Handling complex and uncertain information in the ExIFO and NF2 data models

Yazici A., Buckles B., Petry F.

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON FUZZY SYSTEMS, vol.7, no.6, pp.659-676, 1999 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 7 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 1999
  • Doi Number: 10.1109/91.811232
  • Journal Name: IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON FUZZY SYSTEMS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.659-676
  • Keywords: conceptual modeling, data management, data models, fuzzy sets, uncertainty representation, RELATIONAL DATABASES, DATA WAREHOUSE, ALGEBRA
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Trends in databases leading to complex objects present opportunities for representing imprecision and uncertainty that were difficult to integrate cohesively in simpler database models. In fact, one can begin at the conceptual level with a model that allows uncertainty assumptions and then transform those assumptions into a logical model having the necessary semantic foundations upon which to base a meaningful query language. Here we provide such a constructive approach beginning with the ExIFO model for expression of the conceptual design then show how the conceptual design is transformed into the logical design (which we utilize the extended NF2 logical database model). The steps are straightforward, unambiguous, and preserve the relevant information, including information concerning uncertainty.