Facilitating database attribute domain evolution using mesodata

Authors: 
Vries, D de; Roddick, JF
Author: 
Vries, D
Roddick, J
Year: 
2004
Venue: 
Proc. 3rd Int. Workshop on Evolution and Change in Data Management (ECDM 2004), LNCS 3289
URL: 
http://www.springerlink.com/content/2EAR47KU5MAFFNR7/fulltext.pdf
DOI: 
10.1007/b101694
Citations: 
13
Citations range: 
10 - 49
AttachmentSize
Vries2004Facilitatingdatabaseattributedomainevolutionusingmesodata.pdf182.46 KB

Database evolution can be considered a combination ofschema evolution, in which the structure evolves with the addition and deletion of attributes and relations, together with domain evolution in which an attributersquos specification, semantics and/or range of allowable values changes. We present a model in which mesodata – an additional domain definition layer containing domain structure and intelligence – is used to alleviate and in some cases obviate the need for data conversion or coercion. We present the nature and use of mesodata as it affects domain evolution, such as when a domain changes, when the semantics of a domain alter and when the attribute's specification is modified.