Database modelling is concerned with the design of reliable and
efficient database systems. Three different approaches to modelling can
be identified: structure-oriented, process-oriented, and
behaviour-oriented. Database literature has traditionally focused on
structure-oriented approaches, but it is now widely recognised that
problems can be solved more effectively by integrating all three. As a
result, modelling database dynamics is now considered to be as important
as modelling static database structures. This volume contains selected
papers from the Fourth International Workshop on Foundations of Models
and Languages for Data and Objects, held in Volkse, Germany, 19-22
October, 1992. This series of international workshops was initiated by
the Working Group on Foundations of Information Systems, part of the
German Association for Informatics. It provides an international forum
for the discussion of current research into database theory and its
application to database technology. The theme of this particular
workshop was modelling the dynamic behaviour of database systems in
formal frameworks. As object-oriented principles are being widely used
in current research work, particular emphasis was also given to object
dynamics. Among the topics covered in this volume are: specifying the
dynamics of complex objects databases; updates in a rule-based language
for objects; an order-sorted approach to active objects;
non-deterministic aspects of database transformations involving object
creation; monitoring temporal permissions using partially evaluated
transition graphs; a formalisation of logic databases and integrity
constraints; a comparison of approaches for modelling dynamics of
databases. Modelling Database Dynamics provides a comprehensive
overview of current research into the modelling and use of database
dynamics. It will provide invaluable reading for researchers,
postgraduate students, and anyone interested in the theoretical
foundations of computer science.
