Lupin: Towards the Framework of Web-based Problem Solving Environments.

Abstract

The research of powerful Problem Solving Environments (PSEs) is strongly motivated by the increasing complexity in scientific and engineering computation. In this paper, an initial design of Lupin, a layered framework of PSEs construction based on Web technologies is proposed and discussed. We predicate that common infrastructure of PSEs can be powerfully supported by the Web, which is moving from being a collection of static "pages" toward a collection of dynamic "services" that interoperate through the Internet. The idea of invoking Web technologies such as XML and the emerging Web services for Lupin's approach; the conception of "mathematical Web services" and the implementation of Lupin based on the conception are briefly considered and discussed. A proof-of-concept system addressed by the combination of current Web service protocols, MathML, Computer Algebra Systems(CASs), interactive math and the relevant XML technologies is also presented to check out the feasibility and disadvantages. Related discussions are carried out based on the experiments and improved proposals are considered for future research.