Skip to main content

Abstract

Fact-oriented modeling is a conceptual approach that enables one to model and query business domains in terms of the underlying facts of interest, where all facts and rules may be verbalized in language readily understandable by non-technical users of those business domains. Unlike Entity-Relationship modeling and object-oriented modeling, fact-oriented modeling treats all facts as relationships (unary, binary, ternary etc.). Grouping of facts into attribute-based structures (e.g. ER entities, UML objects, database relations, XML elements) is considered a lower level, implementation issue that is irrelevant to capturing the essential business semantics. This chapter provides a brief history of the fact-oriented modeling approach, illustrates its main concepts and benefits via a case study, reviews the current state of the art in terms of methodology and tooling perspectives, and identifies several topics for future research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Abrial, J.R. (1974) Data Semantics. In: Klimbie JW, Koffeman KL (eds) Data Base Management. North-Holland, Amsterdam, pp 1–60

    Google Scholar 

  2. Azizah, F.N., Bakema, G. (2006) Data Modeling Patterns using Fully Communication Oriented Information Modeling. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2006: OTM 2006 Workshops, LNCS vol 4278. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1221–1230.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  3. Balsters, H., Carver, A., Halpin, T., Morgan, T. (2006) Modeling Dynamic Rules in ORM. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2006: OTM 2006 Workshops, LNCS vol 4278. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bakema, G., Zwart, J., van der Lek, H. (2000) Fully Communication Oriented Information Modelling. Ten Hagen Stam, The Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bird, L.J. (1997) Data Reverse Engineering: From a relational database system to a 3-dimensional conceptual schema. PhD thesis, University of Queensland.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bird, L., Goodchild A, Halpin T (2000) Object Role Modeling and XML Schema. In: Conceptual Modeling — ER2000, Proc. 19th ER Conference, Salt Lake City, October 2000, LNCS vol 1920. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 309–322

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bloesch, A., Halpin, T. (1997) Conceptual queries using ConQuer-II. In: Proc ER’97: 16th Int. Conf. on Conceptual Modeling, LNCS vol 1331. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 113–126

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bollen, P. (2002) A Formal Transformation from Object Role Models to UML class diagrams. In: Proc. EMMSAD’02 Workshop, Toronto.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bollen, P. (2006) Using Fact-orientation for Instructional design. In: Meersman R, Tari Z, Herrero P et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2006: OTM 2006 Workshops, LNCS vol 4278. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1231–1241

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Bommel, P. van, Hoppenbrouwers, S., Proper, H., Weide, Th P. van der (2006) Exploring Modelling Strategies in a Meta-modelling Context. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2006: OTM 2006 Workshops, LNCS vol 4278. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1128–1137

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. Bruza, P.D., Weide, Th P. van der (1989) The Semantics of TRIDL, Technical Report 89-17, Department of Information Systems, University of Nijmegen.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Campbell, L., Halpin, T. (1993) Automated Support for Conceptual to External Mapping. In: Brinkkemper S, Harmsen F (eds) Proc 4th Workshop on Next Generation CASE Tools, Univ. Twente Memoranda Informatica 93-32, Paris (June), pp 35–51

    Google Scholar 

  13. Campbell, L., Halpin, T. (1994) The reverse engineering of relational databases. In: Proc 5th Workshop on Next Generation CASE Tools, Utrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Campbell, L., Halpin, T., Proper, H. (1996) Conceptual Schemas with Abstractions: making flat conceptual schemas more comprehensible. Data Knowl Eng 20(1): 39–85.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  15. Curland, M., Halpin, T. (2007) Model Driven Development with NORMA. In: Proc. HICSS-40, CD-ROM, IEEE Computer Society.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Cuyler, D., Halpin, T. (2005) Two Meta-Models for Object-Role Modeling. In: Krogstie J, Halpin T, Siau K (eds) Information Modeling Methods and Methodologies, Idea Publishing Group, Hershey, pp 17–42

    Google Scholar 

  17. Chen, P.P. (1976) The entity-relationship model—towards a unified view of data. ACM Transactions on Database Systems, 1(1), pp 9–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. De Troyer, O. (1993) On Data Schema Transformations, PhD thesis, Uni. Tilburg.

