Object-Oriented Approach to Integrating Database Semantics. Volume 4

摘要

This volume presents the idea of using an object-oriented rule-based approach to integrating database semantics. It is divided into three parts. The first part An Actor's Role in Integrating Expert and Database Systems, presents arguments for various approaches for using expert system techniques in combination with database management systems and concludes by recommending an object-oriented approach. The second part, Interfacing Objects and Databases, describes the motivation, development, and usage of a prototype Knowledge Oriented Representation Language (KOREL) that uses an object-oriented approach for interfacing to existing database systems. KOREL is implemented in common LISP. One of the important features of KOREL is that it automatically retrieves data as needed from the underlying databases rather than snapshot the entire database. This improves performance and minimizes the impact of skew. The third part, A Knowledge-Based System for Resolving Semantic Conflicts: A Problem of Integrating Heterogeneous Database Management Systems, presents a comprehensive example of the integration of multiple databases. The application analyzed involves multiple tour guide databases which have overlapping information that is often ambiguous, contradictory, and incomplete. Various types of semantic conflicts are identified and approaches to their resolution are presented. A prototype system, based on the Knowledge Engineering Environment (KEE) software, is described. Keywords: Computer programming; Systems engineering; Knowledge based integrated information systems engineering(KBIISE). (KR)