Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Z Approach to Formalization and Validation of ORM Models

  • Conference paper
Digital Enterprise and Information Systems (DEIS 2011)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 194))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 1595 Accesses

Abstract

In this paper we present a formal definition of the basic concepts and notations of Object Role Modeling (ORM) using the Z formal specification language. Most of ORM concepts such as object and relationship types, value types, objectification, reference schemes, sub-types, roles and constraints such as uniqueness, mandatory, cardinality, subset, equality, exclusive and ring constraints are specified formally. Population is specified as objects, relationships and roles instances. These are specified using Z axioms and diagram instances are specified using Z schemas. This would enable validation and reasoning on the formal properties of ORM diagrams such as detecting constraint contradictions and implications. All the specifications are validated and type-checked using Z/EVES.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Halpin, T.: A Logical Analysis of Information Systems: Static Aspects of the Data-Oriented Perspective. PhD Thesis, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Halpin, T.: Information Modeling and Relational Databases: From Conceptual Analysis to Logical Design, 2nd edn. Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hofstede, A.H.M., Proper, H.A., Weide, T.P.: Formal Definition of a Conceptual Language for the Description and Manipulation of Information Models. Information Systems 18(7), 489–523 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hofstede, A.H.M., Proper, H.A.: How to Formalize It? Formalization Principles for Information System Development Methods. Information and Software Technology 40(10), 519–540 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Campbell, L.J., Halpin, T.A., Proper, H.A.: Conceptual Schemas with Abstractions: Making flat conceptual schemas more comprehensible. Data & Knowledge Engineering 20(1), 39–85 (1996)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  6. Jarrar, M.: Towards Automated Reasoning on ORM Schemes. In: Parent, C., Schewe, K.-D., Storey, V.C., Thalheim, B. (eds.) ER 2007. LNCS, vol. 4801, pp. 181–197. Springer, Heidelberg (2007)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  7. Jarrar, M.: Mapping ORM into the SHOIN/OWL Description Logic: Towards a Methodological and Expressive Graphical Notation for Ontology Engineering. In: Chung, S., Herrero, P. (eds.) OTM-WS 2007, Part I. LNCS, vol. 4805, pp. 729–741. Springer, Heidelberg (2007)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  8. Keet, C.: Prospects for and Issues with Mapping the Object-Role Modeling Language into DLRifd. In: Proc. 20th International Workshop on Description Logics, pp. 331–338 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Keet, C.: Mapping the Object-Role Modelng language ORM2 into Description Logic Language DLRifd. Technical Report KRDB07-2, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Spivey, J.: The Z Notation: A Reference Manual. International Series in Computer Science. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs (1992)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  11. Josephs, M., Redmond-Pyle, D.: Entity-Relationship Models Expressed in Z: A Systhesis of Structured and Formal Methods. Technical Report PRG-TR-20-91, Oxford University Programming Research Group (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Barros, R.: On the Formal Specification and Derivation of Relational Database Applications. PhD Thesis, University of Glasgow (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Baluta, D.: A Formal Specification in Z of the Relational Data Model, Version 2, of E. F. Codd. M. Sc. thesis, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lee, S., Sun, J., Dobbie, G., Li, Y.: A Z Approach in Validating ORA-SS Data Models. Electronoc Notes in Theoritical Computer Science 157, 95–109 (2006)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  15. Saaltink, M.: The Z/EVES System. In: Till, D., Bowen, J.P., Hinchey, M.G. (eds.) ZUM 1997. LNCS, vol. 1212, pp. 72–85. Springer, Heidelberg (1997)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. Bird, L., Goodchild, A., Halpin, T.: Object Role Modelling and XML-Schema. In: Laender, A.H.F., Liddle, S.W., Storey, V.C. (eds.) ER 2000. LNCS, vol. 1920, pp. 309–322. Springer, Heidelberg (2000)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. Halpin, T.: ORM2. In: Chung, S., Herrero, P. (eds.) OTM-WS 2005. LNCS, vol. 3762, pp. 676–687. Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  18. Jarrar, M., Heymans, S.: Towards Pattern-based Reasoning for Friendly Ontology Debugging. International Journal on Artificial Intelligence Tools 17(4), 607–634 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Jahangard Rafsanjani & Seyed-Hassan Mirian-Hosseinabadi

Authors
  1. Amir Jahangard Rafsanjani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Seyed-Hassan Mirian-Hosseinabadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. London Metropolitan Business School, London Metropolitan Business University, Eden grove - EG4.06, N7 8EA, London, UK

    Ezendu Ariwa

  2. Information Systems Department, King Saud University, 11543, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Eyas El-Qawasmeh

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Jahangard Rafsanjani, A., Mirian-Hosseinabadi, SH. (2011). A Z Approach to Formalization and Validation of ORM Models. In: Ariwa, E., El-Qawasmeh, E. (eds) Digital Enterprise and Information Systems. DEIS 2011. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 194. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22603-8_45

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22603-8_45

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-22602-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-22603-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation