Specifying OLAP Cubes on XML Data

On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) enables analysts to gain insight about data through fast and interactive access to a variety of possible views on information, organized in a dimensional model. The demand for data integration is rapidly becoming larger as more and more information sources appear in modern enterprises. In the data warehousing approach, selected information is extracted in advance and stored in a repository, yielding good query performance. However, in many situations a logical (rather than physical) integration of data is preferable. Previous web-based data integration efforts have focused almost exclusively on the logical level of data models, creating a need for techniques focused on the conceptual level. Also, previous integration techniques for web-based data have not addressed the special needs of OLAP tools such as handling dimensions with hierarchies. Extensible Markup Language (XML) is fast becoming the new standard for data representation and exchange on the World Wide Web. The rapid emergence of XML data on the web, e.g., business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce, is making it necessary for OLAP and other data analysis tools to handle XML data as well as traditional data formats.Based on a real-world case study, this paper presents an approach to specification of OLAP DBs based on web data. Unlike previous work, this approach takes special OLAP issues such as dimension hierarchies and correct aggregation of data into account. Also, the approach works on the conceptual level, using Unified Modeling Language (UML) as a basis for so-called UML snowflake diagrams that precisely capture the multidimensional structure of the data. An integration architecture that allows the logical integration of XML and relational data sources for use by OLAP tools is also presented.     

基于活动图的OWL-S过程模型的图形化建模及实现

用可扩展标记语言(XML)对Web服务合成的描述,存在着描述的复杂性高和不易于用户理解的问题。本文采用基于模型驱动框架(MDA)方法,利用UML活动图对OWL-S的过程模型进行图形化建模,实现了对Web服务合成的描述,并通过实例验证了该方法的可行性。     

A UML profile for multidimensional modeling in data warehouses

The multidimensional (MD) modeling, which is the foundation of data warehouses (DWs), MD databases, and On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) applications, is based on several properties different from those in traditional database modeling. In the past few years, there have been some proposals, providing their own formal and graphical notations, for representing the main MD properties at the conceptual level. However, unfortunately none of them has been accepted as a standard for conceptual MD modeling.

In this paper, we present an extension of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) using a UML profile. This profile is defined by a set of stereotypes, constraints and tagged values to elegantly represent main MD properties at the conceptual level. We make use of the Object Constraint Language (OCL) to specify the constraints attached to the defined stereotypes, thereby avoiding an arbitrary use of these stereotypes. We have based our proposal in UML for two main reasons: (i) UML is a well known standard modeling language known by most database designers, thereby designers can avoid learning a new notation, and (ii) UML can be easily extended so that it can be tailored for a specific domain with concrete peculiarities such as the multidimensional modeling for data warehouses. Moreover, our proposal is Model Driven Architecture (MDA) compliant and we use the Query View Transformation (QVT) approach for an automatic generation of the implementation in a target platform. Throughout the paper, we will describe how to easily accomplish the MD modeling of DWs at the conceptual level. Finally, we show how to use our extension in Rational Rose for MD modeling.     

A method for the unification of XML schemata

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a common standard for data representation and exchange over the Web. Considering the increasing need for managing data on the Web, integration techniques are required to access heterogeneous XML sources. In this paper, we describe a unification method for heterogeneous XML schemata. The input to the unification method is a set of object-oriented-based canonical schemata that conceptually abstract local Document Type Definitions of the involved sources. The unification process applies specific algorithms and rules to the concepts of the canonical schemata to generate a preliminary ontology. Further adjustments on this preliminary ontology generate a reference ontology that acts as a front-end for user queries to the XML sources.     

BOX: Browsing objects in XML

The latest Internet markup languages support the representation of structured information and vector graphics. In this paper we describe how these languages can be used to publish software engineering diagrams on the Internet. We introduce BOX, a portable, distributed and interoperable approach to browsing UML models with off‐the‐shelf technology. Our approach to browsing UML models leverages XML and related specifications, such as the Document Object Model (DOM), the XML Metadata Interchange (XMI) and the Vector Markup Language (VML). BOX translates a UML model that is represented in XMI into VML. VML can be directly displayed in Internet browsers, such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer 5. BOX enables software engineers to access and review UML models without the need to purchase licenses of tools that produced the models. BOX has been successfully evaluated in two industrial case studies. The case studies used BOX to make extensive domain and enterprise object models available to a large number of stakeholders over corporate intranets and the Internet. We show how XML and the BOX architecture can be applied to other software engineering notations. We also argue that the approach taken in BOX can be applied to other domains that have already started to adopt XML and have a need for graphic representation of XML information. These include browsing gene sequences, chemical molecule structures and conceptual knowledge representations. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finding an application-appropriate model for XML data warehouses

