Definition libraries for conceptual modelling

Abstract

Conceptual modelling is a fundamental phase in the design of information systems in which knowledge about the Universe of Discourse (UoD) is collected and represented in a conceptual schema. Conceptual modelling has been experienced to be a difficult and time consuming process. The reason for difficulties is in the abstraction and organization of large amounts of knowledge. In order to support the modelling process computerized tools have been developed for constructing a conceptual schema. A conceptual schema can also be stored for later use. This opens a possibility to develop a library of conceptual schemata in which partial or complete conceptual schemata are stored. The schemata in the library are either factually empty patterns of structures, or predefined, meaningful conceptual schemata. In this work the idea of concept definition libraries is introduced, the units of knowledge in a library are described, and the creation and maintenance of the library is discussed together with the system required to support the concept definition library.