Extending Database Integration Technology

摘要

Formal approaches to the semantics of databases and database languages can have immediate and practical consequences in extending database integration technologies to include a vastly greater range of data sources and data structures. We consider three broad areas; collection types, schema transformation, and partial information; that are central to obtaining interoperability of heterogeneous data sources. In each of these areas we have developed working prototypes that have been put to practical use. This proposal describes work on collection types and schema transformation, and outlines a plan for the development of both principles and implementation of practical languages and tools that will extend database integration technology well beyond its current confines to cope with legacy systems, structured files, data- intensive applications, and other non-standard data sources.