    Google Scholar 

  19. De Troyer, O., Meersman, R. (1995) A logic framework for a semantics of object oriented data modeling. In: OOER’95: Object-Oriented and Entity-Relationship Modeling, LNCS vol. 1021. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 238–249

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  20. De Troyer, O., Castelyn, S., Plessers, P. (2005). Using ORM to Model Web Systems. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2005: OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp. 700–709

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  21. Dietz, J.L.G. (2005) A World Ontology Specification Language. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2005: OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 688–699

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  22. Dietz, J.L.G., Halpin, T. (2004) Using DEMO and ORM in Concert: A Case Study. In: Siau K (ed) Advanced Topics in Database Research, vol. 3, Idea Group, Hershey

    Google Scholar 

  23. Dumas, M., Aldred, L., ter Hofstede, A. (2002) From Conceptual Models to Constrained Web Forms. In: Kashyap V, Shklar L (eds) Real World Semantic Web Applications, IOS Press, pp 50–68

    Google Scholar 

  24. Embley, D.W. (1998) Object Database Development, Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Embley, D.W., Wu, H.A., Pinkston, J.S., Czejdo, B. (1996) OSM-QL: a calculus-based graphical query language, Tech Report, Brigham Young University, Utah

    Google Scholar 

  26. Evans, K. (2005) Requirements Engineering with ORM, In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2005: OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 646–655

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  27. Everest, G. (1994) Experiences teaching NIAM/OR modeling. In: Nijssen GM, Sharp J (eds), NIAM-ISDM 1994 Conf. Working papers, Albuquerque, pp N1–26

    Google Scholar 

  28. Falkenberg, E. (1976) Concepts for modeling information. In: Nijssen GM (ed) Proc. 1976 IFIP Working Conf. on Modelling in Data Base Management Systems, North-Holland Publishing, pp 95–109

    Google Scholar 

  29. Falkenberg, E., van der Weide, Th. P. (1988) Formal Description of the TOP Model, Technical Report 88-01, Department of Information Systems, University of Nijmegen

    Google Scholar 

  30. Habrias, H. (1993) Normalized Object Oriented Method. In: Encyclopedia of Microcomputers, vol. 12, Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 271–285

    Google Scholar 

  31. Halpin, T. (1989) A Logical Analysis of Information Systems: static aspects of the data-oriented perspective, PhD thesis, University of Queensland

    Google Scholar 

  32. Halpin, T. (2000) Integrating fact-oriented modeling with object-oriented modeling. In: Siau K, Rossi M (eds) Information Modeling for the new Millenium, Idea Group Publishing, Hershey, pp 150–166

    Google Scholar 

  33. Halpin, T. (2000) Modeling collections in UML and ORM. In: Proc EMMSAD’00: 5th IFIP WG8.1 Int Workshop on Evaluation of Modeling Methods in Systems Analysis and Design, Kista, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  34. Halpin, T. (2001) Information Modeling and Relational Databases, Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Halpin, T. (2002) Information Analysis in UML and ORM: a Comparison. In: Siau K (ed) Advanced Topics in Database Research, vol. 1, Idea Group, Hershey

    Google Scholar 

  36. Halpin, T. (2004) Comparing Metamodels for ER, ORM and UML Data Models. In: Siau K (ed) Advanced Topics in Database Research, vol. 3, Idea Group, Hershey

    Google Scholar 

  37. Halpin, T. (2004) Business Rule Verbalization. In: Doroshenko A, Halpin T, Liddle S, Mayr H (eds) Information Systems Technology and its Applications, Proc. ISTA-2004, Salt Lake City, Lec. Notes in Informatics, vol. P-48, pp 39–52

    Google Scholar 

  38. Halpin, T. (2005) Constraints on Conceptual Join Paths. In: Krogstie J, Halpin T, Siau K (eds) Information Modeling Methods and Methodologies, Idea Group, Hershey

    Google Scholar 

  39. Halpin, T. (2005) Higher-Order Types and Information Modeling. In: Siau K (ed) Advanced Topics in Database Research, vol. 4, Idea Pub. Group, Hershey, pp 218–237

    Google Scholar 

  40. Halpin, T. (2005) Objectification. In: Castro J, Teniente E (eds) Proc. CAiSE’05 Workshops, FEUP, Porto, pp 519–532

    Google Scholar 

  41. Halpin, T. (2005) Fact-Orientation Meets Agent-Orientation. In: Bresciani P et al. (eds) Agent-Oriented Information Systems II, LNAI vol 3508, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 97–109

    Google Scholar 

  42. Halpin, T. (2005) Information Modeling in UML and ORM: A Comparison. In: Khosrow-Pour M (ed) Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, vol. 3, Idea Publishing Group, Hershey, pp 1471–1475

