The covering property of the object-oriented data model: design and implementation issues
Loading...
Authors
Estes, Todd Gregory
Mueller, Eric Martin
Subjects
Object-oriented
Object-oriented data model
Covering
Aggregation
Inhertiance
Hierarchical data modeling
Object-oriented data model
Covering
Aggregation
Inhertiance
Hierarchical data modeling
Advisors
Hsiao, David K.
Date of Issue
1993-09
Date
September 1993
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
Inheritance is a necessary condition for construction of an object- oriented data model (OODM), but it is not sufficient. This is because inheritance applies to only one hierarchy. The covering construct meets this deficiency because covering maps an object in one hierarchy to a class of objects in another hierarchy. To date, covering has not been implemented into an existing OODM application. This thesis implements the covering construct into a functioning object-oriented database environment. Implementation was achieved through modification of data constructs and the creation of a user-defined relation linking two or more hierarchies. Using the Multi-model Multi-lingual Database Supercomputer (MDBS), a sample, working application is described illustrating real world applications. The results of this thesis show that the covering property can be implemented into an existing OODM without sacrificing the integrity of the data model. The cross-hierarchical mapping afforded by covering is a powerful construct that expands the capabilities of the model beyond pure inheritance. This makes the OODM suitable for a far wider range of applications. Together, inheritance and covering meet the necessary and sufficient conditions of the OODM.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Department of Computer Science
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
111 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.