Object Database Systems

The evolution of databases systems and related technologies (repositories, data warehouses, knowledge bases and workflow systems) has provided substantial productivity gains for information technologists.

Since the 1960's, each decade has seen major Research and Development (R&D) efforts to create new types of Database Management Systems (DBMSs). Although R&D efforts have overlapped and commercializtion has followed the R&D, the following table is a rough guide to the evolution.

1960's Hierarchical and Network DBMSs
. IMS, IDMS
1970's Relational DBMSs
. DB2, Oracle
1980's Object-Oriented (OO) DBMSs
.
1990's Object-Relational (OR) DBMSs
. Oracle 8i, PostgreSQL
2000's Semistructured/XML-Based DBMSs
.

Together with my colleagues, Drs. Kochut, Potter and Sheth, our research has related to this evolution, most notably with the Active KDL project which began in the 1980's with the goal of developing a computationally complete database language(s) following both the object-oriented and functional paradigms. More recently, work ( QT4XML ) has begun on query languages and tools for XML documents and databases. In addition, object (both OO and OR) database technology has been applied by our research group to the problems of repository management, workflow management, simulation environments and genomic information systems . Finally, work on transaction management has been applied to both database systems and workflow systems.

QT4XML

The eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is a new standard that supports data exchange on the World-Wide Web. It is sophisticated enough, so that complex real-world structures and relationships may be captured. Thus, it can be used as the universal format for data interchange. Large collections of XML documents may be stored for efficient retrieval using modern Database Management Systems (DBMSs). The current state-of-the-art in database management is represented by the Object-Oriented (OO) and Object-Relational (OR) DBMSs each with their own query languages, Object Query Language (OQL, v.2) and Structured Query Language (SQL3), respectively. These database systems are capable of storing Web documents. However, even though Web documents (in this case XML documents) can be stored in these databases, they do not conform to either the relational or object-oriented model, rather they better fit a semistructured data model. Consequently, query lanaguages and tools based on XML are being developed. Further information may be found at the following information technology resources.

QT4XML

Query Tool for XML

Documents stored in Databases
Client Software Download Client Software Client Documentation
All Software Download Client and Server Software Server Documentation

Publications

  1. Sonali Sheth and John A. Miller, "Query Languages and Tools for XML Documents and Databases," Journal of Database Management (JDM), Vol. , No. (1999) pp. (submitted)

  2. John A. Miller, Amit P. Sheth and Krys J. Kochut, "Perspectives in Modeling: Simulation, Database and Workflow," Conceptual Modeling: Current Issues and Future Directions: Selected Papers from the Workshop on Conceptional Modeling, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 1565, P.P. Chen, J. Akoka, H. Kangassalo, B. Thalheim, Editors, Springer Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg (April 1999) pp. 154-167.

  3. John A. Miller and Sonali Sheth, "Web-Based Simulation: Querying XML Documents," IEEE Potentials: Special Issue on Web-Based Simulation and Modeling, Vol. , No. (1999) pp. (to appear)

  4. John A. Miller, Amit P. Sheth and Krys J. Kochut "Perspectives in Modeling: Simulation, Database and Workflow," Proceedings of the Workshop on Conceptional Modeling (ER'97), Los Angles, California (November 1997) 16 pages.

Theses

  1. Sonali Sheth, "QT4XML: A Query Tool for XML Documents and Databases," Masters Thesis (M.S. in CS Degree) July 1999. slides .

  2. Leonard P. LaConte, Jr., "SWORDD: A Simple Widely-Available Object-Relational Database Design-Tool," Masters Thesis (M.S. in CS Degree) June 1997.

WSRCRepo

This work involved the design and prototype implementation of a repository management system tailored to the needs of the Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC). This effort utilized both the Oracle RDBMS and the Oracle CASE Tools. The advantages of using Object-Oriented or Object-Relational DBMSs were also addressed. In addition, a major report was developed to assist WSRC in procuring repository technology and integrating it into their existing facilities. Issues addressed involved defining repository technology, determining its role within WSRC, developing a checklist of required features, and approaches to design, populate and administer their repository.

Publications

  1. John A. Miller, Walter D. Potter and Krys J. Kochut, "Repository Design with an End-User Emphasis," Proceedings of the 5th International Users Group Conference: Repository/Architecture/Development (RAD'94), Chicago, Illinois (November 1994) 23 pages.

  2. Krys J. Kochut, Walter D. Potter and John A. Miller, "Graphical User Interfaces: Designs and Standards," Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC) Technical Report, (February 1994) 237 pages.

  3. John A. Miller, Walter D. Potter, Krys J. Kochut, Sunderraman Krishnan, Bonnie Edwards, Wensheng Zhang and Jayesh Sahasi, Design of a WSRC Repository with an End-User Emphasis, Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC) Technical Report, (January 1994) 75 pages.

Theses

  1. Bonnie M. Edwards, "Implementing and Evaluating Common Repository Services," Masters Thesis (M.S. in CS Degree) March 1995.

  2. Wensheng Zhang, "GPOMT: A CASE Design Tool Based on the Object Modeling Technique (OMT)," Masters Thesis (M.S. in CS Degree) June 1994.