    Google Scholar 

  43. Halpin, T. (2005) ORM 2. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2005: OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 676–687

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  44. Halpin, T. (2006) Object-Role Modeling (ORM/NIAM). In: Bernus P, Mertins K, Schmidt G (eds) Handbook on Architectures of Information Systems, 2 nd edition, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, Heidelberg, pp 81–103

    Google Scholar 

  45. Halpin, T. (2006) Business Rule Modality. In: Latour T, Petit M (eds) Proc. CAiSE’06 Workshops, Namur University Press, pp 383–394

    Google Scholar 

  46. Halpin, T., Bloesch, A. (1999) Data modeling in UML and ORM: a comparison. Journal of Database Management, 10(4): 4–13

    Google Scholar 

  47. Halpin, T., Curland, M. (2006) Automated Verbalization for ORM 2. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2006: OTM 2006 Workshops, LNCS vol 4278. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1181–1190

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  48. Halpin, T., Evans, K., Hallock, P., MacLean, W. (2003) Database Modeling with Microsoft® Visio for Enterprise Architects, Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Halpin, T., Proper, H. 1995, ‘Subtyping and polymorphism in Object-Role Modeling’, Data and Knowledge Engineering, 15: 251–281.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  50. Halpin, T, Proper, H. (1995) Database schema transformation and optimization. In: Papazoglou M (ed) OOER’95: Object-Oriented and Entity-Relationship Modeling, LNCS vol 1021. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 191–203

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  51. Halpin, T., Vermeir, D. (1997) Default reasoning in information systems. In: Database Applications Semantics, Chapman & Hall, London, pp 423–441

    Google Scholar 

  52. Halpin, T., Wagner, G. (2003) Modeling Reactive Behavior in ORM’. Conceptual Modeling — ER2003, LNCS vol 2813. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 567–569

    Google Scholar 

  53. ter Hofstede, A.H.M. (1993) Information Modelling in Data Intensive Domains, PhD thesis, University of Nijmegen

    Google Scholar 

  54. Hansen, J., dela Cruz, N. (2006) Evolution of a Dynamic Multidimensional Denormalization Meta Model Using Object Role Modeling. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2006: OTM 2006 Workshops, LNCS vol 4278. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1160–69

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  55. Henricksen, K., Indulska, J., McFadden, T. (2005) Modelling Context Information with ORM. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2005: OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  56. ter Hofstede, A.H.M., Proper, H.A., Weide, Th.P. van der (1993) Formal definition of a conceptual language for the description and manipulation of information models, Information Systems, vol. 18, no. 7, pp 489–523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. ter Hofstede, A.H.M., Weide, Th.P van der (1993) Expressiveness in conceptual data modeling’, Data and Knowl Eng 10(1): 65–100

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  58. Hoppenbrouwers, S., Lindeman, H., Properm H. (2006) Capturing Modeling Processes—Towards the MODial Modeling Laboratory. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2006: OTM 2006 Workshops, LNCS vol 4278. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1242–1252

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  59. Hoppenbrouwers, S., Proper, H., Weidem Th.P. van der (2005), Fact Calculus: Using ORM and Lisa-D to Reason about Domains. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2005: OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 720–729

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  60. Jarrar, M. (2005) Modularization and Automatic Composition of Object-Role Modeling (ORM) Schemes. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2005: OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Keet, M. (2005) Using Abstractions to facilitate Management of Large ORM Models. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2005: OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 603–612

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  62. Keet, M. (2006) Part-Whole Relations in Object-Role Models. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2006: OTM 2006 Workshops, LNCS vol 4278. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1118–1127

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  63. Kent, W. (1977) Entities and relationships in Information. In: Nijssen GM (ed) Proc 1977 IFIP Working Conf on Modelling in Data Base Management Systems, Nice, France, North-Holland Publishing, pp 67–91

    Google Scholar 

  64. Kent, W. (2000) Data and Reality, 2nd edition, 1stBooks Library, Bloomington.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Meersman, R. (1982) The RIDL conceptual language, Research report, Int. Centre for Information Analysis Services, Control Data Belgium, Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Mok, W., Embley, D. (1996) Transforming conceptual model to objectoriented database designs: practicalities, properties and peculiarities. In: Proc ER’96: 15th Int. Conf. on conceptual modeling, LNCS, vol. 1157. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  67. Morgan, T. (2006) Some Features of State Machines in ORM. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2006: OTM 2006 Workshops, LNCS vol 4278. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1211–1220

