An Advanced Course in Databases Systems: Beyond Relational Databases / Edition 1

This book goes beyond the relational database coverage of atypical first course in databases. The topics covered include object-oriented conceptual data modeling, object-oriented databases, object-relational databases, and databases and the Web. Designed for a second database course for undergraduates, the book provides both depth of coverage and a wealth of examples to illustrate the concepts. The book can also be easily adapted for use at the graduate level, assuming an introductory database course on relational databases. Research papers can supplement the text coverage with the latest research topics. The target audience of the book also includes the professional engineer who understands relational database technology. The book can help guide the engineer through the latest technological advances in object databases and Web access to databases.

We assume a familiarity with relational databases, the SQL industry-standard query language, and fundamental object-oriented programming language concepts. These assumptions are consistent with the targeted audience of the book. Where needed, the book is self-contained by providing a review of the relational features of the SQL standard. Organization

Chapters 1 and 2 provide coverage of object-oriented conceptual data models that graphically describe the data stored in a database. This text bridges the gap between the established Enhanced Entity Relationship (EER) diagrams from the database community and the Unified Modeling Language (UML) conceptual class diagrams used by software engineers in industry. Both of these conceptual data models provide advanced semantic modeling features that address class inheritance,constraints on subclass memberships, and class relationships.

Before offering a detailed approach to mapping the conceptual data models to the relational data model, Chapter 3 covers the relational features of the SQL standard, reviewing the basics of the SQL data definition and manipulation language, as well as introducing advanced relational features such as integrity constraints, triggers, and SQL-invoked routines. Chapter 4 uses side-by-side illustrations to show the mapping of the various EER and UML features to the relational data model, including a detailed discussion of how to maintain the inherent constraints given by the EER or UML diagrams.

The next part of the book focuses on recent developments associated with the interaction between databases and the Web. Specifically, Chapter 5 provides detailed coverage of the JDBC API as a sample call-level interface to relational databases. Chapter 6 covers the Extensible Markup Language (XML), which has become a de facto standard for data exchange. Most relational database products are XML enabled, providing the capability to transfer data between XML documents and the data structures of the database itself. Most database products use either Document Type Definitions or XML Schema for specifying the structure of an XML document. Both specifications are included in the chapter, which also illustrates the exchange of data through the use of XML.

Chapters 7 and 8 examine object data management in the context of object-oriented databases and object extensions to relational databases. Chapter 7 provides in-depth coverage of the ODMG standard for object-oriented databases, including a description of the Object Definition Language (ODL), an approach to mapping the object-oriented conceptual data models to ODL, and the Object Query Language (OQL). Chapter 8 covers the object-relational features of the SQL standard, including abstract data types, object tables, object references, and collections. Techniques are presented for mapping EER and UML schemas to the SQL object-relational data model and for maintaining the constraints of the conceptual design. Chapter 9 discusses sample implementations of a database enterprise on various database products, including implementations in 'a relational database, an object-oriented database, and an object-relational database.

The organization of the chapters allows the application of conceptual data modeling to the design of an enterprise, followed by its mapping to the relational data model. The JDBC API and XML representation of data can then be explored in the context of a relational implementation. Object data management concepts are introduced, covering first the foundations of object-oriented databases and then object extensions to relational databases. The three implementation case studies summarize the application of the mapping of the conceptual data models to the relational, object-relational, and object-oriented data models, providing a basis for a comparative analysis of these three different database paradigms with respect to data design, constraint enforcement, and data access.

Each chapter includes checkpoint sections at strategic locations in the presentation of the material. Each checkpoint summarizes critical concepts covered, as well as exercises for assessing progress with understanding the material at that point in the chapter. The authors' Web site, http://www.eas.asu.edu/~advdb provides implementation examples that support the relational database mapping material in Chapter 4, the JDBC coverage in Chapter 5, the XML coverage in Chapter 6, the object-oriented database concepts in Chapter 7, and the relational, object-relational, and object-oriented case studies in Chapter 9. The Web site also provides links to useful references and database tools.