DB-Index

The database index is the primary search structure of the HALO-DB. It contains a list of all datasets which are considered part of the HALO-DB, as well as additional data structures which allow fast lookups.

• The DB-Index is an IPLD-based tree structure identified by its root CID.
• The DB-Index enables clients to quickly search for datasets based on
  • free text
  • keywords
  • (spatial) regions
  • time ranges
  • other (related) datasets
• The DB-Index should support user interfaces describing the data. This may necessitate to cache some or all dataset metadata in the index.
• The DB-Index is versioned
  • It may point to previous versions of itself
  • the latest version is pointed to by a name (e.g. using DNSLink)
• There may be multiple indices (e.g. for different applications, special tasks, cross-platform field campaigns)
  • but only one is called “HALO-DB”

prior art¶

• IPFS GeoIP - B-Tree search index for IP address locations on IPFS

WPs¶

• specify the format of the index datastructure
• specify & implement operations on the index data structure
  • in particular search queries