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Triggers and Inference In Database Systems

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On Knowledge Base Management Systems

Part of the book series: Topics in Information Systems ((TINF))

Abstract

There is a collection of database applications (such as real time control) which may be best accomplished using collections of triggers. The paradigm in which an initial action recursively triggers dependent actions is often called forward chaining. In addition, database support for large knowledge bases requires at least a simple inferencing capability. When a retrieve command cannot be satisfied using only stored data, a data manager must determine if a rule in the knowledge base can be used to reformulate the query. In this way, one works from the desired data toward database facts which must be ascertained using backward chaining.

In this paper we show how forward chaining and backward chaining can both be supported by simple extensions to a relational query language. Moreover, we demonstrate extensions to a conventional lock manager which will efficiently implement the new constructs. Lastly, the extensions to support backtracking are described.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Michael Stonebraker

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  1. Michael Stonebraker
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Corporation of America, 4 Cambridge Center, 02142, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Micheal L. Brodie

  2. Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, M5S IA4, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    John Mylopoulos

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© 1986 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Stonebraker, M. (1986). Triggers and Inference In Database Systems. In: Brodie, M.L., Mylopoulos, J. (eds) On Knowledge Base Management Systems. Topics in Information Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4980-1_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4980-1_25

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9383-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-4980-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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