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  68. Nijssen, G.M. (1976) A gross architecture for the next generation database management systems. In: Nijssen GM (ed) Proc. 1976 IFIP Working Conf. on Modelling in Data Base Management Systems, Freudenstadt, Germany, North-Holland Publishing

    Google Scholar 

  69. Nijssen, G.M. (1977) Current issues in conceptual schema concepts. In: Nijssen GM (ed) Proc. 1977 IFIP Working Conf. on Modelling in Data Base Management Systems, Nice, France, North-Holland Publishing, pp 31–66

    Google Scholar 

  70. Oaks, P., ter Hofstede, A., Edmond, D., Spork, M. (2003) Extending conceptual models for web based applications, Conceptual Modeling — ER2003, Proc. 22nd ER Conference, Chicago, LNCS vol 2813. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 216–245

    Google Scholar 

  71. Object Management Group 2003, UML 2.0 Superstructure Specification. Online at: www.omg.org/uml.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Object Management Group 2005, UML OCL 2.0 Specification. Online at: http://www.omg.org/docs/ptc/05-06-06.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Object Management Group 2006, Semantics of Business Vocabulary and Business Rules Interim Specification. Online at: www.omg.org/cgibin/doc?dtc/06-03-02.

    Google Scholar 

  74. Pepels, B., Plasmeijer, R. (2005) Generating Applications from Object Role Models. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2005: OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 656–665

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  75. Pepels, B., Plasmeijer, R., Proper, H. (2006) Fact-Oriented Modeling from a Programming Language Designer’s Perspective. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2006: OTM 2006 Workshops, LNCS vol 4278. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1170–1180

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  76. Pierson, E., dela Cruz, N. (2005) Using Object Role Modeling for Effective In-house Decision Support Systems. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 636–645

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  77. Piprani, B. (2006) Using ORM-based Models as a Foundation for a data Quality Firewall in an Advanced Generation Data Warehouse. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2005: OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1148–1159

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  78. Proper, H.A. (1994) A Theory for Conceptual Modeling of Evolving Application Domains, PhD thesis, University of Nijmegen

    Google Scholar 

  79. Proper, H.A., Hoppenbrouwers SJB, Weide thP van der (2005) A Fact-Oriented Approach to Activity Modeling. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 666–675

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  80. Ritson, P., Halpin, T. (1993) Mapping Integrity Constraints to a Relational Schema. In: Proc. 4th Australian Conf on Inf. Systems, Brisbane, pp 381–400

    Google Scholar 

  81. Senko, M. (1975) Information systems: records, relations, sets, entities and things. Information Systems 1(1): 3–13

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  82. Shoval, P., Shreiber, N. (1993) Database reverse engineering: from the relational to the binary relational model. Data and Knowl Eng 10: 293–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  83. Sølvberg, A., Kung, C.H. (1993) Information Systems Engineering. Springer..

    Google Scholar 

  84. Spyns, P. (2005) Object Role Modeling for Ontology Engineering in the DOGMA Framework. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) OTM 2005 Workshops, LNCS vol 3762. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 710–719

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  85. Trog, D., Vereecken, J., Christiaens, S., De Leenheer, P., Meersman, R. (2006) T-Lex: a Role-based Ontology Engineering Tool. In: Meersman R et al. (eds) On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2006: OTM 2006 Workshops, LNCS vol 4278. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1191–1200

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  86. Verheijen, G., van Bekkum, J. (1982) NIAM: an information analysis method. In: Information systems Design Methodologies: a comparative review, Proc. IFIP WG8.1 Working Conf., Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, North Holland Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  87. Vermeir, D. (1983) Semantic hierarchies and abstractions in conceptual schemata. Information Systems 8(2): 117–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  88. Warmer, J., Kleppe, A. (2003) The Object Constraint Language, 2nd edn, Addison-Wesley

    Google Scholar 

  89. Wintraecken, J. (1990) The NIAM Information Analysis Method: Theory and Practice, Kluwer, Deventer, The Netherlands

    MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Halpin, T. (2007). Fact-Oriented Modeling: Past, Present and Future. In: Krogstie, J., Opdahl, A.L., Brinkkemper, S. (eds) Conceptual Modelling in Information Systems Engineering. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72677-7_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72677-7_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-72676-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-72677-7

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics