Semantics of Inheritance in Logical Object Specifications

authored by: Stefan Brass, Udo W. Lipeck
Abstract: Our goal is to integrate the paradigms of object-oriented structuring and of rule-based specifications for databases. In this paper, we consider hierarchical specifications of objects and object types with attributes defined by logical rules, and we explain their local (single object) semantics as well as their composite (object society) semantics. In order to allow inheritance with exceptions (overriding) even for rules, the defining formulas are interpreted like defaults of different priorities corresponding to levels in the object type hierarchy. Here, minimal model semantics known from default reasoning in artificial intelligence or from database completions can be utilized, but must be modified to respect object-oriented issues, in particular locality. We prove that intended models exist for object and composite specifications under natural conditions, even if general clauses are used as defaults.
Organisation(s): Institute of Practical Computer Science
Type: Conference contribution
Pages: 411-430
No. of pages: 20
Publication date: 1991
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Theoretical Computer Science, General Computer Science
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-55015-1_22 (Access: Closed)

BibTeX

@inproceedings{37e3de5c7c4d48d39d7c96b010c9d4a3,
title = "Semantics of Inheritance in Logical Object Specifications",
abstract = "Our goal is to integrate the paradigms of object-oriented structuring and of rule-based specifications for databases. In this paper, we consider hierarchical specifications of objects and object types with attributes defined by logical rules, and we explain their local (single object) semantics as well as their composite (object society) semantics. In order to allow inheritance with exceptions (overriding) even for rules, the defining formulas are interpreted like defaults of different priorities corresponding to levels in the object type hierarchy. Here, minimal model semantics known from default reasoning in artificial intelligence or from database completions can be utilized, but must be modified to respect object-oriented issues, in particular locality. We prove that intended models exist for object and composite specifications under natural conditions, even if general clauses are used as defaults.",
author = "Stefan Brass and Lipeck, {Udo W.}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1991.; 2nd International Conference on Deductive and Object-Oriented Databases, DOOD 1991 ; Conference date: 16-12-1991 Through 18-12-1991",
year = "1991",
doi = "10.1007/3-540-55015-1_22",
language = "English",
isbn = "9783540550150",
series = "Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)",
publisher = "Springer Verlag",
pages = "411--430",
editor = "Yoshifumi Masunaga and Michael Kifer and Claude Delobel",
booktitle = "Deductive and Object-Oriented Databases",
address = "Germany",
}