A formalization of the Binary Object-Role Model based on logic

摘要

This paper proposes a formalization of the Binary Object-Role Model (B-ORM) based on a general logical formalism for data models, called DM-Logic. This formalism can also be used to formally describe, e.g. ER-models, the Relational Model and Object-Oriented Models. As such, this formalization not only describes in a comprehensive manner the many complex aspects of B-ORM, it also provide a formal basis for interoperability. We define the concepts of schema, population or state, and integrity constraint. A schema is defined as a first-order logical theory, the states are the models of the theory and the integrity constraints are closed well formed formulas. Queries can be considered as open well formed formulas. The formalism is then used to define the different types of constraints and lexical referenceability, a key concept for transforming B-ORM schemas into Relational one's.