XPath13) for specifying XML structure appli- XML-related specifications are mainly deter- cation positions, and mined by the W3C and the Internet Engineering – XML Query Language (XQL) and XML-QL14) Task Force (IETF)7) and are mostly based on XML as interfaces for easy retrieval from XML doc- Version 1.0, which was recommended in Febru- uments. ary 1998. From the beginning of the design stage, The basic specifications include the Resource it has been expected that XML will become a pro- Description Framework (RDF),15) which is a meta- tocol having the advantages of HTML and SGML, information description framework for retrieval but not their disadvantages. Consequently, soft- and content rating. ware manufacturers immediately started to develop software that supports XML. The first 2.2 Application-dependent specifications XML-supporting software to be released was the Some examples of application-dependent XML-based Channel Definition Format (CDF)8) specifications are: from Microsoft. – Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)16) for the Microsoft installed this technology in their graphic format, Web browser, Internet Explorer (IE), to realize the – XHTML17) for the document format, functions for a new information push service called – Synchronized Multimedia Integration Lan- “Active Channel.” As a result, the number of XML guage (SMIL),18) and studies and implementations began to increase at – Mathematical Markup Language (MathML).19) a fast pace, mainly in the U.S. Many companies In Japan, application-dependent XML speci- noticed the advantages offered by XML and start- fications are used, for example, for electronic books ed putting them into their applications. (JepaX), documents submitted to the Ministry of However, XML does not provide adequate Welfare about new drugs that companies want to functions to satisfy all of the different kinds of market, legal information, and security market requirements for user applications. Therefore, definitions. The Japan Electronic Publishing related specifications were proposed to compen- Association (JEPA) is responsible for JepaX.20) In sate for functions that were lacking and the addition, Japanese companies are leading the specifications were examined extensively. The study of domestic and international XML appli- specifications that extend the ability of XML cations that add information to static images can be classified as basic specifications, (Dig35).21) application-dependent specifications, or framework specifications. 2.3 Framework specifications XML. ORG,22) which is hosted by the Organi- 2.1 Basic specifications zation for the Advancement of Structured The basic specifications supporting XML are: Information Standards (OASIS),23) provides repos- – Namespaces for using several document type itory and registry functions for multiple DTDs. definitions (DTDs) in the same XML document, A similar framework is BizTalk24) hosted by – schema for extending the definitions of ele- Microsoft. This framework defines the message ments and definitions, format between individual systems. – Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL)9)/XSL A variety of industries are promoting the Transformation (XSLT)10) for defining style standardization of their own vocabularies as in- sheets, dustrial frameworks. Some typical examples are 176 FUJITSU Sci. Tech. J.,36, 2,(December 2000) T. Suzuki et al.: XML Projects in Japan and Fujitsu’s Approach to XLink/XPointer cXML,25) ebXML,26) eCo,27) and CBL.28) Various in- appears to be more convenient than the conven- dustries in Japan have also started this process tional paper-based systems. of standardization, but not on a full scale. The Japanese Standard Association (JIS)29) has recog- 3.2 Electronic catalog auto-collection nized the necessity of standard vocabularies and system has started looking for a common framework. NTT Communications is experimenting with an online auto-collection system for XML-based 3. XML in Japan liquor catalogs that breweries create and place on The New Media Development Association their Web sites.31) The system automatically col- (NMDA)30) in Japan constructed an electronic ap- lects the catalogs and then provides optimum plication system in 1998; this was the first merchandise information according to retrieval example of XML system construction and opera- requests from customers. tion. Since then, many other experiments have been carried out. Furthermore, XML-only mail- 3.3 Information delivery service ing lists have been set up and run on a volunteer An XML-based personal information deliv- basis and the first vendor of XML-dedicated soft- ery service32) is currently being demonstrated by ware has appeared. These events have generated Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., Otsuka Shokai Co., even more XML activity. Details about some of Ltd., and NTT. The purpose of this service is to the attempts to establish general support of XML customize financial information for personal use in Japan are given below. and supply that information to individual and in- stitutional investors. This service features style 3.1 Project for electronic applications sheets that are used to customize the layout of and notices in administrative contents for each user and embedded links and procedures pointers in the supplied information. This enables The project for electronic applications and no- each user to have continuous access to the latest tices is aimed at developing a highly efficient information. system that can electronically process a series of administrative procedures. The procedures are 3.4 Digital contents (BML) for creating, filing, and examining written applica- television sets tions; registering data; and sending notifications The Broadcast Markup Language (BML) is after receiving the applications. In this project, a an example of an XML application in a TV- database consisting of application forms was writ- contents format for satellite digital broadcasting. ten in XML. Fujitsu Laboratories participated in Fujitsu is also a member of the BML project. The this NMDA project and took charge of the pro- U.S. is creating BHTML, and the Association of cessing section for application form input and Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB)33) in display. We developed a function for XML display Japan is creating a protocol. in an existing browser and XML input from an The ARIB proposed the first BML draft in existing browser. The system developed in this the middle of 1999 to establish acceptance of the project was proved to be effective and practical in final specifications before full-scale implementa- an experiment at the Database Center for the tion toward the end of 2000. project. However, electronic applications are not BML produces contents using XML-based permitted under existing governmental rules and XHTML and XSLT.