超媒體懷媒體是現今非常普遍使用的名詞，即使是在非電腦相關的領域亦是如此。所謂多媒體系統僅是指將不同媒體整合起來，使其能夠同時播放的系統。要播放此系統，仍需要有一套應用軟體促使系統不同的媒體部份同時運作。這樣的應用軟體可稱為系統驅動器。超媒體即是指允許非循序瀏覽包含許多不同媒體型態之文件的軟體。在某些方面，我們可視超文字為超媒體之子集，而視超媒體為一般支談式多媒體的子集。在論文中主要是研究有關超媒體部份。
資料模型的研究有助於瞭解系統的運作，藉由方便除錯或提出改進的方法。在國外發表有關超媒體資料模型的文獻中以Stotts and Furuta文章中所提的以Petri Net作為資料模型，似乎較令人感興趣。目前他們以Petri Net的圖形架構建立一超文字系統。本論文即繼續他們的初期研究，對Petri Net進行深入的探討，來尋求改進並擴充其資料模型。HIPNET即是基於此一目標下所定義出的超媒體資料模型。論文中並同時探討HIPNET特性，以及用Petri Net作為超媒體資料模型的適切性。
此外，在論文中亦根據HIPNET模型，實際發展出一套建構於此模型的創作與瀏覽系統：圖形化超媒體創作工具可加快超媒體系統的設計；安全建構於以Petri Net作為底層架構資的料模型的分析工具允許作者輕鬆地驗證系統設計的正確性與完備性；瀏覽系統產生器將根據作者所繪製的Petri Net，自動地產生一套瀏覽系統而不需要作者去撰寫任何程式。

Hypermedia is an approach to non - linearly integrate information from all kinds of media, such as texts, images, graphs, animations, videos, music, speeches, and so on. Thanks to the active research on multimedia and hypermedia in the recent years, multimedia / hypermedia softwares are flooding the market. However, hypermedia system development still remains more of an art than science. At first, the hypermedia author must collect all the information from various media sources which he wants to present to the users. Then, he must integrate and link this collection of information of different media by using some kinds of authoring tools such as Authorware or Toolbook. While we are using these tools, it is inevitable to refer to the handbooks or the user's guides. Furthermore, the ability to program is neccessary, too. This is one of the obstacles which prevent non - programmers from turning out their own ideal hypermedia presentation.
Our research focuses on the development of a Hypermedia design tool that in function, is similar to those available in the market place, but easier to use (no coding is necessary) and differs in its capability to analyze the designed system to show its correctness and soundness. Our approach calls for a theoretical study of a suitable data model for modeling general hypermedia system. The directed graph model used by most of the hypermedia system has many limitations. Our model, which is based on the well studied Petri Net, is capable of overcoming those limitations. Furthermore, it allows analysis of the designed system so that the correctness and soundness of the system can be determined before the system is put to use. According to the theoretical model, we present a line of research which leads to the development of a Hypermedia design and development tool with the goals that (1) it must be easy to learn; (2) it requires no programming during the development; and (3) graphical user interface is required to ensure user - friendliness.