A Universal Technique for Relating Heterogeneous Data Models

1
A Universal Technique for Relating Heterogeneous
Data Models

• Nick Rossiter
• David Nelson
• Michael Heather
• email d.a.nelson_at_sunderland.ac.uk

2
Introduction

• Looking at multi-level architecture for
  information systems
• Need to handle higher levels than intension
• Take object work two levels higher to achieve
  interoperability between heterogeneous systems
• Formalisation using category theory and adjoints
• Example using relational and object oriented
  databases

3
Outline IRDS

• Introduces concept of meta-meta data
• based on ISO/IEC Standards
• 10027 1990 Information Resource Dictionary
  System (IRDS)
• Four-level approach
• concepts
• constructions
• format
• data values

4
Extract IRDS Standard Framework
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Relating Extension to Intension

• level example
• Application data Supplier(1,Smith)
• extension -direct
• addressing
• Schema data Supplier (supp_no, name)
• intension - addressing
• by name
• level pair

6
Relating Intension to Constructs

• Schema data Supplier (supp_no, name)
• intension - addressing
• by name
• Meta data Table(supplier)
• data dictionary - addressing
• by concepts, constructs.

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Relating Constructs to Abstractions

• Meta data Table(Supplier)
• data dictionary - addressing
• by concepts, constructs.
• Meta meta data Aggregation(Table)
• real-world abstractions
• - addressing by abstractions

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Interpretation of IRDS in Schematic form

• concepts mission
• MetaMeta Policy
• constructs management
• Meta
  Organize
• intension enterprise
  
• Name
  Data
• extension information
  

Information Resource Dictionary Definition
Schema (IRDDS)
Information Resource Dictionary Definition (IRDD)
Information Resource Dictionary (IRD)
Information Resource Data (APP)
9
Formalization of IRDS Approach

• Quality enhanced by formalization
• Can know more confidently the limits and
  behaviour of a system
• Which formalism is best-suited?

10
Category Theory?

• Need relations to represent level-pairs
• Multi-level construction (higher-order)
• Category theory seems appropriate
• - categories for basic structures
• - functors relate categories
• - natural transformations relate functors

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Adjointness
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Relational/OO Example

• Concept (IRDDS) Inheritance
• Policy MetaMeta
• Constructs (IRDD) InherTable ltSubtype,
  Supertypegt
• Organize OrgUniDDR
  OrgUniDDO Meta
• Format (IRD) StudentR StudentO Postgrad
• Data DataUniDDR
  DataUniDDO Name
• Values StudentR1234, James, 1234, James,
  1234, The Language X
• (APP) 15 Montfort Ave, The Language X 15
  Montfort Ave

13
Conclusions

• Interoperability is considered in the context of
  ISO Information Resource Dictionary System
• Provides a complete definition of an information
  system from real world abstractions through
  constructs employed to real data
• Levels in IRDS can be mapped using category
  theory concept of adjoints
• Future work to develop model and test
  constructions for a variety of data models