Cardinality constraints in semantic data models

Constraints are central to the notion of a semantic data model. How well a model captures constraints affects its power and viability as a semantic data model. Cardinality constraints are an important subclass of general constraints. In this paper we provide formal definitions for cardinality constraints of several semantic models, as described in the literature. We construct a partial ordering of these constraints that shows the relative power expressed by each cardinality constraints. We discuss our results and offer possible extensions to contemporary cardinality constraint definitions. Our contributions include a collection and formal definition of existing cardinality constraints, a partial ordering of this set, and recommendations for cardinality constraint mechanisms in semantic data models.     

Inter-deriving semantic artifacts for object-oriented programming

We present a new abstract machine for Abadi and Cardelli's untyped non-imperative calculus of objects. This abstract machine mechanically corresponds to both the reduction semantics (i.e., small-step operational semantics) and the natural semantics (i.e., big-step operational semantics) specified in Abadi and Cardelli's monograph. To move closer to actual implementations, which use environments rather than actual substitutions, we then represent methods as closures and we present three new semantic artifacts for a version of Abadi and Cardelli's calculus with explicit substitutions: a reduction semantics, an environment-based abstract machine, and a natural semantics (i.e., an interpreter) with environments. These three new semantic artifacts mechanically correspond to each other, and the two abstract machines are bisimilar. Their significance lies in the fact that they have not been designed from scratch and then proved correct; instead, they have been inter-derived.To illustrate the inter-derivation and to make this article stand-alone, we also comprehensively treat the example of negational normalization over Boolean formulas, in appendix.     

Using NNF to transform conceptual data models to object-oriented database designs

More work is needed on devising practical, but theoretically well-founded procedures for doing object-oriented database (OODB) design [17]. Design procedures should also be flexible enough to take into account various application characteristics (such as whether objects are very large or are read-only). In this paper, we present and discuss an OODB design procedure that addresses these problems. The procedure is practical in the sense that it is based on a common family of conceptual models and in the sense that it does not expect users to supply esoteric, difficult-to-discover, and hard-to-understand constraints (such as multivalued dependencies), nor does it make hard-to-check and easy-to-overlook assumptions (such as the universal relation scheme assumption). At the same time, the procedure is well-founded and formal, being based on NNF (Nested Normal Form [21]), a new theoretical result that characterizes properties of interest in designing complex objects. It is also adaptable to various applications characteristics.     

Object composition and playback models for handling multimedia data

Object-oriented models are proposed for handling multimedia data: an object composition model and a playback model. The introduction of temporal glue, an extension of T_EX's glue, and a mechanism for constructing composite multimedia data hierarchically, makes it quite easy to edit and reuse composite multimedia data. This paper explains the models and experimental results obtained for a set of C++ class libraries based on them.     

The object-oriented functional data language

The object-oriented functional data language (O²FDL) is an interactive strongly typed database programming language that integrates the object-oriented and functional programming paradigms. It was designed for advanced applications that require a powerful and uniform database programming language supporting the software engineering principles of these tow paradigms. To this end, the O² FDL supports inheritance and encapsulation of object-oriented languages, and an equational notation and strong typing of functional programming. Strong typing is extended with type restrictions to constrain the instantiations of type variables in function interfaces, while inheritance is augmented with a monotonic subtype rule for function redefinition. The O²FDL also supports novel features. For the core of the O²FDL, a denotational semantics based on an extended λ-calculus is provided. For selected system-defined functions, operational semantics are provided and it is demonstrated that a subset of the O²FDL is at least as expressive as the relational algebra     

WFS + branch and bound = stable models

Though the semantics of nonmonotonic logic programming has been studied extensively, relatively little work has been done on operational aspects of these semantics. In this paper, we develop techniques to compute the well-founded model of a logic program. We describe a prototype implementation and show, based on experimental results, that our technique is more efficient than the standard alternating fixpoint computation. Subsequently, we develop techniques to compute the set of all stable models of a deductive database. These techniques first compute the well-founded semantics and then use an intelligent branch and bound strategy to compute the stable models. We report on our implementation, as well as on experiments that we have conducted on the efficiency of our approach     

从面向功能到面向对象模型的转换策略研究

有不少软件公司在软件开发过程中同时使用了面向功能的和面向对象的技术,例如在开发某一系统时,在采用了面向功能的分析模式后又使用了面向对象的设计方法,因此找到一种方法来实现从一种模式向另一种模式的转换是相当有必要的.提出了一种灵活可行的从面向功能的分析模型到面向对象的设计模型的转换策略.     

Incremental maintenance of object-oriented data warehouses

Incremental maintenance of data warehouses has attracted a lot of research attention for the past few years. Nevertheless, most of the previous work is confined to the relational setting. Recently, object-oriented data warehouses have been regarded as a better means to integrate data from modern heterogeneous data sources. However, existing approaches to incremental maintenance of data warehouses do not directly apply to object-oriented data warehouses. In this paper, therefore, we propose an approach to incremental maintenance of object-oriented data warehouses. We focus on two primary issues specifically. First, we identify six categories of potential updates to an object-oriented view and propose an algorithm to find potential updates from the definition of the view. Second, we propose an incremental view maintenance algorithm for maintaining object-oriented data warehouses. We have implemented a prototype system for incremental maintenance of object-oriented data warehouses. Performance evaluation has been conducted, which indicates that our approach is correct and efficient.     

