Updating Logical Databases

The book will be of value to all involved in database research.

Marianne Winslett (Author)

9780521619721, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 17 February 2005

224 pages
24.5 x 18.7 x 1.2 cm, 0.41 kg

"The book is written in a readable and inspiring style. The motivations for new concepts are well explained." Urs-Martin KÜnzi, Journal of Symbolic Logic

This book tackles the problems of update algorithms for databases. How can one construct and maintain a database of facts, capable of incorporating new information and getting rid of all outdated information, and yet in the process not disturb any other information in the database? The author has produced a formal method for specifying the desired change intentionally, using a 'formula-based' approach to updating needs rather than a 'model-based' technique. The complexity of the algorithms, choice of semantics and a means of enforcing integrity constraints are also discussed. The book will be of value to all involved in database research.

Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
2. Classes of update semantics
3. Model-based semantics for updates
4. Update algorithms for model-based semantics
5. Updates with variables
6. Lazy evolution of updates
7. Integrity constraints
8. Adding knowledge to relational theories
9. Implementation
Bibliography
Index of definitions.

Subject Areas: Databases [UN]