A Framework for Representation, Validation and Implementation of Database Application Semantics

  • M. van Keulen
  • J. Skowronek
  • P. M. G. Apers
  • H. Balsters
  • H. M. Blanken
  • R. A. de By
  • J. Flokstra
Part of the IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology book series (IFIPAICT)

Abstract

New application domains in data-processing environments pose new requirements on the methodologies, techniques and tools used to design them. The applications’ semantics should be fully represented at an increasingly high level, and the representation should be subject to rigorous validation and verification. We present a semantic representation framework (including the language, methods and tools) for design of data-processing applications. The new features of the framework include a small number of precisely defined domain-independent concepts, high-level possibilities for describing behavioural semantics (methods and constraints) and the validation and verification tools included in the framework. We present examples of the use of the framework, including the use of its tools.

Keywords

Requirements/Specifications Logical Design Languages Tools and Techniques 

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Adreit, F. and Bonjour, M. (1991) EcrinsDesign: A Graphical Editor for Semantic Structures. Proc. 3rd Int. Conf. CAiSE’91, Trondheim, Norway, 264–284.Google Scholar
  2. Alt-Kaci, H. (1991) An overview of life. Proc. of the 1st Int. East-West Database Workshop, Springer-Verlag, 42–58.Google Scholar
  3. Albano, A. Cardelli, L. and Orsini, R. (1985) GALILEO: A strongly-typed, interactive conceptual language. ACM Trans. on Database Systems 10, 230–260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Balsters, H. de By, R.A. and Zicari, R. (1993) Typed sets as a basis for object-oriented database schemas. Proc. Seventh European Conf. on Object-Oriented Programming (ECOOP).Google Scholar
  5. Balsters, H. and Fokkinga, M.F. (1991) Subtyping can have simple semantics, Theoretical Computer Science, 87, 81–96.MATHMathSciNetCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Balsters, H. and de Vreeze, C. (1991) A semantics of object-oriented sets, in The Third Int. Workshop on Database Programming Languages: Bulk Types and Persistent Data (DBPL-3) (ed. P. Kanellakis and J.W. Schmidt ), Morgan Kaufman Publishers, San Mateo, CA, 201–217.Google Scholar
  7. Bancilhon, E and Delobel, C. (1992) Building an Object-Oriented Database System - The story of 02. Morgan Kaufman, San Mateo, CA.Google Scholar
  8. Bitton, D. Millman, J.C. and Torgersen, S. (1991) DBE: an Expert Tool for Database Design, Proc. 3rd Int. Conf. CAiSE’91, Trondheim, Norway, 240–264.Google Scholar
  9. Blok, R.J. (1993) A proof system for FM. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Twente.Google Scholar
  10. Bolognesi, T. and Brinksma, E. (1987) Introduction to the ISO Specification Language LOTOS, Computer Networks and ISDN Systems, vol. 14, 25–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Cardelli, L. (1988) A Semantics of multiple inheritance, Information and Computation 76, 138–164.MATHMathSciNetCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Cattell, R.G.G. (1994) ODMG-93: A Standard for Object-Oriented DBMSs, Proc. of the 1994 SIGMOD Int. Conf. on Management of Data, 480–481.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Elmasri, R. and Navathe, S.B. (1989) Fundamentals of Database Systems. Benjamin/Cummings.Google Scholar
  14. Flokstra, J. van Keulen, M. and Skowronek, J. (1994) The IMPRESS DDT: A Database Design Toolbox Based on a Formal Specification Language. Proc. of the 1994 SIGMOD Int. Conf. on Management of Data, 506–507.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Goldberg, A. and Robson, D. (1993) Smalltalk-80: The language and its implementation. Addison-Wesley.Google Scholar
  16. Gordon, M. (1987) HOL - A Proof Generating System for Higher-Order Logic, in VLSI Speci-fication, Verification and Synthesis (ed. G. Birtwistle and P.A. Subrahmanyam), Kluwer.Google Scholar
  17. Grefen, P.W.P.J. de By, R.A. and Apers, P.M.G. (1994) Integrity Control in Advanced Data-base Systems, Bull. Techn. Committee on Data Engineering 17, 2, 9–13.Google Scholar
  18. Gulla, J.A. and Willumsen, G. (1992) Using Explanations to Improve the Validation of Execut-able Models, Proc. 5th Int. Conf. CAiSE’92, Paris, France, 118–143.Google Scholar
  19. IMPRESS-IBD-REPORT-W5, (1993) Physical model of the electric network, IBERDROLA.Google Scholar
  20. Missikoff, M. and Toiati, M. (1994) MOSAICO–A System for Conceptual Modeling and Rapid Prototyping of Object-Oriented Database Application, Proc. of the 1994 SIGMOD Int. Conf. on Management of Data, 508–509.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. Paulson, L.C. (1993) Introduction to Isabelle. Technical Report 280, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory.Google Scholar
  22. Reynolds, J.C. (1985) Three Approaches to Type Structure, in Mathematical Foundations of Software Development, Springer-Verlag, Lecture Notes in Computer Science 185, 97–138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. Ullman, J.D. (1989) Principles of Database and Knowledge-base Systems. Computer Science Press.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 1997

Authors and Affiliations

  • M. van Keulen
    • 1
  • J. Skowronek
    • 1
  • P. M. G. Apers
    • 1
  • H. Balsters
    • 1
  • H. M. Blanken
    • 1
  • R. A. de By
    • 1
  • J. Flokstra
    • 1
  1. 1.Information Systems Workgroup, Informatics FacultyUniversity of TwenteEnschedeThe Netherlands

Personalised recommendations