Decision support systems help the decision making process with the use of OLAP (On-Line Analytical Processing) and data warehouses. These systems allow the analysis of corporate data. As OLAP and data warehousing evolve, more and more complex data is being used. XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a flexible text format allowing the interchange and the representation of complex data. Finding an appropriate model for an XML data warehouse tends to become complicated as more and more solutions appear. Hence, in this survey paper we present an overview of the different proposals that use XML within data warehousing technology. These proposals range from using XML data sources for regular warehouses to those using full XML warehousing solutions. Some researches merely focus on document storage facilities while others present adaptations of XML technology for OLAP. Even though there are a growing number of researches on the subject, many issues still remain unsolved.     

XML加密的研究

随着互联网技术的发展,网络的数据交换越来越频繁。寸扩展标记语言（XML）作为一种描述数据的标记语言,具有对数据进行统一描述的强大功能,成为网络数据传输和交换的主要载体。由于在XML规范中不提供对数据的保密措施,所以它的安全性也受到了越来越多的关注。通过演示1个简单的数据交换,用XML加密确保安全,然后增加安全性需求的复杂程度,解释XML加密模式及其不同元素的使用。     

UML顺序图的自动验证

UML顺序图反映了系统中并发对象之间的消息交互及顺序,在软件建模中占有重要地位。该文对UML顺序图模型的自动验证方法进行了研究,在把UML顺序图转换为Promela语言后,使用模型检验器SPIN来验证系统设计模型是否满足某些关键性质需求。为了加强该方法的适用性,采用可扩展的标记语言XML文件格式定义顺序图模型的外部表示形式,该表示方法遵从OMG的XMI标准,从而使验证过程适用于不同的UML建模环境。     

Combining objects with rules to represent aggregation knowledge in data warehouse and OLAP systems

Data warehouses are based on multidimensional modeling. Using On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) tools, decision makers navigate through and analyze multidimensional data. Typically, users need to analyze data at different aggregation levels (using roll-up and drill-down functions). Therefore, aggregation knowledge should be adequately represented in conceptual multidimensional models, and mapped in subsequent logical and physical models. However, current conceptual multidimensional models poorly represent aggregation knowledge, which (1) has a complex structure and dynamics and (2) is highly contextual. In order to account for the characteristics of this knowledge, we propose to represent it with objects (UML class diagrams) and rules in the Production Rule Representation language (PRR). Static aggregation knowledge is represented in the class diagrams, while rules represent the dynamics (i.e. how aggregation may be performed depending on context). We present the class diagrams, and a typology and examples of associated rules. We argue that this representation of aggregation knowledge enables an early modeling of user requirements in a data warehouse project. A prototype has been developed based on the Java Expert System Shell (Jess).     

Development of Secure XML Data Warehouses with QVT

ContextData warehouses are systems which integrate heterogeneous sources to support the decision making process. Data from the Web is becoming increasingly more important as sources for these systems, which has motivated the extensive use of XML to facilitate data and metadata interchange among heterogeneous data sources from the Web and the data warehouse. However, the business information that data warehouses manage is highly sensitive and must, therefore, be carefully protected. Security is thus a key issue in the design of data warehouses, regardless of the implementation technology. It is important to note that the idiosyncrasy of the unstructured and semi-structured data requires particular security rules that have been specifically tailored to these systems in order to permit their particularities to be captured correctly. Unfortunately, although security issues have been considered in the development of traditional data warehouses, current research lacks approaches with which to consider security when the target platform is based on XML technology.ObjectiveWe shall focus on defining transformations to obtain a secure XML Schema from the conceptual multidimensional model of a data warehouse.MethodWe have first defined the rationale behind the transformation rules and how they have been developed in natural language, and we have then established them clearly and formally by using the QVT language. Finally, in order to validate our proposal we have carried out a case study.ResultsWe have proposed an approach for the model driven development of Secure XML Data Warehouses, defining a set of QVT transformation rules.ConclusionThe main benefit of our proposal is that it is possible to model security requirements together with the conceptual model of the data warehouse during the early stages of a project, and automatically obtain the corresponding implementation for XML.     

