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Association patterns for data modeling and definition

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Abstract

Association patterns provide guidance for modeling the associations that occur among objects within both the real world and the solution domains of computer applications. The patterns help the designer better understand and more precisely define the semantics of these associations, which allows them to be more easily and properly implemented. This paper describes a number of association patterns using Object Relationship Notation (ORN) and by doing so provides evidence for the effectiveness of this notation. It also shows how the development of database systems can be improved by an approach that uses association patterns to build a database model and then implements the model by mapping it to an ORN-extended database definition that is supported by a DBMS. The feasibility of this approach and the applicability of our association patterns have been validated by DBMS research prototypes and by the modeling, implementing, and testing of numerous associations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL, USA

    Bryon K. Ehlmann

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  1. Bryon K. Ehlmann
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Correspondence to Bryon K. Ehlmann.

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Portions of this paper reprinted from Object Relationship Notation (ORN) for Database Applications: Enhancing the Modeling and Implementation of Associations, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, New York, NY. ©Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009. With kind permission of Springer Science and Business Media.

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Ehlmann, B.K. Association patterns for data modeling and definition. Knowl Inf Syst 26, 59–86 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10115-009-0262-7

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