Algorithms for structural schema integration

Abstract

Current view and schema integration methodologies are driven by semantic considerations, and allow integration of objects only if that is valid from semantic and structural viewpoints. The authors introduce a new integration technique called structural integration. It permits integration of objects that have structural similarities, even if they differ semantically. This technique uses the object-oriented dual model which separates the representation of structure and semantics. The authors introduce algorithms for structural integration. They apply these algorithms to integrate two views of a large university database schema which had significant structural similarities but differed semantically.<>