Concepts and terminology for the conceptual schema and the information base

Abstract

This paper reports on the definitional work of ISO/TC97/SC5/WG3 on Conceptual Schemas and related concepts in database management and computerised information systems. The roles and contents of a Conceptual Schema are described, and the relationship of the Conceptual Schema to information modelling and data semantics is defined. An important part of the specification of an information system is the precise definition of both static and dynamic rules in the Conceptual Schema. The architectural role of the Conceptual Schema and how current database management systems and data dictionaries fit into such an architecture are discussed.