Technique to model and design physical database systems

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6711651

Wise, T E

Database management systems (DBMSs) allow users to define and manipulate records at a logical level of abstraction. A logical record is not stored as users see it but is mapped into a collection of physical records. Physical records are stored in file structures managed by a DBMS. Likewise, DBMS commands which appear to be directed toward one or more logical records actually correspond to a series of operations on the file structures. The structures and operations of a DBMS (i.e., its physical architecture) are not visible to users at the logical level. Traditionally, logical records and DBMS commands are mapped to physical records and operations in one step. In this report, logical records are mapped to physical records in a series of steps over several levels of abstraction. Each level of abstraction is composed of one or more intermediate record types. A hierarchy of record types results that covers the gap between logical and physical records. The first step of our technique identifies the record types and levels of abstraction that describe a DBMS. The second step maps DBMS commands to physical operations in terms of these records and levels of abstraction. The third step encapsulates each record type and its operations into a programming construct called a module. The applications of our technique include modeling existing DBMSs and designing the physical architectures of new DBMSs. To illustrate one application, we describe in detail the architecture of the commercial DBMS INQUIRE.

• Research Organization: Florida Univ., Gainesville (USA). Database Systems Research and Development Center
• DOE Contract Number: AS05-81ER10977
• OSTI ID: 6711651
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/10977-T6; ON: DE84015337
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990300* -- Information Handling
ARCHITECTURE
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