An event-state approach to handling temporal queries in an extended relational database system

Abstract

Many database applications such as office information systems, computer aided design and manufacturing require temporal support. The requirement for storing all the historical information has resulted in performance and storage problems. This paper presents and illustrates an event-state approach to effectively and efficiently store and retrieve temporal data. This model demonstrates that by using the events that have occurred, facilities can be constructed that would permit the processes of 'rolling-back' to a historical state and/or 'rolling-forward' to the then current state. The proposed temporal features have been incorporated in a relational database system. Processing efficiency and temporal query capabilities have been illustrated and discussed.<>