Active KDL

This work involved the design and prototype implementation of Active KDL. Each of its sublanguages, Data Modeling Language, Query Language and Database Programming Language, follow both the functional and object-oriented paradigms. The prototype implementation was done in C++. Several important design issues were analyzed (e.g., properties of inheritance lattices, advantages of declarative languages, clashes between functional and object-oriented paradigms, and properties of modeling primitives and language operators/constructs).

Publications

  1. Walter D. Potter, Krys J. Kochut, John A. Miller, Veena P. Gandham and Ramakrishna V. Polamraju, "The Evolution of the Knowledge/Data Model", Advances in Databases and Artificial Intelligence, Vol. 1, F. Petry, L. Delcambre, Editors (1995) pp. 263-310.

  2. Walter D. Potter, John A. Miller and Krys J. Kochut, "A Hyper-Semantic Approach to Intelligent Information Systems," Integrated Computer-Aided Engineering, Special Issue on Intelligent Information Systems, Vol. 1, No. 4 (1994) pp. 341-357.

  3. Krys J. Kochut, Jonathan Arnold, John A. Miller and Walter D. Potter, Design of an Object-Oriented Database for Reverse Genetics," Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB'93), Washington, D.C. (July 1993) pp. 234-242.

  4. Walter D. Potter, Krys J. Kochut, John A. Miller, Veena P. Gandham and Ramakrishna V. Polamraju, "The Evolution of the Knowledge/Data Model", International Journal of Expert Systems, Special Issue on Artificial Intelligence and Databases, Vol. 6, No. 1 (1993) pp. 39-81.

  5. John A. Miller, Walter D. Potter and Krys J. Kochut, "Knowledge, Data, and Models: Taking an Objective Orientation on Integrating these Three," IEEE Potentials Vol. 11, No. 4 (December 1992) pp. 13-17. IEEE Press.

  6. Walter D. Potter, John A. Miller and Krys J. Kochut, "A Hyper-Semantic Approach to Intelligent Database Systems," part of the Panel on Intelligent Database Technology, Proceedings of the Third Annual Symposium of the International Association of Knowledge Engineers (IAKE'92), Washington, DC (November 1992) pp. 348-351.

  7. Krys J. Kochut, John A. Miller, Walter D. Potter and Anthony D. Wright, "h-KDL: A Historically Extended Functional Object-Oriented Database System," Proceedings of the 1991 Tools International Conference (TOOLS'91), Santa Barbara, California (July 1991) pp. 73-86.

  8. Krys J. Kochut, John A. Miller and Walter D. Potter, "Design of a CLOS Version of Active KDL: A Knowledge/Data Base System Capable of Query Driven Simulation," Proceedings of the 1991 AI and Simulation Conference, Part of the 1991 Simulation Multi-Conference (SMC'91), New Orleans, Louisiana (April 1991) pp. 139-145. (Highlighted in Dr. Wildberger's AI & Simulation Column which appears regularly in SIMULATION: The Journal of The Society for Computer Simulation (July 1991 issue))

  9. John A. Miller, Walter D. Potter, Krys J. Kochut, Ali A. Keskin and Ender Ucar, "The Active KDL Object-Oriented Database System and Its Application to Simulation Support," Journal of Object-Oriented Programming, Special Issue on Databases, Vol. 4, No. 4 (July-August 1991) pp. 30-45.

Theses

  1. Ravi S. Vemuri, "Indexing Techniques in Relational and Object-Oriented Databases," Masters Thesis (M.S. in CS Degree) September 1990. Carrollton, GA

  2. Ender Ucar, "Schema Processing in the KDL Object-Oriented Database System," Masters Thesis (M.S. in CS Degree) September 1990.

  3. Ali A. Keskin, "A Query and Rule Processing System for the KDL Object-Oriented Database System," Masters Thesis (M.S. in CS Degree) August 1990.

Genomic Information Systems

The state-of-the-art for Genome databases has been relational database technology. Because of the complex nature of what is to be stored and how it is to be manipulated, Object-Relational (OR) or Object-Oriented (OO) databases suit the Geneticists' needs much better. We have developed OR and OO databases to support genetic and physical mapping as well as DNA sequencing. Recently, the applications that update and retrieve from genome databases have been organized into workflows. These workflows were demonstrated at an NSF site visit (Feb 1999) as part a large proposal for an NSF Science and Technology Center (STC). The demo utilized the Oracle 8 DBMS and the METEOR:WebWork WfMS.

To find out more see the following Simulation paper and Database paper.

Other Database Oriented Theses

  1. Ihab Ezzat Abuelenein, "Interoperability, from a Database Perspective," Masters Thesis (M.S. in CS Degree) September 1994.

  2. Sumit Roy, "Parallel Implementation and Performance Analysis for the Relational Join Operator," Masters Thesis (M.S. in CS Degree) September 1994.

  3. Xilong Chen, "An Expert System for Herbal Medicine Diagnosis and Prescription," Masters Thesis (M.S. in AI Degree) September 1993.

  4. Krishna Puppala, "Distributed Persistent Object Manager," Masters Thesis (M.S. in CS Degree) July 1992.

  5. Hao Wan, "Efficient Algorithms for Relational Database Normalization," Technical Report (M.A.M.S. Degree) June 1992.