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IFO: a formal semantic database model

Editor: Gio Wiederhold Authors:

Serge Abiteboul,

Richard HullAuthors Info & Claims

ACM Transactions on Database Systems (TODS), Volume 12, Issue 4

Pages 525 - 565

https://doi.org/10.1145/32204.32205

Published: 01 November 1987 Publication History

Abstract

A new, formally defined database model is introduced that combines fundamental principles of “semantic” database modeling in a coherent fashion. Using a graph-based formalism, the IFO model provides mechanisms for representing structured objects, and functional and ISA relationships between them. A number of fundamental results concerning semantic data modeling are obtained in the context of the IFO model. Notably, the types of object structure that can arise as a result of multiple uses of ISA relationships and object construction are described. Also, a natural, formal definition of update propagation is given, and it is shown that (under certain conditions) a correct update always exists.

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Cited By

Boneva IGroz BHidders JMurlak FStaworko SGeerts FNgo HSintos S(2023)Static Analysis of Graph Database TransformationsProceedings of the 42nd ACM SIGMOD-SIGACT-SIGAI Symposium on Principles of Database Systems10.1145/3584372.3588654(251-261)Online publication date: 18-Jun-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3584372.3588654
Ma ZYan L(2022)Data modeling and querying with fuzzy setsFuzzy Sets and Systems10.1016/j.fss.2022.01.006445:C(147-183)Online publication date: 20-Sep-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.fss.2022.01.006
Reznichenko V(2021)60 Years of DatabasesPROBLEMS IN PROGRAMMING10.15407/pp2021.03.040(040-071)Online publication date: Sep-2021
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Index Terms

IFO: a formal semantic database model
1. Computing methodologies
  1. Artificial intelligence
    1. Knowledge representation and reasoning
      1. Semantic networks
2. Information systems
  1. Data management systems
    1. Database design and models

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Reviews

Reviewer: Elizabeth Ann Buschlen Unger

A new formal semantic database model is introduced in this paper. The model, IFO, is graph based. It uses types to represent objects and provides functional and ISA relationships to connect these objects. The authors provide a clear formal structure for the model and supply good, illustrative examples to aid comprehension. One of the most interesting aspects of the paper for those interested in semantic models is the manner in which the authors define update propagation in an IFO schema. This paper is extremely well written. The model appears to be very well founded and is a significant step forward in the development of semantic database models.

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Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

cover image ACM Transactions on Database Systems

ACM Transactions on Database Systems Volume 12, Issue 4

Dec. 1987

172 pages

ISSN:0362-5915

EISSN:1557-4644

DOI:10.1145/32204

Editor:
Gio Wiederhold
Computer Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © 1987 ACM.

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 01 November 1987

Published in TODS Volume 12, Issue 4

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Cited By

Boneva IGroz BHidders JMurlak FStaworko SGeerts FNgo HSintos S(2023)Static Analysis of Graph Database TransformationsProceedings of the 42nd ACM SIGMOD-SIGACT-SIGAI Symposium on Principles of Database Systems10.1145/3584372.3588654(251-261)Online publication date: 18-Jun-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3584372.3588654
Ma ZYan L(2022)Data modeling and querying with fuzzy setsFuzzy Sets and Systems10.1016/j.fss.2022.01.006445:C(147-183)Online publication date: 20-Sep-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.fss.2022.01.006
Reznichenko V(2021)60 Years of DatabasesPROBLEMS IN PROGRAMMING10.15407/pp2021.03.040(040-071)Online publication date: Sep-2021
https://doi.org/10.15407/pp2021.03.040
Yan LMa Z(2019)A formal approach for graphically building fuzzy XML modelInternational Journal of Intelligent Systems10.1002/int.2218834:11(3058-3076)Online publication date: 24-Sep-2019
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1002/int.22188
Yan LMa Z(2018)Modeling and Querying Fuzzy DataIntelligent Systems10.4018/978-1-5225-5643-5.ch100(2245-2273)Online publication date: 2018
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-5643-5.ch100
Lizardo LDavis C(2017)A PostGIS extension to support advanced spatial data types and integrity constraintsProceedings of the 25th ACM SIGSPATIAL International Conference on Advances in Geographic Information Systems10.1145/3139958.3140020(1-10)Online publication date: 7-Nov-2017
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Filho JIochpe C(2017)Modeling with a UML ProfileEncyclopedia of GIS10.1007/978-3-319-17885-1_809(1318-1329)Online publication date: 12-May-2017
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17885-1_809
Yan LMa Z(2016)Modeling and Querying Fuzzy DataHandbook of Research on Innovative Database Query Processing Techniques10.4018/978-1-4666-8767-7.ch005(129-157)Online publication date: 2016
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-8767-7.ch005
Hochin TNomiya HDesai BToyama MBernardino J(2016)Extension of Semantic Generalization for Considering a Class-LatticeProceedings of the 20th International Database Engineering & Applications Symposium10.1145/2938503.2938528(352-357)Online publication date: 11-Jul-2016
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Filho JIochpe C(2016)Modeling with a UML ProfileEncyclopedia of GIS10.1007/978-3-319-23519-6_809-2(1-12)Online publication date: 6-Jun-2016
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