Formal foundations for object-oriented data modeling

Class dictionary graphs, axiomatic definitions of basic structures used by object-oriented designers and programmers during the software development process, are discussed. An axiomatic foundation for object-oriented data modeling and efficient algorithms for checking whether a given data model satisfies the axioms are presented. The data model is the foundation for a number of techniques for developing object-oriented systems, including adaptive software, schema abstraction from object examples, schema optimization, planning techniques for system development, and the Law of Demeter, among others     

An enhanced neutral object-oriented data model

A neutral object-oriented data model is necessary to provide separation of application data views from physical data storage in industrial software systems. This short note suggests that a semantically enhanced object data model beyond that of current language-oriented models will be necessary to provide robust capabilities.     

一种面向对象GIS数据模型的研究

在对传统的空间数据结构和数据模型研究的基础上,提出了一种以面向对象的方式组织的数据模型,并针对GIS数据的组织、底层对象的结构、O/R映射方式进行了讨论。通过使用这种模型,更有利于在上层软件中采用面向对象的设计和实现。     

Real-time information integrity = system integrity + data integrity + continuous assurances

A majority of companies today are totally dependent on their information assets, in most cases stored, processed and communicated within information systems in digital format. These information systems are enabled by modern information and communication technologies. These technologies are exposed to a continuously increasing set of risks. Yet, management and stakeholders continuously make important business decisions on information produced in real-time from these information systems. This information is unaccompanied by objective assurances as the current auditing procedures provide assurances months later. Therefore, risk management, including a system of internal controls, has become paramount to ensure the information's integrity. A system of internal controls, including IT controls at its core, help limit uncertainty and mitigate the risks to an acceptable level. Auditors play an increasingly important role in providing independent assurances that the information system's infrastructure and data maintain their integrities. These assurances include proposed new methods such as continuous auditing for assurance on demand.     

关系数据模型与面向对象数据模型的关系探讨

面向对象数据模型的应用打破了油田单一关系数据库体系架构。如何在面向对象数据模型和关系数据模型并存条件下构建和优化协调统一的数据库体系架构,是油田数据库建设的重要技术方向之一。本文从油田数据库应用的角度概要对比了关系数据模型和面向对象数据模型的特点,对关系数据模型和面向对象数据模型共存条件下建立油田数据库体系架构的可能性进行了探讨。     

Exploring models for semantic category verification

Many artificial intelligence tasks, such as automated question answering, reasoning, or heterogeneous database integration, involve verification of a semantic category (e.g. “coffee” is a drink, “red” is a color, while “steak” is not a drink and “big” is not a color). In this research, we explore completely automated on-the-fly verification of a membership in any arbitrary category which has not been expected a priori. Our approach does not rely on any manually codified knowledge (such as WordNet or Wikipedia) but instead capitalizes on the diversity of topics and word usage on the World Wide Web, thus can be considered “knowledge-light” and complementary to the “knowledge-intensive” approaches. We have created a quantitative verification model and established (1) what specific variables are important and (2) what ranges and upper limits of accuracy are attainable. While our semantic verification algorithm is entirely self-contained (not involving any previously reported components that are beyond the scope of this paper), we have tested it empirically within our fact seeking engine on the well known TREC conference test questions. Due to our implementation of semantic verification, the answer accuracy has improved by up to 16% depending on the specific models and metrics used.     

On semantic annotation of decision models

The growth of service sector in recent years has led to renewed research interests in the design and management of service systems. Decision support systems (DSS) play an important role in supporting this endeavor, through management of organizational resources such as models and data, thus forming the “back stage” of service systems. In this article, we identify the requirements for semantically annotating decision models and propose a model representation scheme, termed Semantically Annotated Structure Modeling Markup Language (SA-SMML) that extends Structure Modeling Markup Language (SMML) by incorporating mechanisms for linking semantic models such as ontologies that represent problem domain knowledge concepts. This model representation format is also amenable to a scalable Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) for managing models in distributed environments. The proposed model representation technique leverages recent advances in the areas of semantic web, and semantic web services. Along with design considerations, we demonstrate the utility of this representation format with an illustrative usage scenarios with a particular emphasis on model discovery and composition in a distributed environment.     

基于面向对象技术的数据仓库设计与实现

介绍了数据仓库技术的概念与内容,研究了运用面向对象技术建立数据仓库系统的关键技术。以某化工企业决策支持系统为背景,给出了基于面向对象技术的数据仓库的设计方案,并对其逻辑设计,前端展现程序设计进行了探讨。     

面向对象XML的对象迁移方法研究

针对面向对象的XML数据的对象迁移问题,提出基于集中式和分布式两种存储模式下的对象迁移方法,解决了对象标识符模糊性问题。集中式存储模式对象的OID是唯一的,但是在集中式存储模式中更新已存在的对迁移对象的引用代价很大;分布式存储模式对象的OID是多重的,但对象迁移的代价相对较小。     

Uncertainty management issues in the object-oriented data model

This paper fully develops a previous approach by George et al. (1993) to modeling uncertainty in class hierarchies. The model utilizes fuzzy logic to generalize equality to similarity which permitted impreciseness in data to be represented by uncertainty in classification. In this paper, the data model is formally defined and a nonredundancy preserving primitive operator, the merge, is described. It is proven that nonredundancy is always preserved in the model. An object algebra is proposed, and transformations that preserve query equality are discussed