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A model-driven approach to semi-structured database design

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Abstract

Recently XML has become a standard for data representation and the preferred method of encoding structured data for exchange over the Internet. Moreover it is frequently used as a logical format to store structured and semi-structured data in databases. We propose a model-driven and configurable approach for modeling hierarchical XML data using object role modeling (ORM) as a flat conceptual model. First a non-hierarchical conceptual schema of the problem domain is built using ORM and then different hierarchical views of the conceptual schema or parts of it are specified by the designer using transformation rules. A hierarchical modeling notation called H-ORM is proposed to show these hierarchical views and model more complex semi-structured data constructs and constraints. We also propose an algorithm to map hierarchical H-ORM views to XML schema language.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, 11365-11155, Iran

    Amir Jahangard-Rafsanjani & Seyed-Hassan Mirian-Hosseinabadi

Authors
  1. Amir Jahangard-Rafsanjani
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  2. Seyed-Hassan Mirian-Hosseinabadi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amir Jahangard-Rafsanjani.

Additional information

Amir Jahangard-Rafsanjani is currently working on his PhD in Software Engineering at Sharif University of Technology, Iran. He received an MSc in Software Engineering at Sharif University of Technology, Iran in 2008. His research is focused on model driven development, semi-structured data and formal methods.

Seyed-Hassan Mirian-Hosseinabadi received the BSc in software engineering from Shahid Beheshti University, Iran in 1984, and the MSc also in Software Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Iran in 1987. He started his PhD program in 1993 and received the PhD in computer science (Formal Methods) from the University of Essex, UK in 1996. He joined Sharif University of Technology in 1996, and is currently an associate professor in the Department of Computer Engineering. His current research interests include application of formal methods in software specification and software development, type theory and constructive mathematics, software metrics and measurement, reconfigurable software architecture, formal specification and verification of software architecture, and XML databases.

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Jahangard-Rafsanjani, A., Mirian-Hosseinabadi, SH. A model-driven approach to semi-structured database design. Front. Comput. Sci. 9, 237–252 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11704-014-3358-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11704-014-3358-5

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