Descriptive specification of database object behaviour

摘要

Traditional database design methodologies are not appropriate for the specific requirements of object-oriented database systems and new database application areas. Apart from semantic complications arising from object-oriented database structures with complex objects, arbitrary data types as attribute domains, or generalization hierarchies, specification and semantics of dynamic database behaviour has to be of main interest for typical object-oriented applications, too. We propose the use of a temporal logic as a specification language for dynamic object behaviour and point out the formal semantics of such database dynamics specifications. A layered conceptual database design methodology is presented together with a discussion on design support techniques for behaviour specifications. Finally, implementation aspects are treated.