This section is likely to grow rapidly, for now we'll just start with a few goals and use-cases. This use-case is a specialization of the more general find a model(FindAModel) use-case/goal.

General goal

Machine level interfaces for forming search queries, submitting them, and retrieving result sets. Result sets contain or make reference to models in the CellML format. Note - this last restriction is quite important - keeps things focused.

Specific goals

• form a query from model data in a particular format and submit it to a search interface.

  Use-case: Find models by submitting formatted data through a programmable interface - e.g. a biopax model, another CellML model. Have a look at FindAModelModellerSubmitFormatedData - which is the modeller centric view on this, and which probably ends up using this use-case.

• form a query from terms used to search data or metadata of a model( see also CellMLMetadata )

  The goal is a pretty classic submit search terms and get some results type machine level interaction. These queries are done at a programming level, so we should identify some useful ways of doing term searches.

  Use-case: submit simple key words to a search interface and get back a result set

• form a logical query, using for example description logic based queries (see also CellMLOntologies).
• Searches should return result sets, so a goal is to return result sets.

  Use-case: Return search results(FindAModelSoftwareDeveloperGetSearchResults)

what kinds of data do we want to base our searches on?

It makes sense to base the search terms and query methods on the metadata specification. As the logical model develops for CellML, then this metadata aspect will become a much richer system for annotating and querying models(see CellMLOntologies).