Configuring Geographically Distributed Videotex Databases

Abstract

Videotex refers to computer-based interactive systems that are capable of electronically delivering screen text, numbers and graphics via telephone or two-way cable for display on television sets or video monitors. This technology allows computer-naive users to easily access general interest or highly specialized information stored in on-line databases in the amount and sequence (s)he desires. Over the past decade, there has been considerable interest in videotex systems, and a number of them have already been implemented in different countries. With the proposed implementation of Integrated Services Digital Networks, the interest in videotex systems is expected to grow even further. This paper provides a brief overview of commercial videotex systems in various countries, and discusses possible organizational usage of these systems. In addition, we formulate a 0/1 integer programming model for allocating videotex files in a geographically distributed videotex system. A Lagrangian relaxation based solution procedure is developed for solving the videotex file allocation problem. Results of extensive numerical experiments performed using the proposed heuristic solution procedure are reported.