基于XML的多维概念模型的研究

对于数据仓库概念模型的研究,目前缺乏统一的标准,不利于模型的交流与共享。基于XML的多维概念模型利用XML这一标准交换语言,不仅很好地解决了这一问题,而且也为元数据的集成与共享打下了基础。针对多维模型的特点,定义了一个特定的DTD,它能够完整地描述多维概念模型的各种语义特征,并针对基于UML的多维概念建模方法,定义了基于XML的多维概念模型与基于UML类图的多维概念模型的映射方法,为其应用奠定了实践基础。     

Constructing ontologies by mining deep semantics from XML Schemas and XML instance documents

With the development of the Semantic Web and Artificial Intelligence techniques, ontology has become a very powerful way of representing not only knowledge but also their semantics. Therefore, how to construct ontologies from existing data sources has become an important research topic. In this paper, an approach for constructing ontologies by mining deep semantics from eXtensible Markup Language (XML) Schemas (including XML Schema 1.0 and XML Schema 1.1) and XML instance documents is proposed. Given an XML Schema and its corresponding XML instance document, 34 rules are first defined to mine deep semantics from the XML Schema. The mined semantics is formally stored in an intermediate conceptual model and then is used to generate an ontology at the conceptual level. Further, an ontology population approach at the instance level based on the XML instance document is proposed. Now, a complete ontology is formed. Also, some corresponding core algorithms are provided. Finally, a prototype system is implemented, which can automatically generate ontologies from XML Schemas and populate ontologies from XML instance documents. The paper also classifies and summarizes the existing work and makes a detailed comparison. Case studies on real XML data sets verify the effectiveness of the approach.     

Web数据挖掘中数据集成问题的研究

在分析Web环境下数据源特点的基础上,对Web数据挖掘中的数据集成问题进行了深入的研究,给出了一个基于XML技术的集成方案.该方案采用Web数据存取方式将不同数据源集成起来,为Web数据挖掘提供了统一有效的数据集,解决了Web异构数据源集成的难题.通过一个具体实例介绍了Web数据集成的过程.     

Registry support for core component-based business document models

Electronic data interchange is the domain of exchanging business documents in a structured format. Nowadays, these systems take more and more advantage of service-oriented solutions. Nevertheless, a rigorous approach to customize the input and output messages of these services to the context of a business partnership is required. In this paper, we suggest a model-driven approach to develop the XML Schemas of input and output messages of web services. Since classical data modeling approaches like regular UML class diagrams are not sufficient for modeling business documents, we base our approach on the UN/CEFACT Core Components Technical Specification (CCTS), which does not come with a presentation syntax. Thus, we deliver a UML profile extending class diagrams by CCTS concepts, called UML Profile for Core Components (UPCC). UPCC models are transferred to equivalent XML Schemas following well-defined naming and design rules. In order to allow for an easy search and retrieval of core component business document definitions, a registry is needed. The registry has to handle UPCC models—that are exchanged and stored in XMI—as well as their XML Schema equivalences. In this paper, we extend the ebRIM registry meta-model for the special purpose of registering core component artifacts and defining their interdependencies.     

基于XML的电子病历数据模式研究

研究提出了基于XML的电子病历数据的建模方法:首先,抽象出电子病历系统中主要数据概念,并将其数据结构和关系图形化,建立其概念模型;然后,根据建立的概念模型到UML的映射机制,建立电子病历数据UML对象模型;最后,根据定义的UML模型到XML Schema的映射机制,实现UML方法描述的信息数据对象模型到XML Schema的转换,从而建立了基于XML Schema的电子病历数据模式.     

Translating relational schema into XML schema definition with data semantic preservation and XSD graph

Many legacy systems have been created by using relational database operating not for the Internet expression. Since the relational database is not an efficient way for data explosion, electronic transfer of data, and electronic business on the Web, we introduce a methodology in which a relational schema will be translated to an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema definition for creating an XML database that is a simple and efficient format on the Web. We apply the Indirect Schema Translation Method that is a semantic-based methodology in this project. The mechanism is that the Relational Schema will be translated into the conceptual model, an Extended Entity Relationship (EER) Model using Reverse Engineering. Afterward, the EER model will be mapped to an XML Schema Definition Language (XSD) Graph as an XML conceptual schema using Semantic Transformation. Finally, the XSD Graph will be mapped into the XSD as an XML logical schema in the process of Forward Engineering, and the data semantics of participation, cardinality, generalization, aggregation, categorization, N-ary and U-ary relationship are preserved in the translated XML schema definition.     

