An Information Retrieval System Model

Abstract

This report presents some work pertinent to the quantitative evaluation of information retrieval (IR) systems and extends the development of an Information Retrieval System Simulation Model. The work is sponsored by The Information Systems Branch of the Office of Naval Research and is part of a program whose major objective is to formulate general purpose simulation models of the various functional components found within intelligence systems. The present IR system simulation examines system response time, equipment/personnel utilization and idle time, and delay time in queue. The general IR model is, essentially, an ordered grouping of basic retrieval functions. The nature of the functions and the configuration of the system can be specified to the simulation program by the investigating engineer. The simulation program can ultimately be used by Naval planners of information retrieval systems to evaluate alternative IR configurations, to identify and illustrate the need for an IR system, and to assess the effectiveness of such a configuration. Response time of an IR system is cited as one necessary criterion of system performance and is closely related to the operating costs, another quantitative measurement of an IR system.