An Axiomatic Model of Dynamic Schema Evolution in Objectbase Systems

Authors: 
Peters, Randel J.; Özsu, M. Tamer
Author: 
Peters, R
Özsu, M
Year: 
1997
Venue: 
ACM TODS 22(1): 75-114 (1997)
URL: 
http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/peters97axiomatic.html
Citations: 
86
Citations range: 
50 - 99

A sound and complete axiomatic model is proposed for dynamic schema evolution (DSE) in objectbase systems (OBSs) that supports the fundamental concepts of object-oriented computing such as subtyping and property inheritance. The model can infer all schema relationships from two identified input sets associated with each type called the essential supertypes and essential properties. These sets are typically specified by schema designers but can be automatically supplied within an OBS. The inference mechanism performed by the model has a proven termination.