An XML-enabled data extraction toolkit for web sources

The amount of useful semi-structured data on the web continues to grow at a stunning pace. Often interesting web data are not in database systems but in HTML pages, XML pages, or text files. Data in these formats are not directly usable by standard SQL-like query processing engines that support sophisticated querying and reporting beyond keyword-based retrieval. Hence, the web users or applications need a smart way of extracting data from these web sources. One of the popular approaches is to write wrappers around the sources, either manually or with software assistance, to bring the web data within the reach of more sophisticated query tools and general mediator-based information integration systems. In this paper, we describe the methodology and the software development of an XML-enabled wrapper construction system—XWRAP for semi-automatic generation of wrapper programs. By XML-enabled we mean that the metadata about information content that are implicit in the original web pages will be extracted and encoded explicitly as XML tags in the wrapped documents. In addition, the query-based content filtering process is performed against the XML documents. The XWRAP wrapper generation framework has three distinct features. First, it explicitly separates tasks of building wrappers that are specific to a web source from the tasks that are repetitive for any source, and uses a component library to provide basic building blocks for wrapper programs. Second, it provides inductive learning algorithms that derive or discover wrapper patterns by reasoning about sample pages or sample specifications. Third and most importantly, we introduce and develop a two-phase code generation framework. The first phase utilizes an interactive interface facility to encode the source-specific metadata knowledge identified by individual wrapper developers as declarative information extraction rules. The second phase combines the information extraction rules generated at the first phase with the XWRAP component library to construct an executable wrapper program for the given web source.     

A UML profile for the conceptual modelling of data-mining with time-series in data warehouses

Time-series analysis is a powerful technique to discover patterns and trends in temporal data. However, the lack of a conceptual model for this data-mining technique forces analysts to deal with unstructured data. These data are represented at a low-level of abstraction and their management is expensive. Most analysts face up to two main problems: (i) the cleansing of the huge amount of potentially-analysable data and (ii) the correct definition of the data-mining algorithms to be employed. Owing to the fact that analysts’ interests are also hidden in this scenario, it is not only difficult to prepare data, but also to discover which data is the most promising. Since their appearance, data warehouses have, therefore, proved to be a powerful repository of historical data for data-mining purposes. Moreover, their foundational modelling paradigm, such as, multidimensional modelling, is very similar to the problem domain. In this article, we propose a unified modelling language (UML) extension through UML profiles for data-mining. Specifically, the UML profile presented allows us to specify time-series analysis on top of the multidimensional models of data warehouses. Our extension provides analysts with an intuitive notation for time-series analysis which is independent of any specific data-mining tool or algorithm. In order to show its feasibility and ease of use, we apply it to the analysis of fish-captures in Alicante. We believe that a coherent conceptual modelling framework for data-mining assures a better and easier knowledge-discovery process on top of data warehouses.     

PDM system implementation based on UML

The paper deals with a Unified Modeling Language (UML)-based approach for implementing Product Data Management (PDM) system. Such kind of system enables the management of the entire product lifecycle and related information about its design, its manufacturing and its in-service.

The interest of using an UML-based approach for modeling, specifying and implementing PDM systems is detailed. Then an implementation method is proposed in order to clarify the instantiation of UML diagrams into database entities. Regarding a business case study based on the needs of a turboprop aircraft development project, the preliminary implementation of PDM system is presented. The used UML diagrams for the modeling and integration of product, process, and resource data is detailed in order to argue the interest of an object-oriented approach in such kind of PDM implementation.     

Conceptual modelling of web sites for end-users

Internet and the WWW more and more play an important role in our information society. It is now one of the major sources of information in every rank of our society. The overwhelming accessibility to data, on a global scale, does not necessarily translate to widespread utility of data. We often find that we are drowning in data, with few tools to help managing relevant data for our various activities. In this paper, we argue that the WWW and its end-users could benefit from the existence of a conceptual web site schema. We propose such a conceptual web site schema that describes what information is available in a web site and how this information is structured into pages and links. To allow to communicate this information through the web, we developed an XML Document Type Definition (DTD) for this conceptual web site schema. We also illustrate the feasibility of the approach by a simple application program developed using the XML Document Object Model (DOM). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.